Originally published at Orange County Catholic
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE between a vacation and a pilgrimage; don’t they mean the same thing, since you left home and traveled somewhere special?
According to the dictionary, a vacation is an opportunity when one leaves home for relaxation and enjoyment, while a pilgrimage is a special journey made by a pilgrim to a sacred or holy place.
In our Catholic Church, a Jubilee or Holy Year is celebrated every 25 years, stemming from an ancient tradition tracing its roots back to the Jewish people, our ancestors in the faith. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, designated the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” for this current Jubilee Year which commenced Dec. 24, 2024, when he officially opened the Holy Year door at St. Peter’s Basilica, sealed and bricked over since the ending of the prior Jubilee Year 25 years ago.
It will conclude with the closing of that same Holy Door on Jan. 6, 2026, the feast of the Epiphany. After this Jubilee Year, a special one in 2033 will mark the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.
In Romans 5:5 we read “… hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through
