[Gocamino] Holy Year; opening of the Holy Door

[Rosina]

Hello you all,

Holy Xacobean years are those when the feast day of Santiago falls on a Sunday. The first Holy Year was celebrated in 1182, and they occur in 11,6,5,6 intervals. The last three were in 1993, 1999 and 2004. The next two will be in 2010 and 2021.  The recognition of these years as  a “Jubilee” was instituted by Pope Calixtus II (1118-1124), confirmed into perpetuity by Pope Alexander III (1159-1181) with the bula (Papal decree, sort-of) “Regis Aeterna” in 1179 , and given a definitive characterization by Pope Alexander VI in 1500.  Alexander VI had been born and raised in Spain, his family name was Borja and he is generally known as the “Borgia” Pope; he presided over the church at the time of Columbus, and allotted jurisdiction over the newly discovered continent between the Spaniards and the Portuguese.

 

During a Holy Year a special state of grace is acquired by those pilgrims who enter the Santiago Cathedral through the “Puerta del Perdon” (door of absolution), most popularly known as the Holy Door, and go to Mass and receive communion two weeks before or after going through the door. 

 

Other cities that have Jubilee years are Rome and Jerusalem, but the intervals for those years there are fixed. (The last one in Rome was in 2000; In Jerusalem, they are every 25 years). This is why Santiago, Rome and Jerusalem are considered the three holy pilgrimage cities.

 

The particular door in the Santiago Cathedral is really called  the door of absolution, or forgiveness, because of the state of grace obtained by those who go through it having recognized their past sinful actions, experienced the pain and sorrow of such recognition  and having made a sincere resolve not to repeat them. Having done this recognition (“confession”) and resolution (“contrition”), one obtains absolution (forgiveness), which is why the door is called “Puerta del Perdon”.

 

The ritual act of confession is widely misunderstood not only by non-Catholics, but my many Catholics as well.  It is, and can only be, the act of confession itself that brings absolution, not a priest.  Of course, priests may and do offer support and guidance when one waivers or is confused in the act of self-examination, which is difficult and painful, but what the priests do is substantially symbolic and, as most Catholic rites, “in memory” of Jesus’ examples in the Gospels.

 

Anyway, the small door in question is walled-up in non Holy Years. The act of opening it is held on December 31st before the Holy Year. The ceremonies begin at about 5:00 p.m. in the Cathedral with the “Translatio” which is a symbolic re-enacting of the taking of Santiago’s body from where the boat that brought it from Palestine landed to its first burial place. In the Cathedral, an image of Santiago is carried under a “Palio” (canopy) from one side of the Cathedral to the altar. The procession is followed by many high dignitaries and VIPs. On December 31, 2003, the King and Queen of Spain were there and the King was part of the uares: Quintana, Platerias, Obradoiro and Zabacheries, and there were tables offering  free torrijas (sort of French toast over-soaked in honey), drinks, and little cups containing 12 grapes. Adults were also given a bottle of “Cava” (Spanish sparkling wine). The Caxa de Galicia bank and other procession. This was followed by a choral Mass and, of course, the Botafumeiro. After Mass the Archbishop went, with a pick-ax to reopen the door. He made a few strikes and the thing fell with a tremendous crash. Later I learned that the mortar and blocks of stone had been preseparated from the door lintels so that they could fall easily.  Once this was done people who had been waiting outside for hours began to try to go through the door, which was difficult and took a lot of time because the church was chock full already. Those first ones going through the door scooped up the pieces of the fallen wall to take as souvenirs, and some, as it turned out, to sell them later.  The frame of the door itself dates to the 12th century, is of solid marble, and is hardly wide enough to allow two people going through it at the same time.  Those who go through it cross themselves and put their hands on the inside of the door frame, which has indentations made by the millions and millions and millions of people who have done this over the centuries.  Now that the Portico de Gloria can no longer be touched, I guess that the only place where one can put one’s hands to join the touch of the ancient ones will be there.

 

The door and the Cathedral remained open until 11:15 p.m. when they closed for the New Year Eve’s celebrations.  By that time there were stages and stands with live music in the four sqGalician businesses paid for the whole thing.

The Berenguela (the Cathedral’s famous bell) struck the twelve hours at midnight and fireworks began to pour from the roof of the Cathedral,  all over, and went on for half an hour or so. Afterwards, there was dancing all over the place….. which was crowded….. live music shows, and the partying went on until dawn.

 

The church reopened at 7:00 a.m. and the every-hour Masses (at the main altar or at one or another of the many chapels), began, and the lines on Quintana of those seeking to go through the door were are thick and long from then on.

 

New Year’s Day is celebrated by the Catholic Church in honor of the Virgin Mary and it is a holiday which in Santiago entailed a choral Mass, the Botafumeiro and a profusion of flowers that people brought in honor of the Virgin all day long.  At seven o’clock p.m. there was another Choral Mass followed by a concert sung by a choir from Bulgaria.

 

The whole thing was enormously impressive, beautiful and infinitely and joyful…. my only objection was the fact that Galicians drink lots of hot chocolate (!)  to overcome the hang-overs, and, I couldn’t find, for anything, anywhere, a much-needed bloody Mary. But even that was a lesson well learned.




Hugs,

Rosina 

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