To celebrate the Jubilee Year, Holy Doors opened in Rome. Like loving arms, these doors will welcome pilgrims all year, from all over the world, seeking hope and grateful for hope.
The current bronze Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica replaced wooden ones from the 18th century and were installed for the Holy Year 1950. The doors at St. Peter’s depict Adam and Eve, Peter denying Jesus, the good thief at the Crucifixion, Saul’s conversion, Jesus’ appearance to disciples after the Resurrection, and other stories.
I found the artist’s choices interesting, and they got me thinking, If I had been asked to choose images for the artist, Vico Consorti, what stories would I have asked him to portray on the doors?
I pondered what images would help people desire to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ, the Holy Door. Jesus said, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved.” (John 10:9) And since I am an enthusiastic proponent of women’s ministry, I would suggest stories for the Holy Doors that highlight the women who encourage people to draw closer to Jesus.
King David’s great-grandma Ruth, a Moabite, deserves a spot because of her deep loyalty and holy fidelity. When Ruth married Boaz, Gentile DNA entered the Davidic line. As I place her on my door, I imagine Ruth saying, “C’mon in! All are welcome!”
Like the current doors, I would show the moment of Annunciation with Mary’s “Yes!” to the Incarnation. Her words at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you,” (John 2:5) could be another panel on the door. The power of Mary’s invitation to enter the life of her Son cannot be overestimated. The Mother of God and first disciple would also get a scene with Jesus appearing to her after he rose from the dead. While not in Scripture, this event is part of our tradition, and St. Ignatius encourages everyone using his Spiritual Exercises to imagine it.
The women who stood vulnerably at the Crucifixion would be portrayed. They did not stand there alone. They call us to deeper connection to community as we encounter Jesus.
Mary of Magdala’s panel would replace the one showing Jesus appearing to the disciples, because Jesus chose her to be the Apostle to the Apostles. She ran to tell them about the Resurrection, and they didn’t believe her. She cries out to skeptics today, “Believe! Your hope in the Resurrection is not in vain!”
Maybe I would include Rahab, a gutsy Gentile who helped Israeli spies and later married an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son Boaz became Ruth’s husband. Scripture describes Rahab as a prostitute; her place on my door would remind everyone that regardless of history or past sinfulness, we are valued, loved, and welcomed members of Christ’s body.
Deborah, the only female judge included in the Old Testament (Judges chapters 4 and 5), would have a place on my door. She was known as a fiery woman. We have a few of those today, and we need more of us to stand up against injustices and embrace strangers in the Church.
As pilgrims of hope, we can decorate the front doors of our houses to remind us to welcome all in, to recall our connection to the universal Church, and to live Resurrection hope daily. On my front door, I placed a photo of St. Peter’s Holy Doors, which I walked through during the Year of Mercy in 2016, and the paraphrase of a quote from Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Jesus, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I wish this for you too.
If you were designing Holy Doors, what scenes would you propose?
Image by Dnalor_01 under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
