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 Holy Year 1950 Issue Scott 132-139 (1949) On December 21, 1949, Vatican City released an eight-stamp set proclaiming Holy Year 1950, which would commence three days hence, on Christmas Eve, 1949. This was the first Holy Year celebration following World War II, and the first since the special Jubilee Year celebrated in 1933. The set consists of two stamps each with four different designs: The tradition of Church Holy Years, or Jubilee Years, was initiated by Pope Boniface VIII in the year 1300. Initially, the interval between Holy Years was to be 100 years, but that was quickly reduced to 50 years by Pope Clement VI in 1342, and further reduced to 25 years by Pope Paul II in 1470. To date, there have been thirty-one (31) Holy or Jubilee Years, including this year's Jubilee Year of Hope. What is the purpose of convoking a Holy Year or special Jubilee Year? As described in the Old Testament writings in Leviticus (Leviticus 25:8-55), a jubilee year is cited to occur every 50 years, during which slaves and prisoners would be set free, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. In the Catholic tradition, the Jubilee Year is one for the remission of sins and universal pardon. The Ordinary Holy Years traditionally open on Christmas Eve of the year preceding the Holy Year (for example, for the stamps above, the Holy Year of 1950 began on December 24, 1949) with the opening of the Holy Door at Saint Peter's Basilica. In turn, the Holy Doors at the remaining major Roman basilicas are also opened, at Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, and Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major). The Jubilee Year ends with the closing of the Holy Doors one year later. In addition to the Holy Years that have been celebrated on the regular 25-year cycle, there have been some Special Jubilees declared by the Pope. Since 1900, four special Jubilee Years have been declared: 1933—celebrating the 1900th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ 1966—commemorating the end of the 21st Ecumenical Council, commonly known as Vatican II 1983—Holy Year of Redemption to coincide with the 1950th anniversary of Christ’s death 2016—Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy Holy Years have been covered extensively in past issues of Vatican Notes. Readers are encouraged to review these articles on the VPS website. Five articles cited in the reference section below are of special interest and add further depth to the Holy Years and the philatelic history associated with them: 1. Specific to Holy Year 1950, an article in 2006 presents a spectacular commemorative folder, cancelled on the opening day of the Holy Year (December 24, 1949). 2. In his wonderful compilation, “Vatican City: A Philatelic Historical Journey”, James C. Hamilton discussed “Feasts, Holy Years and Eucharistic Congresses” (chapter 10). 3. Vatican City issued three sets of stamps from 1998 through 2000 depicting the Popes of the Holy Years (Scott 1065-1072 in 1998, Scott 1095-1102 in 1999 and Scott 1141-1150 in 2000). Three Vatican Notes articles by Thomas Crimando discussing the releases of these sets are referenced below. REFERENCES: |
