at the foot of the cross

by Lucille O’Donnell

On the Feast of the Epiphany, 2001, Pope John Paul II concluded the Jubilee Year in the sacred rites of closing the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The Holy Father greeted thousands from every continent assembled at St. Peter’s and gave thanks and praise to the Trinity. He then walked alone to the Holy Door, ascended the steps to the open door and knelt at the threshold in prayer. Rising in silence he proceeded to close the two sides of the Holy Door as a choir sang, Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega, to him be glory for all ages. The door is to remain closed until the next Holy Year in 2025.

After the Epiphany Gospel, the date of Easter and the liturgical festivals of this coming year were solemnly chanted in proclamation. This rite brought to a conclusion for the church the year of reconciliation and forgiveness; the year of the Great Jubilee of the beginning of our redemption.

As a universal church we bring to the Foot of the Cross the helpful effects of a Papal pilgrimage last spring to the Holy Land seeking peace, and the Pope’s asking forgiveness from those wronged by the church over the centuries. These and other events have changed us as to who we are as a universal church, and who we are in the world. We will never be the same as we were a year ago.

As individuals, we too, have been re-shaped as persons through every word and deed that we have brought to the Foot of the Cross this Jubilee Year. We are no longer the same. Each of us may ask ourselves, What do I offer the Lord at the Cross with the Holy Door closed that distinguishes me from a year ago when the Holy Door opened? Does it contribute to the common good and to the building of the Kingdom?

Our culture often sees the closing of a door as a negative. Sometimes we close the door to relationships, or to our own spiritual or personal growth. The closing of the Holy Door can only be viewed as a positive. The church’ s proclamation of the date of Easter and the upcoming events of the liturgical year affirms God’s continuous reconciliation and forgiveness if we truly and faithfully place ourselves at the Foot of the Cross.

As we have recently put the crib away, we are aware that the same Christ goes to the Cross thirty-three years later, and in three days is risen. The Cross is a common denominator for all Christians. It can be the great connector for this upcoming fourth season of RENEW 2000 as we focus on ecumenism.

RENEW 2000 Season 4 will begin in parishes during Lent. A TV Cable discussion guide and programming following the RENEW study themes is available in many communities. See Good News TV & Radio in this issue. Contact the Office of Communications (507) 233-5330 for free small group discussion guides.

Lucille O’Donnell is assistant professor of Occupational Therapy, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN.