|
  The Great Jubilee of the year 2000 will forever remain as a crucial event in the history of the Church exceeding without hesitation all expectations. From the very beginning, the Pontificate of John Paul II was aimed at this unique meeting and gave it character of deep emotional experience determining the 21st century. In this way, the Holy Father showed that the Jubille contains new perspectives of grace which in the future must be spread all over the world in the Church as well as by the Church. It is not possible to reach a spiritual balance of the Holy Year 2000. However, what remains in the memory are gestures, words and impressions which have deep meaning. Father Wladyslaw Zarebczan collected these and put them in order. As co-worker of the Main Committie of the Great Jubille, from his privileged position, he could observe all the church happenings connected with the celebrations of the Year of Jubilee in Rome. These possess a unique amount of spiritual dimension and appear before us as prophetic signs for the coming years. Suffice it to think of the great gatherings of young people of the world. The youth responded enthusiastically to the invitation of Successor of St.Peter in order to witness , that Jesus Christ is unchangeably the same- yesterday, today and tomorrow, and that His Word gives life and His Body is truly Eucharistic Food. Precisely, in the festive Eucharistic liturgies conducted trough the entire Holy Year under the leadership of John Paul II, we find the fundementals and essence of every one of innumerable categories of faithfull, coming to Rome frome all corners fo the earth in order to observe the 2000th birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That year was deeply Eucharistic year, at the distinct wish of the Pope. I wish with all my heart that pages of this book, so cerefully and interestingly written by Father Zarebczan, encourage and serve, with help of repeated reliving of the main events of the Great Jubille 2000, and awaken in the readers the same joy which is with them at meeting with the trumphant Risen Lord. It was He who drew millions of Catholics to Him that they would cross the treshhold of Holy Door which became a significant symbol of crossing over to new life in the Mersy of God the Father. Truly, it was an expression of providance that the first cannonization of the Holy Year took place under the sign of Mercy of God. The Apostle of Mercy of God, Sister St. Faustyna Kowlaska, was raised to the glory of the altar, to which, more than once, contemporary generations will call upon. If only the Mercy of God would open minds and hearts of people of the 21st century and help them in true and sincere return to Christ. It is He, the one and only Redeemer of man, who is Holy Door leading to Father, which will always be open to those who seek Him. Secretary General of the Main Committee Great Jubilee Year 2000 
|
This site is best viewed at 1024*768