What is Xacobeo or Camino de Santiago Jubilee Year?

What is Xacobeo or Camino de Santiago Jubilee Year?

The Jubilee or Jacobean year (Xacobeo) is the year when the day of St James the Apostle (25th of July) falls on a Sunday. This happens about 14 times each century. Every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years apparently. This was decreed by Pope Calixtus II in 1126 and coincided with the laying of the last stone at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. On a Holy year (Año Xacobeo), pilgrims arriving at Santiago Cathedral are granted forgiveness for all their sins and the cleansing of their soul. Christians call this earning the Jubilee. To earn the Jubilee, or obtain forgiveness for your sins, pilgrims will need to fulfil the following requirements –

  1. Visit the tomb of St James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
  2. Say a prayer and pray for the pope.
  1. Receive the sacraments of confession and holy communion in a window of two weeks before or after visiting the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Pilgrims are also encouraged to attend the Holy Mass at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. There are only 5 cities in the world where the Jubilee can be earned - Santiago de Compostela, Rome, Jerusalem, Santo Toribio and Caravaca de la Cruz.

One ceremony of note in a Holy Year is the opening of the Holy Door or Puerta Santa. On the eve of a Holy Year, on the afternoon of 31st December, the Archbishop of Santiago ceremonially opens the Holy Door which is at the back of Santiago Cathedral and leads on to Quintana Plaza. Using a silver hammer, the Archbishop will strike the wall of the Holy Door and ask the Apostle for permission to enter. The Holy Door is opened and remains so for the next 12 months. During Holy Year pilgrims will only enter the Cathedral through this door. The next Holy Years will be 2027, and 2032.

Camino de Santiago Xacobeo 21-22

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