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Historical Background
2025 is a Jubilee year. It is a time to renew our faith, deepen our relationship with the Lord, and experience God’s mercy. There’s something good about a celebration that only happens a few times in our life. It gives us an opportunity to break out routine and reaffirm our life in Christ.
The Jubilee traces its origins to the ancient Israelites. In Leviticus 25, God commanded the Israelites to observe a Sabbath year every 7 years. This would be a year of rest from agricultural work and trust in God’s provision. Any crops that grew naturally would be shared by everyone. After 7 Sabbath years (7x7=49), there would be a special year of jubilee on the following 50th year.
Here’s what would occur (Leviticus 25):
1) A ram’s horn would be blown and the Day of Atonement would begin. (The word jubilee comes from the Hebrew word “jobel” which means “ram’s horn.”) The high priest would enter the holiest place of the temple and sprinkle blood from a lamb to make atonement for himself and all people of Israel. This symbolically purged the whole nation of sin and resulted in redemption and forgiveness with God.
2) The ancient Israelites often sold family land and sometimes sold themselves to escape poverty. During the jubilee year, God commanded Moses that any sold land must be released and returned to its original owner. And anyone who sold themselves as a slave must be freed.
3) With freedom restored and land returned, the Israelites could return to their ancestral family land.
4) With everyone on their own land, they could experience rest with family and with God; free from any agricultural obligations. “The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell in it securely.” Leviticus 25:19
This is what the jubilee is all about: redemption and forgiveness, release and freedom, return and family, and rest and fullness.
When the jubilee was observed in ancient Israel, the blowing of the ram’s horn was followed by travelers beginning to appear on the roads - first one, then another, then dozens and hundreds. These were the released servants who had done their time and were now on pilgrimage back to their ancestral homes and their families. Jubilee is always about returning home. Every pilgrimage is a journey to God who is our true Home.
Jubilee Pilgrimage
To celebrate and partake in the Jubilee 2025 celebrations, the Young Knights of Frassati and many other St. Louise families completed a Jubilee pilgrimage on April 5 to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
YKF in Rome
Three St. Louise families traveled to Rome during the summer for the Jubilee of Youth. This was the planned date for the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati, but the date was changed to September 7. Nevertheless, we passed through the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilicas, visited Frassati's tomb, and celebrated Mass with Pope Leo and 1 million other pilgrims!
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