Surrender Season Series: Pt 3 The Pathway to Growth
February 13, 2025
Friday February 14th: Participating actively in His Mission
February 14, 2025
Your go-to Q&A on the Year of Grace
Q: What is a Jubilee? Where does the word come from?
A: The word ‘jubilee’ comes from the Hebrew ‘yovel’ meaning ram’s horn. In ancient Israel, a ram’s horn announced the start of the Jubilee Year (Lev 25).
Imagine a conch blowing across the village. That’s how loud the announcement of Jubilee was!
Q: Where did Jubilee start in the Bible, and what was its purpose?
A: Jubilee was first mentioned in Leviticus 25 and was celebrated every 50 years. It was a time to forgive debts, free slaves, and rest the land.
Jubilee was like hitting reset on society. Imagine pressing factory reset on your phone—everything goes back to original settings. That’s what Jubilee did for people and the land!
Q: Who had the authority to declare a Jubilee in the Old Testament?
A: The high priest and king proclaimed Jubilee, blowing the ram’s horn on the Day of Atonement.
Just like a prime minister can declare a public holiday, Jubilee was officially proclaimed by those in authority like Pope Francis in this case.
Q: How is Jubilee celebrated today?
A: Jubilee is a time of grace and renewal. All are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, forgive others/ debts, seek indulgences, and help the poor.
Jubilee is like a spiritual car wash. Jubilee is a chance to let God wash away all the dirt of sin and start fresh!
Q: What are indulgences, and how do they work in the Jubilee Year?
A: An indulgence is a grace that removes the temporal punishment due to sin. It’s not forgiveness of sin itself—that’s what Sacrament of Reconciliation is for.
- You can gain one plenary (full) indulgence per day.
- You can offer it for yourself or a deceased soul.
- You cannot store indulgences for future use.
Think of indulgences like a spiritual lotto. You can cash in one big prize a day, but you can’t save up tickets.
Q: Can you pray for indulgences for another living person?
A: No, indulgences apply only to yourself or souls in purgatory.
You can share food with a friend, but you can’t eat for them—same with indulgences.
Q: What are the requirements for gaining a Jubilee indulgence?
A:
- Confession (within about 20 days)
- Receive Holy Communion
- Pray for the Pope’s intentions
- Perform a Jubilee act (pilgrimage, charity, mercy)
- Detach from all sin—even venial sin
Imagine you want to enter a party. You need a ticket. Confession, Communion, and prayer are your entry passes into God’s grace.
Q: Does the spirit of Jubilee continue after the year ends?
A: Yes! The Holy Doors close, but the call to mercy, forgiveness, and renewal never ends.
Jubilee is like Easter: the joy lives on. It keeps us moving closer to God.
Q: When is Jubilee, and where can I go?
A: The Ordinary Jubilee is in 2025. Four Holy Doors exist in Rome and approved sacred sites exist in the various dioceses worldwide, including eight sacred sites in Trinidad and Tobago.
If you can’t go to Rome, don’t worry. God is not limited by geography.
Q: Do you have to enter a physical door to receive the graces of Jubilee?
A: No. Passing through a Holy Door is a powerful sign, but those unable to travel can still receive indulgences through works of mercy and prayer.
Q: Where does the Church get the power to remit the temporal punishment of sin? What are these treasures of the Church?
A: The treasury of the Church” is the infinite merit of Christ, Mary, and the saints. Christ gave the Church the authority to apply these merits (Mt 16:19).
Imagine a bank account where Jesus deposited infinite grace. The Church can withdraw and apply it for those in need.
Q: Can non-Catholics participate in Jubilee?
A: Non-Catholics can experience renewal through mercy, prayer, and seeking God but they cannot receive the sacraments.
Jubilee is like a feast, everyone is invited, but only some can receive the full meal. Even if you’re not a baptised Catholic, you can still experience God’s love – just like you can still enjoy a Parang without drinking ponche de crème!
Q: What’s a good image to symbolise Jubilee?
A: •Resetting a phone–Cleansing your soul of spiritual viruses
- Wiping a whiteboard clean–A fresh start in faith.
Recapping, Jubilee is like hitting the refresh button on your life – indulgences, new grace, new mercy, new beginnings!
Are you, in this one-in-a-lifetime (for some), ready for an encounter and to step into God’s renewal?
