CMRE NOTES 1 - GENERAL ORIENTATION

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CM-RE Notes 1 – General Orientation on the Jubilee Year 2000 Celebration

 

Review of the Jubilee Year 2000 Preparation

·        Nov. 10, 1994 – Pope John Paul II issued a pastoral letter entitled “Tertio Millennio Adveniente” – which means “As the Third Millennium Approaches” or TMA.

·        TMA called for a 3-Year Preparation for the celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

·        Purpose of the celebration – To commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the birth (incarnation) of Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer.

But what is a Jubilee? Where did we get the idea of the Jubilee? And how should we celebrate this Great Jubilee of the Year 2000?

1.       A jubilee is a year of joy, a year of “kalipay.” It is a year of celebration (as when we celebrate a Silver Jubilee – 25th anniversary, or a Golden Jubilee – 50th anniversary of a wedding, etc.).

2.       In the Church the idea of the Jubilee celebration was borrowed from the Jews who in the Old Testament celebrated the Jubilee every 50 years (a cluster of 7 sabbatical years).

3.       The Biblical Jubilee started with the blowing of the “yobel” (ram’s horn) throughout the land (Lev 25:8-9). It is from this word “yobel” that the word “jubilee” was derived. 

4.       For the Jews the Jubilee was a very special celebration dedicated to God (holy year), a year when slaves were set free and debts were cancelled (year of liberation), a year when lands and properties were returned to their original owners (year of justice), and a year when the land was left fallow and allowed to rest (year of creation).

5.       In the New Testament Jesus presents himself as the One who brings the old Jubilee to completion, because he has come to “preach the year of the Lord’s favor” (Is 61:1-2).

6.       The Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Year every 25 years (1900, 1925, 1950, 1975, 2000). The Jubilee Year is celebrated every 50 years (or 2 Holy Years).

7.       Primary Objective of Jubilee Year 2000 is: “to strengthen the faith and witness of Christians.”

 

Review of TMA Thematic Structure

YEAR

FOCUS

VIRTUE

SACRAMENT

MARIAN THEME

ECUMENICAL GOAL

1997

Jesus Christ

Faith

Baptism

Model of Faith

Sharing of Faith

1998

Holy Spirit

Hope

Confirmation

Model of Hope

Christian Unity

1999

God the Father

Charity

Penance

Model of Charity

Inter-Religious Dialogue

2000

Holy Trinity

Unity & Peace

Eucharist

Star of Evangelization

 

 

I.                    The 7R’s of the Jubilee Year:

 

1.       Release of SlavesEx 21:2-6; Dt 15:12-18; Lev 25:39-43

A slave shall serve only 6 years, but on the 7th year he shall be released with no compensation to the master. Later, freed slaves will also be given shares of the master’s animals, grains and wine. Much later, the entire family of freed slaves shall have their possessions returned to them.

2.       Rest for the LandEx 23:10-11; Lev 25:2-7; 11-12

The land will be cultivated and its produce harvested for six years. But on the 7th year the land is given rest, no cultivation, no harvesting. Its produce is for the poor and wild animals.

3.       Remission of DebtsDt 15:1-6; Dt 15:7-11

At the end of the 7th year, all loans shall be released (forgiven). Loans shall not be denied to the poor even if the sabbatical year is drawing near.

4.       Restoration of PropertyLev 25:10. 13, 23-24

On the year of the jubilee, each one shall return to his property and his family. Land shall not be sold in perpetuity and shall be returned to its original owner.

5.       Renewal and 6.  ReconciliationProposed by John Paul II in TMA 12-13

7.   Recovery of the Feminist PrinciplesProposed by the Men and Women Religious in the Philippines

This pertains to the liberation of the female from centuries-old subordination and subjugation to the m

 

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Last Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 09:15:41 PM