Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter's Basilica

by Joan Watson, Deacon Greg Kandra (foreword)

Every twenty-five years, pilgrims from all over the world flock to Rome for a jubilee year to witness the opening of a special door on the north side of St. Peter’s Basilica—the Holy Door—and to receive a special blessing by passing through it. This bronze Holy Door uniquely depicts the salvation story, from the dawn of creation to the present, through sixteen panels that inspire the faithful to connect their lives to the timeless story of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

In Opening the Holy Door, scripture teacher and veteran tour guide Joan Watson examines these sixteen panels of the jubilee Holy Door, guiding readers to pray and reflect upon the deeper meaning of these images by contemplating them through the lens of scripture. With a unique combination of an attentive gaze and imaginative prayer, Watson guides you to experience, panel by panel, each image as a focal point in the scripture narratives.

Meet the angelic messengers—first in the Garden of Eden, where hope is lost, and then at the Annunciation, where God’s promise of the Messiah is fulfilled. Return to key moments in the life of Christ, from his Incarnation and Baptism to his Passion and Death. Place yourself in the scene of Christ’s earthly ministry, and witness the healing of the paralyzed man and the witness of the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet. Identify with the weaknesses and foibles of Jesus’s closest followers, from denying Peter to doubting Thomas and the miraculous conversion of Saul. Meditate on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Hope, who invites us to a living encounter with the God who loves us.   Whether you’re preparing for a visit to the Holy Door or embarking on an armchair pilgrimage from home, these reflections provide a meaningful way to celebrate the Year of Hope by exploring the people and holy moments that have been revered for centuries by Christians all over the world. Each reflection will help you to cross the spiritual threshold of this iconic door—located in the heart of the Church—as you enliven and enrich your faith by contemplating their timeless beauty.

This book is more than a guide for the jubilee year; it’s a spiritual companion for anyone seeking answers and hope in a fractured world.

Genres: Catholic

128 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2024

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Opening the Holy Door, by Joan Watson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a door at St. Peters Basilica that is only opened every twenty-five years. The Holy door is on the north side of St. Peters Basilica, people who enter receive a special blessing just by passing through the door! I have never heard of this door before. This was a very interesting reads, with beautiful pictures and prayers.

[David Crumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 12-Day Meditation on Vico Consorti's Vatican Holy Doors that Will Open Christmas Eve 2024

I am including this review of Joan Watson's spiritual reflections on the so-called "Holy Door" at the Vatican because I can't recall seeing a book like it in my decades of covering religion around the world. Although its meditations are focused simply on the images on the Vico Consorti-designed Holy Door (actually 2 doors that form a gigantic portal)—and although it's strongly focused on Catholic spirituality that may leave some Protestant readers a little at a loss—I'm nevertheless impressed with this book's unique approach. I can think of a number of Catholic friends who may want to get a copy and reflect day by day on the biblical scenes depicted on the Holy Door during this coming year.

I'm giving the book only 3 stars, though, because I wish Watson had expanded on the many ways Pope Francis has tried to expand the idea of "Jubilee." This review isn't the place to write an extended history of this Jubilee concept that stems from our earliest Hebrew scriptures. But look it up, because it's a remarkable and much-needed concept that goes beyond merely the images Consorti chose to place in the 16 panels that he had made by craftsmen for this stunning set of doors.

The general idea began back in 1300 of opening this particular set of doors into St. Peter's Basilica to mark a "Jubilee" every 25 years—or so. The doors are sealed up on the inside until the Jubilee year rolls around, so many visitors to Rome have never stepped through these doors. As a journalist covering religion for 50 years, my many visits to St. Peter's never coincided with a Jubilee year and I doubt I'll make it to Rome in 2025. This is why Pope Francis and his predecessors allowed other "Holy Doors" to be blessed in other parts of the world—to give more of us a possibility of experiencing this powerful symbolism.

This year, in fact, Pope Francis will open four doors at churches in Rome—and he also will add a ceremonial opening of a Holy Door at a prison in Rome to symbolize God's compassion for all, including prisoners. The door openings in Rome will begin at St. Peter's on Christmas Eve in a dramatic debut of this beloved ritual. Then, over a series of days this so-called "Jubilee of Hope" series of openings will take place at  the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls—on various days. Details of the prison ceremony haven't been announced, to my knowledge as I write this review. If someone knows, perhaps add a comment to this review with the details?

Why the specific references to Consorti? Because, of course, these "doors" that pontiffs open haven't been the same over the past 700 years. As our friends at Wikipedia accurately explain it: "On Christmas day 1950 Pope Pius XII replaced the wooden doors installed by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748, which had begun to fall into disrepair, with the 16-paneled bronze doors (modeled by Vico Consorti and cast by Ferdinando Marinelli Artistic Foundry) that are seen today."

As I say, I wish Watson's book had explored the whole sweep of this upcoming Jubilee of Hope as Francis has been talking about it since at least the spring of 2024. This Jubilee will continue until Jan. 6, 2026, the feast of the Epiphany. The themes are timely and deeply humbling for all of us. As a Protestant, I'm looking forward to Francis's reflections in this Jubilee.

However, I can't recall a book that goes into such detail, meditating on what truly is Consorti's artistic masterpiece. I'm including this review because I know some friends likely will be happy to discover and explore this book.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in a small group setting and the book was a great format to use in a group! Chapters were a good length to read aloud and there are a few discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The meditations were thought-provoking and I loved the way she connected scripture with the art of the panels of the door.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the 2025 Jubilee Year begins, 'Opening the Holy Door' is a fantastic book to pick up to start the spiritual year. A large part of the book is a history on the door's panels and the connections to Scripture, but it's also a workbook with several prompts (spanning over 12 days) for reflection.

For the purpose of this read-through, I didn't participate as I would have normally by reading it daily and keeping a journal. I hope to enter through one of the Holy Doors some time this year and I will keep in mind to look back at this book for preparation. Even if someone reading is unable to visit one of the doors (and I'll say especially if someone is unable), this book will bring you a little closer.

Thanks to Ave Maria Press and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to travel to Rome next year to celebrate the Catholic Church’s Jubilee, proclaimed a Year of Hope. But I’m also fairly confident that through Joan Watson’s new book, OPENING THE HOLY DOOR, I can experience some of the wonder and graces of discovery that are available to those pilgrims who walk through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2025.

First of all, Watson does an excellent job recounting the fascinating history of the Church’s Jubilees (as a cradle Catholic, I regret to say I didn’t know much about this rich tradition). She also details the significance of St. Peter’s Holy Door, a door that is bricked up from the inside except for Jubilee years. The front side of the closed door, however, is always visible, with its sixteen bronze images depicting salvation history.

The heart of Watson’s book is her close look at each of these bronze images and interpreting their meaning, going much deeper than what is apparent in a mere glance. With an artist’s eye, she asks the reader to ponder the minute details in each bronze image and see a richer, more elaborate meaning. Each image contains fascinating tidbits that enhance the interpretation of the corresponding Bible story, but these morsels are often not apparent to the casual viewer. Watson’s analysis provides some “aha” moments of delightful discovery.

Additional questions and exercises help the reader understand how the images of the Holy Door proclaim God’s promises and prophecies and how we can claim faith and hope from them. If you’re fortunate enough to travel to Rome in 2025, you’ll definitely want to read OPENING THE HOLY DOOR to prepare for your trip. If you won’t be going to Rome in 2025, you’ll definitely want to read this book so that you can vicariously experience the wonder of being there and walking through the Holy Door during the Jubilee.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have truly enjoyed Opening the Holy Door as a prayerful guide and companion to better understanding and appreciating the beautiful panels. I never quite understood the significance of the Holy Door, but the sixteen panels do a remarkable job of guiding the reader through the salvation story. What I love about this collection though are the reflections, the opportunities that direct the reader straight to the Scriptures, and the opportunity to prayerfully reflect on the truths and teachings in their own life. Whether you just want to know more about the door or are willing to embrace the Truth that each panel represents, I recommend this guide. You can use it as an individual study guide or in a group setting.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to the see the Holy Door when we took our honeymoon in 1999, but it was covered up as it was not a Jubilee year. Reading this book allowed me to "see" the Holy Door and to delve further into its meaning than I would have been able to do on a brief tour of the Vatican.

The author offers meditations on 12 of the 16 door panels. She describes the scene of each panel and gives some background mixed with a little conjecture on Old Testament and New Testament stories. The overarching story of the Holy Door is one of hope lost when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and hope found through the Death and Resurrection of Christ.

A short but meaningful book!

[Sara Mion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful reflection tool as we look on the holy door during a jubilee year. I remember discovering it in 2000 during the last year of jubilee and making a pilgrimage to a door of a local cathedral, even if I couldn’t go to “the” door in Rome and what a meaningful experience that was.

I found myself recalling those memories as I reflected on each panel in this book and being able to dive deeper not only into scripture, but Church tradition and teaching and what it means for our lives.

This book can be used on your own as a reflection tool, I went through one panel and section every few days on my own, but could also work great for a small study group with time to journal or share personal reflections together.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ares · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it was not as captivating as the other books I read with prayers and guidance. I wish there was overall more about the Basilica itself. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about, it was a fun read and every enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book!