Evening star., 1933-04-23
Hoeo the Special
Jubilee XearPro-
claimed by Pope
Pins Mas Mangu-
edWiHAncient
Ritual of Opening.
the Famous Portal
WhichbKeptShut
Except tDuring the
Holy Year:
BY IRENE DI ROBILANT.


head of the Roman Catholic Church
and the last door on the right
under st. Peters great arcade fell
slowly back as If moved by invisible
hands admitting into Christianity's greatest
temple the colorful procession headed by Pope
Plus XII, well as the first few hundred
privileged pilgrims who had obtained the spe-
cial ticket required for attendance at this first
impressive Jubilee year ceremony.
The door had been closed since Christmas
eve of 1925, when the Pope had laid the first
brick of the wall built before 1t, thus marking
the end of the Jubilee year which takes place
every quarter century.
Few expected to see 1t open until 1850, but
the Pope availing himself Of his right and Of
the precedent established by some OF his pre-
decessors aroused world interest this year by
the proclamation issued on Christmas eve
whereby a Jubilee year was announced in OBJ
servance of the l900th anniversary Of the death
Of Jesus Christ which Is said to have taken
place in the 33d year Of his earthly life.
Some Scriptural texts give the age as "a,
which made the Pope decide to have the
Jubilee year start Saturday, April l. 1888,
and close around the same period next year.
thus covering the two dates mentioned in the
Scriptures.
The custom of setting aside one year in which
the faithful are asked to consider spiritual
values, repent of their sins and, possible, reap
great religious benefit by visiting the tombs OF
the apostles in Rome. dates back to the year
1900 in which a Jubilee was proclaimed by
Pope Boniface XIII Benedict CaetanD.
DuGRIMS visiting Rome were promised abb
I solution for all their sins: those dying on
the way in times in which all forms of travel
meant danger and hardships had the certainty
of obtaining eternal felicity.
Those were great days Of religion, which
found expression in art. poetry and music ia
nous the world over; the memory OF the
Crusades still fresh in every ones mind,
and the roads to Rome were Travelled by
thousands Of pilgrims, carrying the staff and
drinking shell which became symbols of the
piouS act
new bridge built across the River
T1ber simply in order to ease the pilgrim traffic
which creating embarrassment on the ex-
isting bridges. The poet Dante, the En-
peror of Germany. Henry W. were among the
pilgrims of this first jubilee and ever since the
solemn proclamation has been attended by
foreign soveregns and eminent men from every
part of the Christian world.
In order to give every one the benefit of a
Holy year during his lifetime. the intervals have
been gradually shortened. 1t was first decided
to proclaim jubilee every so years, then every
80, with the ages of Christ as motive, and
finally in the year 1470 Pope Paul II decreed
that it should take place every IS years, and
that the Popes were at liberty to proclaim
jubilee when special occasions or world condi-
tiOns made them think such proclamation
fitting and useful in the interest Of human
salvation
The Jubilee year which has just commenced
Is the twenty-fourth in the history of the
church. The practice of entering st. Peters.
as well as the other four basilicas possessing
Holy year privileges, through door specially
built for the purpose was, however, only in
troduced in the year 1900 by Pope Alexander
W. The door as we now see it was built by
him. although the marble frame and decora-
tions above it are of q later date.
It was solemnly opened ON Christmas eve
In 1499 just seven years after the discovery
Of America, and the ritual then established as
well as the accompanying ceremonies are ex-
actly the same those which are taking place
in Rome under the leadership of Pope Plus XII
IN the morning of Saturday, April 1, the
~ pealing of the great bell of st. Peters an
nounces the arrival of the papal procession.
The bronze door of Vatican Palace stands open,
the Swiss guards are in the lead wearing their
full regalia of yellow and blue with long
feathers on their steel helmets.
The great religious fraternities follow, and