to original owners, a forgiveness of monetary debts, and the liberation of any slaves or indentured servants. The Hebrews were asked to “proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (Lev 25:10). The Hebrews ceased their celebration of the jubilee year in 600 B.C., when the Jews were held captive in Babylon, and have not resumed the practice since. The Catholic Church aimed to restore the sacredness of this celebration by instituting a jubilee year approximately every 25 years. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first one in Church history. Since then, the Church has celebrated 26 ordinary and three extraordinary jubilees. Many will remember the last jubilee Here comes the Jubilee! If the Pope himself invited you to a celebration, would you attend? Of course! And Pope Francis’ announcement that 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church is essentially a personal invitation for us to participate in a year-long celebration of reconciliation and renewal of our faith. But what exactly is a “Jubilee”? The basic definition is “special anniversary” and “season of celebration,” but that only scratches the surface. “Jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word yobel, which means goat horn. The Hebrews used a yobel to announce the beginning of a jubilee year, marking the occasion to conduct a spiritual “reset”: “For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you” (Lev 25:12). Rest and restoration The Old Testament describes how the jubilee was a time of rest for the land and restoration for its people. The jubilee was a year for social justice: there was a restitution of land 12 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org By Veronica Szczygiel
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