Rite of the opening of the Holy Door on the Jubilee Year of the Redemption (25 March 1983)

SOLEMNITY

OF THE

ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD 1983

OPENING OF THE HOLY DOOR

AND HOLY MASS

CELEBRATED BY THE HOLY FATHER

JOHN PAUL II

IN THE VATICAN BASILICA

HOLY YEAR OF THE REDEMPTION

The eulogical and biblical texts of the Holy Mass are the proper ones on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The Eucharistic Prayer is III.

Some other significant texts are also reported: Introductory rites, the rite of the opening of the Holy Door, the invocation of the Holy Year recited by Pope John Paul II at the end of his homily and the Prayers of the Faithful.

INTRODUCTORY RITE

As the Holy Father enters the Church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini, the choirs sings:

Entrance antiphon

Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

The Holy Father:

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

R. Amen.

Gratia vobis et pax 

a Deo Patre nostro 

et a Domino Iesu Christo, 

qui dilexit nos et lavit nos 

a peccatis nostris in sanguine suo.

R. Ipsi gloria in sæcula sæculorum.

Amen.

To you grace and peace 

from God our Father 

and the Lord Jesus Christ, 

who loved us and washed us 

from our sins in his blood.

To him be the glory for ever and ever.

The Holy Father:

Brothers: we are gathered here

in the church of Santo Stefano degli Abyssini

to begin a penitential rite

at the moment in which the Jubilee year of Redemption

is about to open with the Holy Door.

Now, to participate worthily

in this much desired celebration

that prepares us for the celebration of the Eucharist,

we proceed to the Holy Door,

invoking God's Mercy upon us sinners.

Procession

The Deacon:

Procedamus in pace.

R. In Christi nomine. 

Amen.

Let us go in peace.

In Christ's name.

The procession begins to the atrium of the Basilica. Meanwhile they sing the:

Litany of the Saints

The Holy Father:

Oremus.

Domine Deus, Pater indulgentiarum, 

qui largiris Ecclesiæ tuæ 

hoc pænitentiaæ tempus et remissionis, 

up per semitas tuas, 

intus per Spiritum Sanctum renovata, 

lætanter procedat sitque in mundo 

salutis atque redemptionis sacramentum; 

dignare, quæsumus, nostris accedere votis, 

tuæque nunc ianua reserata clementiæ, 

in cælestem fac olim habitationem intremus, 

quam Iesus Christus, Filius tuus, 

primitiæ hominum introivit, 

ibique laudes in æternum tibi cantemus.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

Lord God, Father of mercy, 

you grant your Church 

this time of penance and forgiveness, 

so that she may have the joy of interior renewal 

through the work of the Holy Spirit 

and of walking ever forward in your ways, 

remaining in the midst of the world 

a sign of salvation and redemption, 

deign, we ask, to approach our wishes: 

open completely the door of your mercy to us, 

to one day unlock for us the doors of your dwelling in heaven, 

where Jesus, your Son 

and first of the human race, preceded us, 

to to be able, all together, to sing to you forever.

Through Christ our Lord.

RITUS APERIENDÆ PORTÆ SANCTÆ

The Schola sings an invocation to the Holy Spirit.

Veni, creator Spiritus

At the end of it, the Holy Father approaches the Holy Door, receives the hammer from the hands of the Cardinal Penitentiary, and as he strikes the Door, sings the following verses:

Aperite mihi portas iustitiæ.

R. Ingressus in eas, confitebor Domino.

Open to me the gates of holiness.

I will enter and give thanks.

Hæc porta Domini.

R. Iusti intrabut in eam.

This is the Lord's own door.

Where the just may enter.

Introibo, in domum tuam, Domine.

R. Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum.

I will enter your house, O Lord.

I will bow down before your holy temple.

The Holy Father returns to the chair. While the Holy Door is being cleaned by the Friars of the Franciscan Conventual, the singers sing the Psalm.

At the end of the psalm, the Holy Father says the following prayer:

Oremus.

Deus, qui per Moysem 

populo tuo annum iubilæi et remissionis misericorditer instituisti, 

concede propitius Ecclesiæ tuæ 

hoc tempus acceptabile, 

quo portam hanc fidelibus tuis 

ad preces tibi porrigendas ingredientibus 

sollemniter aperire voluisti, 

feliciter inchoare: 

ut, venia et indulgentia 

plenæ remissionis delictorum obtenta, 

in novitate vitæ 

secundum Evangelium Filii tui alacriter ambulent 

ad cælestem gloriam 

in domo tua valeant pervenire.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who through Moses 

established the year of jubilee and remission for your people, 

graciously grant your Church 

to live joyfully in the propitious moment, 

in which you wanted to open this Door to your faithful, 

so that they may enter 

and may they raise their prayers to you: 

so that, imploring forgiveness, indulgence, 

and the full remission of sins, 

they may walk quickly in a new life 

according to the Gospel of your Son 

and may reach heavenly glory in your abode.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Holy Father returns to the Holy Door, genuflects on its threshold, while the Schola begins the hymn Cælestis urbs Ierusalem.

At the end of the prayer, the Holy Father gets up, kiss the jambs of the Holy Door, enters alone, and first, into the Basilica, and goes towards the "Confession" of St. Peter's. In the meantime the Schola and the assembly continue singing the aforesaid hymn.

Subsequently also the Cardinals, the Bishops, and all the others, according to the traditional order, enter the Basilica, after having kissed the jambs of the Holy Door, and start in procession to the assigned places.

The Holy Father, having arrived at the altar, ascends to the chair and begins the hymn Gloria in excelsis Deo.

* * *

Invocation of the Holy Year

"Year of grace" that I, successor of Peter, invoke from you, Lord of all ages and all history, who loved us unto death in order to give us abundant life:

1. Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, 

who, through the work of the Holy Spirit, 

took your body from the Virgin Mary and became man!

Jesus Christ, Redeemer of man! 

You who are the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Welcome this extraordinary Jubilee Year 

offered by your Church 

to commemorate the one thousand nine hundred and fiftieth 

anniversary of your death and resurrection for the redemption of the world.

You, who have made the work of Redemption 

the source of ever new gifts for your earthly Bride, 

allow your saving power to permeate 

all the days, weeks, and months of this Year, 

so that it truly becomes the "Year of Grace of the Lord" for us.

2. Make us all love you even more during this election season 

by reliving the mysteries of your life, 

from conception and birth to the cross and resurrection; 

be with us through these mysteries, 

be with us in the Holy Spirit, and do not abandon us! 

Always return to us (cf. Jn 14, 18).

3. Convert everyone to Love 

by recognizing in you, Son of Eternal Love, 

the Father who is "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4).

Throughout this year, the entire Church will feel the abundance of your Redemption, 

which manifests itself in the forgiveness of sins 

and the purification of their residues, 

which weigh on souls called to an immortal life.

Help us overcome our apathy and sluggishness!

Provide us with a sense of sin.

Create a pure heart in us, O Lord, 

and renew a firm spirit in our conscience (Ps 51, 12).

4. Grant, O Lord, that this Holy Year of your Redemption 

also become an appeal to the modern world, 

which sees justice and peace on the horizon of its desires, 

but, allowing ever more space to sin, 

lives day by day amidst 

growing tensions and threats, and appears to be heading 

in a dangerous direction for everyone!

Help us change the course 

of the modern world's growing threats and misfortunes!

Raise the man! 

Defend nations and peoples!

Allow not the work of destruction that threatens modern humanity!

5. Lord Jesus Christ, 

may the work of your Redemption be more powerful!

This year, the Church appeals to you 

through your Mother, 

whom you have designated as the Mother of all men.

This is what the Church asks of you 

in the mystery of the Communion of Saints.

This implores your Church vehemently: O Christ!

May the work of your Redemption be more powerful 

- in man and in the world! Amen.

* * *

Universal Prayer
or Prayers of the Faithful

Holy Father:
Fratres et filii carissimi,
qui nuntium redemptionis nostræ magno gaude accepimus,
flagitemus a Deo ut omnium illorum
preces benignus exaudiat qui ad mirabilem
Christi incarnatione celebramus.
Dear brothers and children, 

who received the news of our redemption with great joy, 

let us ask God to graciously hear the prayers 

of all those who celebrate 

the wonderful incarnation of Christ.

The cantor:
Domine deprecemur.

The assembly:
Te rogamus, audi nos.

1. For the Holy Father, John Paul II, for the pastors, and for all the faithful of the church around the world. 

So that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they can understand the needs of the men of our time and recognize the signs of the times. R.

2. For all men to whom the Gospel has not yet been proclaimed.

So that God sends them the messengers of his word and opens their hearts to the grace of redemption. R.

3. For the sick, the elderly, the abandoned, and those who have lost hope. 

So that they can meet brothers who are compassionate toward their suffering and eager to help and comfort them. R.

4. For us sinners and for all those who, in this year of grace and salvation, will pray in this holy temple. So that God opens his Fatherly heart to us and forgives our sins so that free from any earthly affection we can live as well-loved children according to his will. R.

5. For our deceased brothers. 

So that God may open to them the inexhaustible springs of his mercy and introduce them to the illuminating joy of eternal happiness. R.

Holy Father:

Domine Pater 

amantissime oranta ecclesiam tuam 

propitius respice tuorum 

ex audi preces filiorum eorumque 

concede postulationibus ut sincera animi convertione expiati 

in regnum tuum ingre valeamus quot 

et tibi pereus intercessionem petimus 

quæ Mater nuntiata est filii tui 

Iesu Christi Domini nostri.

Lord our Father, 

as we pray most lovingly to your church, 

look more favorably on your children's prayers 

and grant their petitions, 

so that we may enter your kingdom 

with a sincere conversion of heart, 

as we ask you for the intercession 

announced to the Mother of your son, 

Jesus Christ our Lord..