What is a Holy Year and what does it mean for us?

You may be aware that a Holy Year began on Christmas Eve, but for those of us who were/are not aware, we may be asking ourselves what a Holy Year is, and what does it mean for us?
The concept of a Holy Year finds its roots in our Jewish heritage.  God’s people had a number of feasts that they celebrated.  The first of these is Passover.  In this feast, the people of God celebrated and remembered the liberation that our ancestors experienced when God struck the first-born of the Egyptians.
The very next day is the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  For seven days, Jews do not eat any leaven (yeast) and recall the liberation from slavery in Egypt.
The third feast celebrated is the Feast of First Fruits. This is celebrated on the first day after the next Sabbath. The people celebrate the fruitfulness of the earth and give thanks for the bounty.
Next is Pentecost.  This occurs 50 days later and the people celebrate the summer harvest.  
The fifth feast is the Feast of Trumpets. The people celebrate Isaac being spared.  Abraham was tested by God and asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. As Abraham moved to strike Isaac, an angel restrained Abraham’s hand and Isaac was spared.  Trumpet blasts ring out.  Fun fact: in Leviticus chapter 25 it says, “proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Lev 25). That quote is also on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
The sixth feast is the Day of Atonement.  This is their highest holy day.  It is a day of repentance.  
The seventh and final feast is the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths. It reminds all of us that God has loved us and guided His people for a very long time.
It is easy to get lost in the feasts that are largely foreign to us, but notice how the whole rhythm of the feasts helps teach and remind us that we should be moved to gratitude for all that God has done. Our gratitude should lead us to worship.
Our Church’s Holy Year is celebrated worldwide and locally. One way to celebrate is to visit one of the nine pilgrimage sites designated by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi. Those visiting any of the sites may receive a plenary indulgence—a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.
If you have any questions about indulgences or this specific indulgence, please speak with your pastor or email me:  [email protected]
For more information, visit: https://mobarch.org/news/jubilee-2025-archbishop-rodi-designates-pilgrimage-sites.
— Pat Arensberg is the Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life. Email him at [email protected]. For more information concerning the events of this office, visit us at mobilefaithformation.org