This book is a wonderful reflection tool as we look on the holy door during a jubilee year. I remember discovering it in 2000 during the last year of jubilee and making a pilgrimage to a door of a local cathedral, even if I couldn’t go to “the” door in Rome and what a meaningful experience that was.

I found myself recalling those memories as I reflected on each panel in this book and being able to dive deeper not only into scripture, but Church tradition and teaching and what it means for our lives.

This book can be used on your own as a reflection tool, I went through one panel and section every few days on my own, but could also work great for a small study group with time to journal or share personal reflections together.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to travel to Rome next year to celebrate the Catholic Church’s Jubilee, proclaimed a Year of Hope. But I’m also fairly confident that through Joan Watson’s new book, OPENING THE HOLY DOOR, I can experience some of the wonder and graces of discovery that are available to those pilgrims who walk through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2025.
First of all, Watson does an excellent job recounting the fascinating history of the Church’s Jubilees (as a cradle Catholic, I regret to say I didn’t know much about this rich tradition). She also details the significance of St. Peter’s Holy Door, a door that is bricked up from the inside except for Jubilee years. The front side of the closed door, however, is always visible, with its sixteen bronze images depicting salvation history.
The heart of Watson’s book is her close look at each of these bronze images and interpreting their meaning, going much deeper than what is apparent in a mere glance. With an artist’s eye, she asks the reader to ponder the minute details in each bronze image and see a richer, more elaborate meaning. Each image contains fascinating tidbits that enhance the interpretation of the corresponding Bible story, but these morsels are often not apparent to the casual viewer. Watson’s analysis provides some “aha” moments of delightful discovery.
Additional questions and exercises help the reader understand how the images of the Holy Door proclaim God’s promises and prophecies and how we can claim faith and hope from them. If you’re fortunate enough to travel to Rome in 2025, you’ll definitely want to read OPENING THE HOLY DOOR to prepare for your trip. If you won’t be going to Rome in 2025, you’ll definitely want to read this book so that you can vicariously experience the wonder of being there and walking through the Holy Door during the Jubilee.

This is a set of reflections based on the 16 panels found on the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  As we anticipate the opening of this door for the upcoming Holy Year, Joan invites us to take a closer look at 12 of these panels of the door,  looking closely not only at each bronze image and its details but also to absorb the message, the story of that particular panel.  Each panel guides us through salvation history, using various scenes When I was in Rome last year, I remember seeing the Holy Door, but didn’t even photograph it! I was happy to revisit and learn more!
With each panel, the reader is first guided through the practice of visio divina – similar to lectio divina. We are encouraged to take time with each panel, searching carefully for details that could be overlooked.  Next, we turn to the sacred scripture associated with the panel, placing ourselves into the scene.  Prompts are provided for personal response and application to our life today, or perhaps to a time in the past that we can relate it to.
I enjoyed learning about the traditions of religious art as well as the symbolism found in the details of each panel.  Do you know what the dog is a traditional symbol of?  Another common Christian art symbol is the Palm tree, expressing victory over death!  I often don’t take the time to LOOK at a work of art, to see those details.  I appreciated Joan leading me through this panel by panel.  Hopefully, this careful treatment will stay with me as I encounter other works of art.
This is an excellent book to meditate on during Advent, but I recommend it for any time of the year.  Perhaps you are planning a trip to Rome in the future – this would be great preparation for your visit to St. Peter’s! 
Each chapter is very accessible in terms of length.  Long enough to learn and enjoy each panel and food for thought – but not so long as to be laborious or in need of a great amount of time. It would be useful for both individual reflection and group study.

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

Author Joan Watson has created a book that helps readers understand the significance of the Holy Door, which is only open in Jubilee Years such as 2025.

The bronze panels of the door propel visitors into the mystery of salvation history. For those who long to make a pilgrimage to Rome but lack the resources or stamina, this insightful book helps to guide readers on an intense spiritual journey.

In the end, this work offers lessons in hope--a virtue which can be in short supply in our desperation-saturated world.

The book is appropriate for both solo learning and group study and is a joy to ponder, especially during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not as captivating as the other books I read with prayers and guidance. I wish there was overall more about the Basilica itself. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about, it was a fun read and every enjoyable.

I received a free copy of, Opening the Holy Door, by Joan Watson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a door at St. Peters Basilica that is only opened every twenty-five years. The Holy door is on the north side of St. Peters Basilica, people who enter receive a special blessing just by passing through the door! I have never heard of this door before. This was a very interesting reads, with beautiful pictures and prayers.