Opening the Holy Door
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Description
The Door Is Open. The Invitation Still Stands.
2025 has become a defining year for the Catholic Church—a time of grace, renewal, and profound hope. With the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica now open, pilgrims from around the world are making their way to Rome to pass through it during the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope. This extraordinary year—marked by the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope—has coincided with a striking resurgence of faith, especially among young people who are rediscovering the beauty and depth of Catholicism.
Whether you’re planning to travel to Rome before the Jubilee year concludes or simply want to deepen your understanding of this ancient tradition, Opening the Holy Door invites you into a richer encounter with the heart of the Catholic Church.
In this book, scripture teacher and veteran Rome tour guide Joan Watson leads you panel by panel through the sixteen bronze images that adorn the Holy Door—each one a chapter in the great story of salvation. With prayerful insight and biblical reflection, Watson helps you see how your own story is bound up in God’s ongoing work of redemption.
- 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 crossing the threshold of the Holy Door in person or in spirit, this book is your companion for the journey. Opening the Holy Door helps you reflect on the deeper meaning of this Jubilee year and connects your faith to the people and moments that have inspired Christians for centuries.
This is more than a guidebook—it’s a call to rediscover the Church’s living tradition and step boldly into the renewal already underway.
Product Details
- Pages: 128
- Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN: 9781646803873
- Imprint: Ave Maria Press
Description
The Door Is Open. The Invitation Still Stands.
2025 has become a defining year for the Catholic Church—a time of grace, renewal, and profound hope. With the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica now open, pilgrims from around the world are making their way to Rome to pass through it during the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope. This extraordinary year—marked by the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope—has coincided with a striking resurgence of faith, especially among young people who are rediscovering the beauty and depth of Catholicism.
Whether you’re planning to travel to Rome before the Jubilee year concludes or simply want to deepen your understanding of this ancient tradition, Opening the Holy Door invites you into a richer encounter with the heart of the Catholic Church.
In this book, scripture teacher and veteran Rome tour guide Joan Watson leads you panel by panel through the sixteen bronze images that adorn the Holy Door—each one a chapter in the great story of salvation. With prayerful insight and biblical reflection, Watson helps you see how your own story is bound up in God’s ongoing work of redemption.
- 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 crossing the threshold of the Holy Door in person or in spirit, this book is your companion for the journey. Opening the Holy Door helps you reflect on the deeper meaning of this Jubilee year and connects your faith to the people and moments that have inspired Christians for centuries.
This is more than a guidebook—it’s a call to rediscover the Church’s living tradition and step boldly into the renewal already underway.
Product Details
- Pages: 128
- Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN: 9781646803873
- Imprint: Ave Maria Press
Customer Reviews
- MMMaria M.Verified Reviewer11 hours agoRated 5 out of 5 starsPerfect for entering the season of Jubilee!
I purchased this as an ebook for my kindle app on my tablet. I have been very pleased with the quality of the photos of the sections of the Holy Door. I was afraid they would not come across cleanly in ebook form. The content of the book itself is thoughtful and has given me scripture and questions for reflection that are very helpful in my faith journey. I made this purchase after listening to the Ave Maria Explorers podcast, and I'm so glad that I did. I'm looking forward to future book recommendations.
- CCrystal-Lynn20 hours agoRated 5 out of 5 starsOld Stories Made New
This book is so easy to read, yet it takes me deeper into my familiar bible to see the verses in a new way. I especially love the consistent reminder to take some time to ponder the panels and the bible verse before reading the reflections. It's a layout I'm not used to seeing. I'm reading this with my women's group and we are all appreciating the details both in the panels and the reflections. I cannot wait to see these beautiful depictions of God's Love Letter in person.
- SSue1 month agoRated 5 out of 5 starsPurchasing for Bible Study
I really enjoyed Joan’s book “Opening the Holy Door”. It was a walk through the Bible in a most thought provoking way, utilizing the pictorial reliefs on the holy door at St. Peter’s in Rome. She challenges you to go farther into the story to make the gospel come to life in a very personal way. It’s an easy read that would make a great bible study. She even poses questions at the end of the chapters to further challenge you to look deeper into its meaning. This is a great book.
In this Holy Jubilee year it’s a must read for anyone who wants to understand the significance of this most interesting and celebrated door.
