Jubilees throughout History

Origin of the Jubilee

The term “Giubileo” meant “indulgence” for mediaeval people. Before 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII announced the Great Pardon, there had never been a Jubilee as we understand it today. Claims that the year 1208 was celebrated as a Jubilee probably refer to the indulgence granted by Pope Innocent III to those participating in a procession.

Papal Initiative: It was Pope Boniface VIII who originated the Christian Jubilee. However, the idea did not come from him or his collaborators. An important source, Jacopo Stefaneschi’s book “De centesimo seu Jubileo anno liber,” allows us to understand the precedents of the decision that led Pope Caetani to grant the world complete forgiveness of sins.

The Year 1300: Stefaneschi tells of a rumor about the holy year, 1300, promising complete forgiveness of sins to anyone who went to Rome to the Basilica of St. Peter. This belief had significant effects, although Stefaneschi did not know the immediate cause. Expectation for the Jubilee was already strong before the century began.

The First Celebration: On January 1st, the secret of the new pardon remained hidden until sunset. Then, the Romans learned of the pardon and rushed en masse to the Basilica of St. Peter. It is unclear whether they were moved by a sermon, spontaneous will, or perhaps a divine sign, but the event marked the beginning of the Jubilee celebrations as we know them today.

The Spread of the Rumor: The rumor did not come from above but from below. Once it started, nothing and no one could stop it. Boniface VIII did not give up. He had already criticised the decision of Celestine V, who had granted plenary indulgence to those who went to L’Aquila, to the Basilica of S. Maria di Collemaggio. Boniface VIII ordered a search in ancient books, but they found nothing.

The Jubilee Announcement: On February 22, 1300, the jubilee induction was announced with the letter Antiquorum habet fida relatio. The pontiff granted full pardon, not only for sins but also for temporal penalties. The voice continued to spread. Some believed that on the first day of the secular year, every guilt was erased, while others thought they earned the indulgence of a hundred years. Many flocked, especially on the day when the Veronica was displayed. The Sunday after Epiphany, January 17, saw a particularly large crowd for the exposition of Veronica. A 107-year-old witness declared he remembered the previous secular year when his father had gone to Rome to obtain forgiveness.