The Catholic Church Opens Doors to The Holy Year of Mercy (2015 Dec 8 - 2016 Nov 20)

(Logo Courtesy: Religiouslife.com)

With the Opening of the 'Great Bronze Doors' of St Peter's Basilica in Rome by Holy Father Pope Francis on Tuesday (2015 December 8th), the 'Holy Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy' has commenced officially in the Universal Catholic Church. The most auspicious day to inaugurate the The 'Holy Jubilee Year of Mercy' is the great Feast Day of (obligation) the 'Immaculate Conception' of the Blessed virgin Mother (December 8th) whose primary duty always (particularly these end-days) is to gather and guide all the stray children of the compassionate God back to HIM through repentance, penance and confession (the Holy sacrament of reconciliation). And the Holy Year of Mercy will be closed on the Great Solemnity of 'Christ the King' on November 20, 2016

This Holy Year of Divine Mercy is a golden opportunity for those who have gone afar from the everlasting Love of the Divine Father, Who like the dad of the prodigal son in the Holy Bible keeps looking always for the return of the lost children. It is the duty of every child of God, particularly the chosen one to help in the return of those children of the Heavenly Father back to Him and receive His abundant grace and Love.

We know and often say, 'to err is human, to forgive is Divine'. This statement is absolutely true. All human beings (except the Virgin Mother of Lord Jesus who is immaculate conception), are sinners. It is the very 'nature' of these human beings to commit sins. But at the same time, the 'nature' of God is to forgive and forget all the sins and shortcomings of those who truly repent. In the Syro-Malabar Qurbana we pray, to the Heavenly Father to show compassion to us according to HIS 'nature'.

The Observance of the Holy Year of Mercy in the Catholic Churches throughout the world will be done on Sunday, the 13th of december 2015. In most of the churches, the Priest will open the main doors of the churches to mark the commencement of this jubilee Year.

'Holy' Jubilee Years are observed rarely in the Catholic Church (usually once in a half century) and during these Holy Years, the Church (with its God-given authority grants special 'indulgence' for the devotees who make pilgrimages to the Church in Rome or other selected Churches in one's neighborhood. This is the most ideal chance for anyone to reconcile with the Divine Love through repentance. Because there is absolutely NO guarantee that we would get one more chance....

In East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India (Visakhapatnam Arch Diocese), St Ann's Church at Jagannaickpur, Kakinada is designated as the central Church for rendering God's special forgiveness and grace during the 'Holy Year of Mercy' and will be opened by the Priest on 13-12-2015 Sunday at 8.00 am. People in the district who cannot go to other pilgrim centers, can make a pilgrimage to this Church and offer the spiritual Sacraments of Confession and Holy Mass for receiving 'indulgence' untill the closing of the Holy Year on 20-11-2016.