L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO
CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR THE GREAT JUBILEE
Calendar of the Holy Year 2000
Foreword
1. The Holy Year of 2000, when the Church will celebrate the second millennium of the birth of Jesus, her Lord and Saviour, is a "year of jubilee" and also a "liturgical year". These two aspects cannot be separated, but must vivify that unique period of time in which the chronological date, inherent in the number 2000, and the mystical date, that of the sacramental celebration of the mystery of Christ, are harmoniously welded together.
The Jubilee Year in Scripture
2. It is usual, when discussing with the faithful the significance of the values of a "holy year", to refer to the institution of the "jubilee year" of the people of Israel. According to Leviticus every 50th year, that is the year after "seven weeks of years" (Lv 25: 8), was a kind of great sabbatical year: the land was to rest, thus it remained untilled; fields and houses which had been sold returned to their previous owners; slaves were liberated and insolvent debtors were freed from their debts.
The institution of the "jubilee year" was inspired by principles of social justice which recalled the origins of Israel when the promised land was divided between the 12 tribes (cf. Jos 13-21): the land, as it belonged to God, could not be sold in perpetuity; the initial parceling out of the land could not be simply abolished by a few people accumulating it over a period of time; the Hebrews, freed by God from slavery in Egypt, could not be slaves of earthly masters.
3. The celebration of the "holy year" also recalls the "year of grace" inaugurated by Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth (cf. Lk 4: 16-20), and the "year of mercy" which the vinedresser asks of the master in the hope that the sterile fig would bear fruit (cf. Lk 13: 5-9).
Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, the Lord's Anointed who, according to the prophetic word was "sent to announce a joyful message to the poor ... and to preach a year of favour" (Lk 4: 18-19; cf. Is 61: 1-2).
Jesus is also, obviously, the vinedresser of the parable who asks the master the Father, rich in mercy (cf. Eph 2: 4), for a "year of mercy" in the hope that the sterile fig man, unfaithful to the Covenant would bring forth the fruit of holiness and justice.
The Year 2000, marked with that great sign of being the second millennium from the birth of the Messiah Saviour, is that "year of grace", that "year of mercy", always available, in which man is called to receive the joyful message and be converted to God. If he does not welcome the Word and be converted, there will be no year of grace, no year of mercy, no jubilee year.
The "Calendar of the Holy Year 2000' and Its Characteristics
4. The "Calendar of the Holy Year 2000" is an instrument which, following the rhythm of the liturgical year, indicates the principal celebrations which will occur in the "jubilee year": from Midnight Mass on the Birth of the Lord (24 December 1999), when the Holy Year will be inaugurated, until 6 January 2001, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, when the Great Jubilee will be closed in Rome.
5. The celebrations have a threefold characteristic:
liturgical, which constitutes the essential element of the Calendar, and the high points thereof are Easter (23 April), and, in conjunction with the object of the Great Jubilee, the cycle of the Manifestation of the Lord on the Solemnity of Christmas (25 December), the Epiphany (6 January) and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (25 March).
jubilant, tied to the proper traditions of the holy years and these imply, above all, penitential celebrations and pilgrimages of the faithful, often appertaining to an ecclesial community or particular events scheduled by professional or existential groups (jubilee of the workers, of sports groups, of the ill, of prisoners, etc.);
ecclesial, such as the traditional "days" (Youth Day, Family Day, etc.) or events in the life of the Church (International Eucharistic Congress, the International Mariological-Marian Congress, etc.), or with regard to events and situations that the Church must celebrate and live according to the provisions made by the Holy Father in his Apostolic Letter Tertio millennio adveniente such as the commemoration of the "new martyrs" (cf. TMA, n. 37).
Catechetical, missionary and social aspects are underlined in the Calendar. In the midst of these, provision is made for particularly intense celebrations in order to sensitize Christians and public opinion to these important themes of ecclesiastical Magisterium.
6. These three types of celebration often will coincide so the same liturgical assembly may have a plurality of aspects. It is necessary, therefore, that every celebration unfolds and is seen to be in harmony, and in accordance with, the hierarchy of values: the liturgical aspect, insofar as it is tied to the mystery of Christ, must always be given the most importance; the aspect of the jubilee directed towards the openness to the faith and conversion, must be pre-eminent in comparison to that which is associative, which must also be spiritually prepared and celebrated.
A "Sacramental' Calendar
7. The liturgical year is the celebration, during the solar year, of the entire mystery of Christ: "from the Incarnation and Birth till the Ascension as we await in joyful hope the return of our Lord". The sacraments, in their turn, are "sacred signs", "ordered to the sanctification of men, to the building up of the Body of Christ, and thus give glory to God". By these means (and they always have a reference to the salvific mystery of Christ), the disciple is configured to his Master. For this reason, in the "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000", one finds plans for the solemn celebration of all seven sacraments: Baptism of infants (9 January); Baptism of adults, Confirmation and Eucharist are to take place at the Easter Vigil (23 April); Penance on the Tuesday of Holy Week (18 April) and in the penance services proper to the Jubilee itself; the Anointing of the Sick on the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes (11 February), the "Day for the Sick"; Holy Orders on the Solemnity of Epiphany (6 January) for episcopal ordination and the Fourth Sunday of Easter (14 May) for priestly ordination; Holy Matrimony on the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time (15 October), at the time of the "Jubilee of Families".
In this way, the "Year of the Great Jubilee" is seen as a year in which the faithful, fully oriented towards the Father, through the Son in the Spirit, will participate, with full faith and renewed zeal, in the celebration of the sacraments, inexhaustible sources of grace and salvation.
A Roman Calendar
8. The "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000" is eminently Roman. For historical reasons, from the time when access on the part of the faithful to Jerusalem and the holy places became more difficult, Rome became the principal place of pilgrimage. Boniface VIII (+1302), called the first "holy year" in history in 1300, with the Bull Antiquorum habet (22 February 1300), and gave Jubilee years a strong Roman character.
The "Roman-ness" of the "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000" comes about in this fashion:
from the fact that the Holy Father is the Bishop of Rome, Successor of the Apostle Peter and since he rejoices in the primacy which the Lord conferred upon him in service to the universal Church. In the Calendar, the presence of the Holy Father at the celebrations of the Jubilee Year is not explicitly indicated; these will be announced, one at a time, by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff;
from the illustrious memories of which Rome is custodian: first and foremost there are those of the Apostles Peter and Paul, where they announced the Good News and sealed with their martyrdoms their faithful witness to the Lord Jesus; then there are those of innumerable martyrs who, beginning from the Roman Protomartyrs (first century), confessed their faith in Christ by word, behaviour and the sacrifice of their lives.
A Universal Calendar
9. The singular position of the City of Rome, episcopal seat of the Roman Pontiff, and the fact that, for the first time ever, the Jubilee will be celebrated simultaneously in Rome, the Holy Land and in the local Churches, indicates that the Calendar is addressed not only to the Roman Church but to the Church as a whole. In fact, the Calendar should become a model and an instrument of communion for the entire Church by means of the exemplary nature of the celebrations, and the local Church should be involved in such a way that all the faithful, in celebrating the mystery of Christ, can sense the unity of the faith.
In order to bring this about, the Central Committee will not be remiss in providing liturgical materials to the local Churches which, if properly adapted to local use and traditions, will constitute a strong link between Rome and the local Churches.
Another mark of universality and unity in the faith will be provided by the diversity of participants: every "Roman" celebration will be universal because it will involve representatives of the nations and differing ecclesial realities.
The involvement of the faithful of the world will also be made possible through use of the modern means of social communications which will promote the joyful participation of that which is celebrated in Rome during this "first Jubilee of the telematic era".
Lastly, the universality will be seen from the celebrations in all the liturgical rites. The "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000" could not ignore this remarkable ecclesiastical reality, which bears witness to the catholicity of the Church. Thus there will be celebrations in these rites: East Syrian, Syro-Antiochene (2), Alexandrian-Ethiopian, Copt, Armenian, Byzantine, Ambrosian and Mozarabic.
An Ecumenical Calendar
10. Referring to the serious problem of the divisions among Christians, the Holy Father wrote in Tertio millennio adveniente: "From an ecumenical point of view, this will certainly be a very important year for Christians to look together to Christ the one Lord, deepening our commitment to become one in him, in accordance with his prayer to the Father. This emphasis on the centrality of Christ, of the word of God and of faith ought to inspire interest among Christians of other denominations" (n. 41).
The "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000" has heard this desire of the Holy Father and of the whole Church. Some important ecumenical meetings have already been organized. Others, such as the hoped for pan-Christian meeting, can be added later. There have been contacts with other Churches and Ecclesial Communities. Local Churches, and our Christian brothers, are also encouraged to seek out possible ways of providing for some forms of celebrations in common during the Holy Year, which could become an occasion of fellowship, of prayer and of dialogue between all Christians.
A Calendar Attentive to Popular Piety
11. A liturgical calendar, because of its nature, does not contain references to pious exercises. The "Calendar of the Holy Year of 2000", however, does just that. This is necessary because many of the exercises of the "Jubilee Year" processions, penitential celebrations, Eucharistic adoration, the Way of the Cross all have a popular basis.
Thus the Calendar indicates that on the Fridays of Lent and other days when the mystery of the Passion of Christ is recalled, the Way of the Cross should be celebrated; on other feasts and memorials of the Mother of the Lord, recitation of the Rosary is recommended.
It is to be hoped that the penitential celebration of the Year 2000, over and above personal conversion, will also have as its object the seeking of forgiveness for attitudes and behaviours which need to be converted (cf. Tertio millennio adveniente, nn. 33-36).
A Calendar Attentive to the Figure and Mission of the Mother of Jesus
12. Mary of Nazareth has played an essential role in the event commemorated in the Grand Jubilee of the Year 2000 the Incarnation of the Word and the birth of Christ: in the Incarnation, she received, in her own name and representing her people and humanity, the Son of God; in giving him birth, she brought him into the light and presented him to the world; she placed herself at the disposal of the salvific work of Christ. The letter Tertio millennio adveniente speaks of her repeatedly and observes that "the affirmation of the central place of Christ cannot therefore be separated from the recognition of the role played by his Most Holy Mother" (n. 43).
To highlight, in an adequate fashion, the role of the Mother of the Saviour there is no simpler or better way than to celebrate, with particular devotion, according to the rhythm of the liturgical year, those feasts of the Blessed Virgin which are more closely linked with the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word-Birth of Christ during this Jubilee Year.
In this way, it is to be hoped that the Great Jubilee of Christ, spontaneously, by reason of the indissoluble union of the divine Word and the Virgin in the mystery of the Natalis Domini, will become also the Jubilee of his Mother.
From the Vatican, 21 May 1998, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray
President of the Central Committee and the Presidential Council
Crescenzio Sepe
General Secretary of the Central Committee and the Presidential Council
Notes
Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 102.
Ibid., n. 59.
"Antiquorum habet fida relatio, quod accentibus ad honorabilem basilicam Principis apostolorum de Urbe, concessae sunt magnae remissiones et indulgentiae peccatorum". Text of the Bull Antiquorum habet in Bullarium Anni Sancti collegit et edidit Hermannus Schmidt, S.I., Romae, apud Aedes Pont. Univ. Gregorianae, 1949, pp. 33-34.
The publication of a Calendar of the celebrations in the Holy Land is envisaged, while the individual Episcopal Conferences are advised to prepare a calendar that will take account of the festivities specific to each nation.
Contacts have also been made with a view to an interreligious meeting. From 24 to 28 October 1999 is foreseen the Interreligious Assembly with the theme: "At the Threshold of the Third Millennium: The Collaboration between Different Religions", organized by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, n. 56.
December 1999
24 Friday Solemnity of the Birth of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Opening of the Holy Door
Mass at Midnight
25 Saturday Solemnity of the Birth of the Lord
Basilicas of St John Lateran and St Mary Major
Opening of the Holy Door
Mass during the Day
St Peter's Basilica
"Urbi et Orbi" Blessing
Holy Land
Opening of the Jubilee
Local Churches
Opening of the Jubilee
31 Friday St Peter's Basilica
Prayer vigil for the passage to the Year 2000
January 2000
1 Saturday Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
World Day of Peace
2 Sunday Second Sunday after Christmas
St Peter's Basilica
Day for Children
6 Thursday Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Episcopal Ordinations
9 Sunday Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Holy Mass
Celebration of the sacrament of Baptism for children
18 Tuesday Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Opening of the Holy Door
Ecumenical celebration
25 Tuesday Feast of the Conversion of St Paul
Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Ecumenical celebration for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
28 Friday Memorial of St Ephrem
Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere
Divine Liturgy in the East Syrian Rite (Chaldean and Malabarese)
February 2000
2 Wednesday Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Liturgy of light and Holy Mass
Jubilee of Consecrated Life
9 Wednesday Memorial of St Maron
Basilica of St Mary Major
Divine Liturgy in the Syro-Antiochene Rite (Maronite)
11 Friday Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Jubilee of the sick and health-care workers
18 Friday Memorial of Blessed John (Beato Angelico)
St Mary "sopra Minerva"
Jubilee of artists
20 Sunday Jubilee of permanent deacons
22 Tuesday Solemnity of the Chair of St Peter Apostle
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Jubilee of the Roman Curia
25 Friday
27 Sunday
Study convention on the implementation of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council
March 2000
5 Sunday Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Beatification/Canonization
8 Wednesday Ash Wednesday
Penitential procession from the Basilica of St Sabina to the Circus Maximus
Holy Mass and imposition of ashes
Request for pardon
9 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
10 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
11 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
12 Sunday First Sunday of Lent
Basilica of St John Lateran
Rite of Election and the enrolment of the names of the catechumens
16 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
17 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
18 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
19 Sunday Second Sunday of Lent
Basilica of St John Lateran
First scrutiny of catechumens
20 Monday Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jubilee of craftsmen
23 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
24 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
25 Saturday Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation
Liturgical celebration linked with the Basilica of St Mary Major and the major Marian shrines of the world to underscore the dignity of women in the light of Mary's mission (Mulieris dignitatem)
26 Sunday Third Sunday of Lent
Basilica of St John Lateran
Second scrutiny of catechumens
30 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
31 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
April 2000
1 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
2 Sunday Fourth Sunday of Lent
Basilica of St John Lateran
Third scrutiny of catechumens
6 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
7 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
8 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
9 Sunday Fifth Sunday of Lent
Basilica of St John Lateran
Rite of giving the Creed and the Lord's Prayer to the catechumens
10 Monday Jubilee of migrants and refugees
13 Thursday Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Eucharistic Adoration
14 Friday Basilica of St John Lateran
Way of the Cross and penitential celebration
15 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
Holy Week
16 Sunday Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
St Peter's Square
Commemoration of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem and Holy Mass
18 Tuesday Tuesday of Holy Week
In the Major Basilicas
Communal celebration of the sacrament of Penance with individual absolution
20 Thursday Holy Thursday
St Peter's Basilica
Chrism Mass
Basilica of St John Lateran
Mass of the Lord's Supper
21 Friday Good Friday
St Peter's Basilica
Celebration of the Lord's Passion
Colosseum
Solemn Way of the Cross
23 Sunday Easter Sunday the Resurrection of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Easter Vigil of the Holy Night: Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Baptismal Liturgy (Celebration of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), Eucharistic Liturgy
St Peter's Basilica
Mass during the Day
"Urbi et Orbi" Blessing
30 Sunday Second Sunday of Easter
Basilica of St Pancras
Mass for newly baptized adults
May 2000
1 Monday Memorial of St Joseph the Worker
Holy Mass
Jubilee of workers
6 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
7 Sunday Third Sunday of Easter
Colosseum
Ecumenical service for the "new martyrs"
13 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
14 Sunday Fourth Sunday of Easter
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Priestly Ordinations
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
18 Thursday 80th Birthday of the Holy Father
St Peter's Square
Holy Mass
Jubilee of clergy
20 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
25 Thursday Jubilee of scientists
26 Friday Basilica of St Mary of the Angels
Divine Liturgy in the Alexandrian-Ethiopian Rite
(Feast of Mary Covenant of Mercy)
27 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
28 Sunday Sixth Sunday of Easter
Holy Mass
Jubilee of the Diocese of Rome
31 Wednesday Vigil of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
First Vespers of the Solemnity
June 2000
1 Thursday Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
4 Sunday Seventh Sunday of Easter
Holy Mass
Day of Social Communications
Jubilee of journalists
10 Saturday Vigil of the Solemnity of Pentecost
St Peter's Square
Solemn Vigil of Pentecost
11 Sunday Solemnity of Pentecost
St Peter's Basilica
Day of Prayer for collaboration among the different religions
18 Sunday Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Basilica of St John Lateran
Celebration of the opening of the International Eucharistic Congress
22 Thursday Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
Basilica of St John Lateran
Eucharistic procession
25 Sunday Closing of the International Eucharistic Congress
29 Thursday Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass and imposition of the pallium on Metropolitan Archbishops
July 2000
2 Sunday 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Station Mass of the Jubilee
9 Sunday 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jubilee celebration in the prisons
16 Sunday 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Station Mass of the Jubilee
23 Sunday 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Station Mass of the Jubilee
30 Sunday 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Station Mass of the Jubilee
August 2000
5 Saturday Vigil of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Basilica of St Mary Major
Prayer vigil
6 Sunday Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Second Vespers of the Feast
14 Monday Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Basilica of St Mary Major
Incense Rite of the Coptic Liturgy
15 Tuesday Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Opening of the 15th World Youth Day
19 Saturday
20 Sunday
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Prayer Vigil and Holy Mass
Conclusion of the 15th World Youth Day
Jubilee of youth
27 Sunday 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Station Mass of the Jubilee
September 2000
3 Sunday 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Beatification/Canonization
8 Friday Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Solemn Celebration to recall the birth of the Mother of the Lord in relation to the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ
10 Sunday 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Jubilee of university teachers
14 Thursday Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
From the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem to the Basilica of St John Lateran
Stational Procession
Basilica of St John Lateran
Vespers in the Armenian Rite and the Rite of Antasdan
15 Friday Opening of the International Marian-Mariological Congress
17 Sunday 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jubilee of senior citizens
24 Sunday 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Mass
Conclusion of the International Marian-Mariological Congress
October 2000
1 Sunday 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Pokrov (Protection of the Mother of God)
Basilica of St Mary "sopra Minerva"
Divine Liturgy and the Akathistos Hymn in the Byzantine Rite
3 Tuesday Day for Jewish Christian Dialogue
7 Saturday Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Recitation of the Rosary and torchlight procession
8 Sunday 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Jubilee of Bishops on the occasion of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Act of dedicating the new millennium to the protection of Mary
14 Saturday
15 Sunday
Third Worldwide Meeting of the Holy Father with Families
15 Sunday 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Square
Holy Mass
Celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony
Jubilee of families
20 Friday
22 Sunday
International Missionary-Missiological Congress
21 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Celebration of the Rosary
22 Sunday 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
World Mission Day
28 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Recitation of the Rosary
29 Sunday 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Olympic Stadium
Holy Mass
Jubilee of athletes
31 Tuesday Vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints
St Peter's Basilica
First Vespers of the Solemnity
November 2000
1 Wednesday Solemnity of All Saints
St Peter's Basilica
Beatification/Canonization
2 Thursday Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
4 Saturday Celebration in the Ambrosian Rite
5 Sunday 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Mass
Jubilee of those involved in public life
12 Sunday 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Mass
Day of thanks for the gifts of creation
Jubilee of the agricultural world
19 Sunday 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Jubilee of the military and the police
21 Tuesday Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Basilica of St Mary in Trastevere
Divine Liturgy in the Syro-Antiochene Rite (Syrian and Malankarese)
24 Friday Opening of the World Congress for the Apostolate of the Laity
26 Sunday Solemnity of Christ the King
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
Conclusion of the World Congress for the Apostolate of the Laity
December 2000
2 Saturday
Vigil of the First Sunday of Advent
St Peter's Basilica
First Vespers of Sunday
3 Sunday First Sunday of Advent
Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Holy Mass
8 Friday Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Basilica of St Mary Major
Akathistos Hymn
10 Sunday Second Sunday of Advent
Basilica of St John Lateran
Holy Mass
16 Saturday Basilica of St Mary Major
Celebration in the Mozarabic Rite
17 Sunday Third Sunday of Advent
Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Holy Mass
Jubilee of the entertainment world
24 Sunday Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Midnight Mass
25 Monday Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Mass during the Day
"Urbi et Orbi" Blessing
31 Sunday St Peter's Basilica
Prayer Vigil for the passage to the new millennium
January 2001
1 Monday Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
St Peter's Basilica
Holy Mass
World Day of Peace
5 Thursday Vigil of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Basilicas of St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul-Outside-the-Walls
Holy Mass
Closing of the Holy Door
Holy Land
Closing of the Jubilee
Local Churches
Closing of the Jubilee
6 Friday Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
St Peter's Basilica
Closing of the Holy Door
Notes
Materials will also be prepared for the local Churches for the season of Advent, for the ceremony of opening of the Holy Door and for the prayer vigil for the passage to the Year 2000.
During the Week ecumenical celebrations are foreseen in the basilicas and churches of Rome, presided over by representatives of the Christian denominations. Material will also be prepared for the local Churches.
The Church "cannot cross the threshold of the new millennium without encouraging her children to purify themselves through repentance of past errors and instances of infidelity, inconsistency, and slowness to act" (Tertio millennio adveniente, n. 33); cf. also ibid., nn. 34-36.
For the season of Lent, materials will also be prepared for the local Churches.
In this circumstance, materials will also be prepared for the local Churches.
In response to the request of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I.
Material will be prepared for the local Churches for the whole season of Advent.
In this circumstance, materials will also be prepared for the local Churches.
Material will also be prepared for the local Churches for the closure of the Holy Door.
(©L'Osservatore Romano - 3 June 1998)