Holy Doors

A Holy Door is a specially designated entrance to a church. By walking through it, we say something with our bodies. We accept the salvation that comes only through Jesus. It was Jesus who said, “I am the gate for the sheep ... Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:7,9).

When pilgrims walk through with pious intentions, they receive grace from God. Jesus gave the Church the power to dispense such graces freely: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).

The custom of assigning Holy Doors dates back to the Middle Ages and is usually associated with churches in Rome. But the popes have sometimes given the status of Holy Doors to churches far away. In the Year of Mercy, 2016-2017, Pope Francis invited every diocese to designate entryways for this purpose.

To mark the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Church in LA is opening its Holy Door at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. It will remain open to pilgrims through the year. There will also be 22 holy doors throughout the Archdiocese that will be open at all of our Jubilee Year Pilgrimage sites. 

“This is the LORD’s own gate, through it the righteous enter” (Psalm 118:20).