By Julia Rose
Can you believe it's upon us, already? It seems like yesterday we were marking the beginning of the holy Jubilee Year of Hope. Now, in December, we wind down to the final celebrations: the Jubilee of Prisoners on Dec. 14, and the closing of three Holy Doors on Dec. 28.
The official closing of the Jubilee Year will be observed by Pope Leo XIV on January 6, 2026, the Feast Day of Epiphany, with the closing of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica.
And there's still time to pay a visit to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy this month, to obtain the special Jubilee Year of Hope indulgence!
100th anniversary of First Saturdays
But first, early in Advent, we mark a very special anniversary, one that commemorates Our Lady of Fatima’s request to Sr. Lucia in Spain on Dec. 10, 1925.
First Saturday devotions, practiced here at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy every month, are a wonderful way for us to stay committed to Our Lady of Fatima’s request by fulfilling these four simple but holy actions: receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist; pray the Rosary; and meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes. Our Lady told Sr. Lucia that, to whomever practices five First Saturdays consecutively, “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.”
Please join us on Dec. 6, in person at the National Shrine at 11:00 a.m. ET for First Saturday devotions, or watch online on TheDivineMercy.org, on YouTube at our channel Divine Mercy (Official), and on our Facebook page Divine Mercy (Official). And learn more from Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC's pamphet, Five First Saturdays In Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Jubilee of Prisoners
As we seek a more peaceful world, upholding the dignity of prisoners and ministering to them are especially important. As St. Faustina writes in her Diary, prison doors have no ability to stop someone from loving God (see 201). Through Divine Mercy, we can repent and become closer to God.
We see this message conveyed through our Catholic leaders. Just four days before Pope Francis’ death in April, he visited the Regina Coeli prison in Rome, providing our incarcerated brethren with Rosaries and Gospels on Holy Thursday. This act of prison ministry was similarly practiced by Pope Leo XIV this past August when he met in Rome with a few people from the Santa Maria Maggiore Prison in Venice.
Through the intercession of the patron saints of prisoners, including St. Maximillian Kolbe, we pray for those that are incarcerated.
Christmas
As the Jubilee Year approaches its end, we honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! We are once again humbled by His life and His ultimate sacrifice for us as we reflect on His birth in a stable in Bethlehem.
We also recall Our Blessed Mother, who carried Jesus in her womb and gave birth to Him that night. As Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, explains in his new series, “Hope and Advent,” available on DivineMercyPlus.org, “Mary brings us to Christ at Christmas, and Christ brings us to Mass at Christmas. It is His Body and Blood that is born this day. Mass brings us to Eternal Life on Christmas.”
Worshipping together on Dec. 25 always feels especially joyous, so happy birthday, Jesus!
Closing of Three Jubilee Doors
This year, the Holy Doors at the four major basilicas in Rome: St. Peter's, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls were all opened. Especially as we celebrate the Jubilee of Prisoners, it’s incredible to consider how Pope Francis also opened the first Holy Door in a prison, the Holy Door at Rebibbia Prison in Rome.
On Dec. 28, the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, will see the closing of three of these Holy Doors, with the exception of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s, which will shut on Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
Just as Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter's, so now will we witness Pope Leo XIV close the Holy Door on the Feast of the Epiphany as we enter hopefully into 2026, remembering Pope Francis’ message: "Hope calls us to become pilgrims in search of truth, dreamers who never tire, women and men open to being challenged by God’s dream, which is of a new world where peace and justice reign."
Photo © Vatican Media.
{shopmercy-ad}
