‘Jubilee Case’ offers glimpse of Holy Years throughout Church history

Visitors to St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish may now view artifacts of Holy Years throughout Church history without ever leaving the narthex. The Flemington church is the home of a Jubilee Case, a curio cabinet filled with a wide variety of items enabling faithful to take a mini-pilgrimage and learn more about Church roots.

Red tiles mounted on the walls give an explanation of Holy Years and point the visitor towards the treasures inside the tall cabinet. Father James De Fillipps, pastor, noted all the display items were on loan to the parish by its weekend assistant, Msgr. Robert F. Coleman, JCD, Rector Emeritus of Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange.

Perched prominently on one of the shelves is the medal and memorial plate from the Jubilee Year 1950, which was of great importance for the pontificate of Pius XII. Five years after the end of World War II, it represented the real conclusion of the conflict for Pope Pius XII. On May 26, 1949, the Holy Year of 1950 was proclaimed with the Bull Jubilaeum Maximum. It was during the Jubilee celebrations Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven and transformed the College of Cardinals; under this Pope’s vision, the College of Cardinals decreased in the number of Italian Cardinals while increasing in representation of cardinals from other nations.

The 1975 Jubilee Year memorial plate, issued during the pontificate of Paul VI, also finds a temporary home in the curio cabinet. The year, dedicated to renewal and reconciliation, was announced with the Bull Apostolorum Limina of May 23, 1974, and became the first Jubilee to be broadcast worldwide. Also present in the cabinet are a Jubilee Medal, an image of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, and one of the tiles of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Philatelists will appreciate the multiple “Anno Sancto” Holy Year stamps produced by the Vatican. (The envelope resting flat upon the shelf is from the Holy Year of 1983.)  With the Bull Aperite Portas Redemptori, Jan. 6, 1983, John Paul II proclaimed a Jubilee to celebrate the 1950th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Jubilee contains numerous mementos of the “Great Jubilee” of 2000, proclaimed by Pope St. John Paul II with the Bull Incarnationi Mysterium, on Nov. 29, 1998. During this year, the pope made several pilgrimages and symbolic gestures not included in the usual celebratory practices, including a public request for forgiveness for sins committed in history and the publication of Martyrology of Christians killed in the 20th century.  

One of the main events of the Jubilee Year 2000 was the World Youth Day in Rome in which more than two million young people participated. The Pope also made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, encouraging dialogue between the Catholic Church, Islam and Judaism. The Jubilee Case contains medals and an image of the St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door.

Pictures of all the Holy Doors being opened for the present Jubilee 2025, when faithful were urged to become Pilgrims of Hope, also include Pope Francis opening the Holy Door of Rebibbia New Complex Prison, Rome, the first time in history such an institution was visited for that purpose.

The Jubilee Case is available for viewing in the narthex during normal business hours; the office may be reached at 908-782-2922. St. Magdalen de Pazzi Church is at 105 Mine Street, Flemington.

Father De Fillipps serves as pastor, St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington.