Opening the Doors of Mercy

A number of Holy Doors, designated by Pope Francis to mark the start of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, are being opened in churches the world over.

In Montreal the far right west door of the main entrance to Mary Queen of the World Cathedral will be opened in an age-old ritual by Archbishop Christian Lépine on Dec. 12 at 7:30 pm. The Pope opened the first of the symbolic doors on Nov. 29 at Bangui Cathedral, during his tour of Africa. The main opening ceremony that signals the start of the year will be performed at the great door at St. Peter’s in Rome on Dec. 8. Walking through a Holy Door is an important act for a pilgrim. Anyone who walks through the doors with the intention of seeking forgiveness for their sins, celebrating the Eucharist or performing one of the traditional corporal acts of mercy is entitled to an indulgence. Those acts of mercy include feeding the hungry, providing drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, visiting the sick and dying, ransoming captives and burying the dead. 

The two sided bronze Holy Door in Quebec City’s Notre Dame Cathedral will also be opened on Dec. 12. The Holy Door in Quebec City is only one of seven such permanent doors in the world, and the only one in North America. It was a gift from Rome to mark the 350th anniversary of the first Roman Catholic parish, in what was then New France, founded in 1658 by Bishop François de Laval. In an age-old ritual Cardinal Lacroix, the Primate of Canada, will rap three times on the door.

There are only seven permanent Holy Doors - four in Rome, one in France, one in Spain, and one in Quebec City. The custom dates back to the 15th century. Perhaps the most moving ceremony occurred in 1999 when Pope John Paul II, knelt on the threshold of the door at St. Peter’s to open the door marking the last Jubilee year. Normally, Holy Doors are opened every 25 years, but Pope Francis has made an exception for the extraordinary year of Mercy. In the new year other churches in the city will open Doors of Mercy. The door in Sr. Joseph’s Oratory will be opened on February 7. Other doors will open at Notre Dame de Lourdes Chapel (Jan 10), Marie Reine des Coeurs Sanctuary, 5875 Sherbrooke St. E.(Jan 10), Du St. Sacrement Sanctuary, 500 Mount Royal Ave. E. (Jan 10), Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs, 4155 Wellington in Verdun (Feb 7) and De La Reparation au Sacre Coeur et St. Padre Pio, in Pointe aux Trembles (Feb 10.)

A pilgrimage, for the re-opening of the Holy Door at Notre-Dame-de-Quebec Basilica has been planned for Saturday, December 12. There will be two departure points: 9am from Jesus Light of the World Parish - parking lot (11075 Gouin Blvd. W., Pierrefonds), and a second pick-up point is scheduled at 9:45am from the Plamondon Metro Station (Van Horne Shopping Centre, corner of Victoria Avenue). Transportation costs $35. The bus is scheduled to leave Quebec City at 8pm.

 

Reserve your seat by contacting Marcia Doceo at 514-489-0468514-489-0468 (daytime) or 514-344-0243514-344-0243 (evening).