Join Me in Jubilee Joy

Coughs, colds, and joy all go together: Lilia Grundy learns about Jubilee 2025 and how she plans to incorporate more joy this year. 

Joy and pain 

Oh, oh: I felt it. The tiny signs of a creeping cold awaiting in the distance waiting to snatch me up. My daughters had already been captured by this monster, and I was hoping I wouldn’t become its next victim ... but it was inevitable. 

The girls and I had come down with a virus that knocked us out, right before Christmas.  Ah, why now? Doesn’t it seem like many of us succumb to some sort of illness before the holidays? And when it hits, how do I take it? 

Well in my case, I had to try and teach my girls that while we were feeling miserable, there is always much to be grateful for. I remind them (and myself) that we need to shift our thoughts toward gratitude amid suffering — easier said than done, right? 

Jubilee joy 

I strive to be a joyous person. I figure my smile is a gift I can share with others, even when smiles are not welcome. I’ve turned many frowns “upside down” as they say, and that’s a blessing. Yet when I’m sick or hurting, it’s so hard to do. 

My go to prayer has been, “Come Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit.”  
I can’t tell you how many times the Holy Spirit has helped me — getting me through long days when I just felt depleted of energy. 

After making it through work festivities and gatherings, I learned from a friend that 2025 was marked to be a Jubilee year. “Wow, that’s great,” I said.  

But honestly, I didn’t know much about how Catholics recognize Jubilee. So, I looked it up. Information on the web is quite widespread, so I put together various pieces I found to learn that a Jubilee year, also known as a “Holy Year,” is a year of universal pardon tracing its roots to the Book of Leviticus when God told Moses;

“You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred. You shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to your own property, each of you to your own family.” (Leviticus 25:10) 

Pope Francis has designated 2025’s theme as the year of “Pilgrims of Hope.” 

Just Do It: Joy 

After just having visited with my friend (one of the most joyful people I know), who informed me about Jubilee, and then reading my pastor’s column on “Joy,” I took this as a sign that I need to incorporate more joy into my life  heading into the new year, especially when I’m hurting or suffering. 

It’s a challenge I’m willing to tackle. After all, I’ve been blessed more times than I deserve. I’ve crafted my “Just Do it: Joy” formula: 

• Put the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary into action (Perform one act of service corresponding to each mystery a month) 

• Go to Adoration once a week (more when I need it) 

• Add more volunteer work through my parish 

• Get goofy with my girls (like holding Wicked dance parties in the kitchen when we need a laugh) 

• Set a date night just with my husband (to remind myself what a great partner I have) 

• Visit the lonely  

Surely these practices should help — and even garner a plenary indulgence, as the Catholic Church informs that performing a “Work of Mercy” or participating “In a Mission” would credit us despite being able to make the actual pilgrimage to Rome. 

Despite not feeling 100% toward the end of this past year, our family proceeded to host our first annual “Grinchmas” because we are big theme nerds, and the little details give us joy. Dressed up in our Grinch sweaters and slippers, surrounded by fun décor and watching all three films, playing Grinch games, we forgot about the sickness and counted our blessings. 

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4) 

How do you and your family plan to mark the Jubilee year?

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Copyright 2025 Lilia Grundy
Images: (top, center) Canva; (bottom) copyright 2025 Lilia Grundy, all rights reserved.