The Pastoral Formation Institute is joining the global Church in preparing for the upcoming Jubilee of Hope through a local course named ‘The Jubilee – Pilgrims of Hope’.
Through this course, students will discover the biblical origins of the words ‘jubilee’, ‘pilgrimage’, and ‘hope’. With lecturers, Dr Joseph Ciappara and Rev. Gilbert Scicluna, students will explore the origins of these concepts in the sacred scriptures and in the first Christian communities. Students will also explore Pope Benedict XVI’s writings on hope, Spe Salvi together with Pope Francis’ catechesis on this subject. The course will end by exploring how we can implement the concept of ‘jubilee’ in the contemporary context with the aim of evangelizing.
This course will start on Monday 8th April 2024 and consists of six lectures of two hours each.
Announcement and Origins
In 2022, Pope Francis announced the Jubilee of Hope. One might ask, what is a Jubilee?
The origins of the ‘Holy Year’, another name for a Jubilee, can be found in the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament: “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.” (25, 10-12). Then in the Gospel of St Luke, we can see Jesus in the Synagogue reading the following verse from the Book of Isaiah: “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (4,19). Jesus came to deliver everything to its fullness thus, achieving the ancient jubilee.
Amidst the suffering caused by the many wars and pandemics happening during medieval times (500 – 1500AD), Christians sought to return to a holier way of life full of what is essential. Therefore, Pope Boniface VII announced the first Ordinary Jubilee in the year 1300. Pilgrims rushed to Rome to pray on the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to receive the Pope’s blessing. During this Ordinary Jubilee, pilgrims received the first-ever plenary indulgence, an essential tradition that would characterize all Ordinary Jubilees to come.
The frequency of the Ordinary Jubilee changed throughout the years. It started as once every 100 years then it was changed to once every 50 years and 25 years respectively. The last Ordinary Jubilee was organized by Pope Saint Paul John II.
The aim of this important event remained in harmony with its biblical and historical origins – to slow down and re-focus on what is essential: our relationship with God. This is done through prayer and reconciliation.
Preparing for the Jubilee and the course offered by the Pastoral Formation Institute
The Jubilee of Hope will take place in 2025 and the Church globally is currently hard at work with necessary logistical, formative, and spiritual preparations to ensure that this Jubilee is truly a transformative experience.
Ready to embark on this journey of hope? Learn more about the Jubilee – Pilgrims of Hope course at www.pfi.edu.mt. To enrol or inquire, reach out to the Pastoral Formation Institute at 2590 6514/6 or 7920 1358, or email [email protected].