Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter's Basilica

Every twenty-five years, pilgrims from all over the world flock to Rome for a jubilee year to witness the opening of a special door on the north side of St. Peter’s Basilica—the Holy Door—and to receive a special blessing by passing through it. This bronze Holy Door uniquely depicts the salvation story, from the dawn of creation to the present, through sixteen panels that inspire the faithful to connect their lives to the timeless story of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

In Opening the Holy Door, scripture teacher and veteran tour guide Joan Watson examines these sixteen panels of the jubilee Holy Door, guiding readers to pray and reflect upon the deeper meaning of these images by contemplating them through the lens of scripture. With a unique combination of an attentive gaze and imaginative prayer, Watson guides you to experience, panel by panel, each image as a focal point in the scripture narratives.

• 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 preparing for a visit to the Holy Door or embarking on an armchair pilgrimage from home, these reflections provide a meaningful way to celebrate the Year of Hope by exploring the people and holy moments that have been revered for centuries by Christians all over the world. Each reflection will help you to cross the spiritual threshold of this iconic door—located in the heart of the Church—as you enliven and enrich your faith by contemplating their timeless beauty.

This book is more than a guide for the jubilee year; it’s a spiritual companion for anyone seeking answers and hope in a fractured world.

Joan Watson--a Catholic speaker, writer, and podcaster--is the associate editor of Integrated Catholic Life and the pilgrim formation manager for Verso Ministries.

Watson earned a bachelor's degree in history from Christendom College and a master's degree in theology and Christian ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She has worked for the Church and various religious apostolates for more than fifteen years.

She is the founder of Living 1 John 1, an online community dedicated to helping Catholics pray and love scripture.

Watson lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband, Kevin.

Greg Kandra was ordained as a deacon for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2007 and most recently served as a senior writer at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He is the author of A Deacon Prays and writes The Deacon's Bench blog. Kandra was a writer and producer for CBS News from 1982 to 2008 for programs including The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes II, and 48 Hours. He also served for four years as a writer and producer on the live finale of the hit reality show Survivor.

Kandra has received two Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Writers Guild of America Awards, four Catholic Media Association Awards, and a Christopher Award for his work. In 2017, he was named Clergy of the Year by the Catholic Guild of Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at JFK International Airport. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland. Kandra cowrote the acclaimed CBS documentary 9/11. He contributed to three books, including Dan Rather's Deadlines and Datelines and a homily series. His work has been published in America, US Catholic, Busted Halo, and The Tablet. The author of six books, he has been a regular guest on Catholic radio and is a popular speaker and retreat leader.

Kandra retired in 2022 and now lives with his wife in Florida, where he serves as a deacon for the Diocese of Orlando.