“Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God.” (Pope Francus, Spes non confundit n.6)
6pm GMT marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year with the opening of the Holy Door and the Christmas Eve Mass 2024, presided over by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica. This Jubilee, which was proclaimed through the publication of the Papal Bull Spes non confundit on 9th May 2024.
Jubilee Years have been a regular feature in the life of the Church since 1300AD but their roots go back to the Jewish tradition of marking a jubilee year every 50 years. These years in Jewish history were “intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.”
The theme of the Jubilee 2025 is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis writes, “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring . . . Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope.”
One of the great means of expression of hope, as well as unity, is through song, and there is an official hymn for the Jubilee, chosen from a great many through an international competition. Catholics throughout the world are encouraged to sing this Jubilee hymn throughout the coming year.
It is always a challenge to introduce a new hymn or song to a community, and this will be no exception. But I believe that the effort will be worthwhile as it is one way in which are able to express the unity of the global and Universal Church.
At least one diocese has pointed out that the words will fit the tune Hyfrydol (Alleluia, sing to Jesus), and it does. But I think that the song works much better with its original tune. In our parish, we will introduce it as a Processional Song, with a cantor or choir singing the verses and the entire assembly singing the chorus. The intention is that, after a month or so, all will sing it together and we will use is as our recessional at Mass on Sundays through the year.
Download the Jubilee Year hymn, Pilgrims of Hope, here.
More information, as well as musical resources, may be found on the official Jubilee Year website here.