Holy Doors close as Year of Mercy ends

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By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — This coming weekend, Pope Francis closes the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, ending the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. On Nov. 12, Bishop Martin Amos closed the holy doors at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Holy doors throughout the world were closing last weekend as well.

Anne Marie Amacher Bishop Martin Amos prays during Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport Nov. 12.
Anne Marie Amacher
Bishop Martin Amos prays during Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport Nov. 12.

Bishop Amos said to the assembly at the cathedral, “Dearly beloved brothers and sisters, we have reached the end of the Jubilee Year. It has been an extraordinary time of grace and mercy. In this Eucharistic celebration, we raise our voices to the Father in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for all the gifts he has bestowed upon us. Once more, before approaching these sacred mysteries, let us invoke the soothing balm of his mercy acknowledging that we are sinners and forgiving one another from the bottom of our hearts.”

During his homily, Bishop Amos noted that the pope will be the last to close the holy doors. “But God’s mercy will not end with the closing of the doors. Hopefully this year spurs us on to climbing greater heights with God’s help and continued mercy.”

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To conclude the closing of the Year of Mercy, the bishop invited those present to thank the Lord for the spiritual gifts he has bestowed upon them in the Jubilee Year.

After the assembly sang the Magnificat, Bishop Amos gave the final blessing.


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