Not Just an Ordinary Door

This morning, the seminary gathered with the monastic community for the celebration of the opening of the Holy Door of Mercy, which is part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, called by His Holiness, Pope Francis.

Holy Door ‘sealed’ before Abbot Gregory opens them.

In the Catholic Church, Jubilee years—which typically occur every 25 years—are special years devoted to the celebration of God’s great mercy and the remission of sins. This practice, which has its biblical roots (Leviticus 25:10), began in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII. A tradition within the Jubilee year is the Holy Door. A person who walks through this door—along with fulfilling the other requirements of penance and the reception of the Holy Eucharist—receives indulgences for the Jubilee year.

This Jubilee Year of Mercy is considered ‘extraordinary’ not only because it falls out of the 25 year occurrence (the last Jubilee was held in 2000), but also because instead of having only one Holy Door in Rome, dioceses throughout the world will open holy doors for the faithful to enter through.

Abbot Gregory opens the holy door

In the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is one of seven churches designated to have a holy door by Most Reverend James Vann Johnston Jr., bishop of Kansas City – Saint Joseph.

The seminarians are blessed to attend a seminary that is the primary apostolate of Conception Abbey. Though this apostolate, the seminarians are able to experience the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in such a unique way.