The Bishop of Córdoba, Demetrio Fernández, has inaugurated the Holy Door of the Jubilee Year that the Apostolic Penitentiary has awarded to the Diocese of Córdoba in commemoration of the 1,100th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Pelagius. This event will allow the faithful to achieve plenary indulgence from the Wednesday June 26, 2024 until June 26, 2025. As reported by the Diocese of Córdoba in a statement, the ceremony took place in a chapel packed with priests, seminarians and faithful, where the prelate performed the rite of opening the Holy Door in the chapel of the Major Seminary ‘San Pelagio’ and presided over the Mass according to the Hispano-Mozarabic rite.
In his homily, Demetrio Fernández highlighted the importance of the place of celebration, because in that precise place, Saint Pelagius gave his supreme testimony of love for Jesus Christ and suffered martyrdom, being dismembered alive. “This place is especially sacred and anointed with the testimony of Saint Pelagius,” said the bishop, emphasizing that the festivity of this day “is a call for all priests and faithful and the opening of the Holy Door represents the heart of Christ open wide.” Saint Pelagius came from a very Christian family and the environment in which he grew up allowed us to give a notable example of Christian life.
When reviewing his life, the bishop highlighted the virtue of this young man to maintain faith above allprayer and Christian attitudes, such as chastity. “Faith in Saint Pelagius grew and strengthened despite adversity, despite the Caliph’s proposals to give him a better life in exchange for giving himself to him. Saint Pelagius was always clear that he belonged to Jesus Christ,” the bishop stressed. The bishop also mentioned the heroism of Saint Pelagius and his defense of chastity, making him an eloquent testimony of faith.
“Chastity is ordered sexuality that magnifies, because lust degrades the person,” Fernández explained, emphasizing that “chastity is a virtue that springs from the Lord.” Saint Pelagius, the bishop continued, “lived the virtues of courage and chastity, Christian values that are still valid, and his testimony He stimulated the Christian life of all communities“, since “his horrendous martyrdom for remaining faithful to Jesus Christ stimulated Christian life in the face of the pain inflicted and influenced the Reconquest.”
For the Jubilee Year for Saint Pelagius, talks and conferences focused on the figure of the child martyr have been planned. Through the social networks of the Seminary and the Diocese, The virtues of this 10th century martyr will be disseminated by chapters. In addition, a documentary about his life with pedagogical value is being prepared, to be distributed among schoolchildren, priests, seminarians and faithful.
To win the jubilee, the faithful must follow the usual conditions: visit a jubilee temple, which in this case includes the Major and Minor Seminaries of Córdoba, the Parish of San Pelagius Mártir and the Cathedral; increase prayer and recite the Creed, in addition to confessing and taking communion, preferably in the days before or after the visit to the jubilee temple.
This Jubilee Year not only celebrates the memory of Saint Pelagius, but also offers an opportunity for the faithful to reflect about the Christian virtues of courage, faith and chastity, personified in the figure of the young martyr. The opening of the Holy Door and the activities scheduled throughout the year seek to inspire and strengthen the faith of the community, remembering the sacrifice and devotion of Saint Pelagius as an example to follow in everyday Christian life.
