As America’s Catholic Church, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception is honored to be designated as a special place of pilgrimage during Jubilee Year 2025 by the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. But what does this mean for those visiting the Basilica throughout the year?
Learn everything you need to know about Jubilee Year 2025 at the National Shrine and discover the answers to the most frequently asked questions we’ve received below!
What is the Jubilee Year 2025?
A Jubilee is a special year of holiness. This year, it marks the 2,025th anniversary of our Lord’s Incarnation. The idea of a jubilee year goes back to the Old Testament, and since 1470, these “Holy Years” have occurred every 25 years. In his Bull of Indiction declaring the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis repeated the words of St. Paul, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). With hope as the defining characteristic of this Jubilee, Pope Francis wrote:
“[M]ay the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as ‘our hope.’”
Does the Basilica have a Holy Door I can walk through?
For the 2025 Jubilee Year, Pope Francis designated only 5 Holy Doors, all of them in Rome. Four of them are at the Major Basilicas: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul outside the Walls. In addition, Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at the Rebibbia Prison Complex. The Holy Father declared that these would be the only Holy Doors of 2025. Because of this, and unlike in past Jubilee Years, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception does not have a Holy Door you can physically walk through.
With that said, we are able to provide pilgrims the same opportunity to obtain the Jubilee indulgence. For any pilgrim unable to travel to Rome, the National Shrine was designated by the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and, by decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, as a Special Place of Pilgrimage, extending the indulgence under the normal terms.
The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, and President of the USSCB, observed:
“Visiting the Basilica is a powerful way to take advantage of the grace of the Jubilee and to be filled with the hope that flows from the embrace of our Mother.”
What is an indulgence?
An indulgence is the removal of the temporal punishment due to sin. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in that state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the ‘temporal punishment’ of sin.” In the Sacrament of Penance, the forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God is attained, but the temporal punishment remains by “the very nature of sin.” An indulgence allows for the complete purification of the sinner.
How can I receive the plenary indulgence of the Jubilee?
As the Catechism explains, “An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians…”
The general conditions to receive the plenary indulgence are: (1) detachment from all sin, (2) sacramental confession, (3) Holy Communion, and (4) prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Obtaining the plenary indulgence for the Jubilee year can be done by visiting the National Shrine, as a Jubilee pilgrimage site, and fulfilling these conditions.
I want to bring a group to Mary’s Shrine on pilgrimage, what should I do?
The Basilica is open 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. to welcome pilgrims and visitors from across the world. If you are planning on bringing a large group, we suggest calling the Basilica ahead of time with the date you are planning to visit so that we can arrange appropriate accommodations and help craft your itinerary.
Are there special events planned for the Jubilee?
The Shrine’s robust liturgical schedule offers pilgrims ample opportunity to gather in prayer this Jubilee Year. Every Mass at Mary’s Shrine is a special opportunity to deepen one’s faith and take a step forward in the journey to God, with Mary as the model for that journey. As part of the Jubilee, each Sunday Mass at the Basilica, we will pray the Jubilee Prayer, released by Pope Francis, uniting all gathered at Mary’s Shrine with the Universal Church. In addition, the official Vatican recording of the “Jubilee hymn,” Pilgrims of Hope, was recorded by our own Choir of the Basilica.
When can I go to Mass and Confession?
The Basilica offers five hours of confession each day, four daily Masses Monday through Saturday, and seven Masses for Sunday (including the Vigil Mass). Mass and confession times can be found here.
Other than Mass and Confession, what else does the Basilica offer?
The Basilica offers Adoration and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament five days a week, daily Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary, weekly and seasonal Novenas, Stations of the Cross, and more. In addition, the more than 80 chapels and oratories offer plentiful opportunities for private prayer. Information on these devotions can be found here.