The Sanctuary of Betania was declared
Holy Door of Mercy for the State of Miranda by
His Excellency Bishop Freddy Fuenmayor
As part of the celebration of the extraordinary Holy Year “The Jubilee of Mercy” proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Francis, the Holy Year began with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, to conclude on November 20th, 2016 with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
Equally extraordinary has been the desire of the Pope that in this Jubilee of Mercy there may be a Door of Mercy in every diocese, with the intention that the whole world may live this jubilee. Thus His Excellency Bishop Freddy Fuenmayor, Bishop of Los Teques, by decree of November 27th, 2015, declared the Marian Shrine Mary, Reconciler of Peoples in Betania, Holy Door of Mercy for the State of Miranda, so everyone who visits the sanctuary any day of the Jubilee Year may be granted the plenary indulgence.
On Sunday, December 13, 2015, Monsignor Raul Bacallao, Vicar General of the diocese of Los Teques, was responsible for officially opening the Holy Door of Mercy at the Sanctuary of Betania at 10:00 a.m., and with Handel’s Hallelujah, performed by the Betania Choir, hundreds of pilgrims – Including in the Betania Spirituality Movement – passed through the Holy Door of Mercy. Immediately afterwards a solemn Mass took place presided by Monsignor Bacallao and concelebrated by Father Jhonfer Camacho and other priests.
Monsignor Bacallao explained that to gain the plenary indulgence it was necessary to: go through the Holy Door, confess sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a fortnight before or after passing through the Door, receive the Eucharist, and pray for the intentions of Pope. He also reflected on the times that Venezuela was experiencing and said it was time for reconciliation, and this called for a thought about the Mother of Mercy, so he added: “Let the sweetness of her gaze be with us and with the whole Church this Holy Year, in order to discover the joy of the tenderness of God.” Finally, Monsignor Bacallao told the media his wish that this Year of Mercy “bear many fruits, not only for Church members, but even for those who do not share our Christian faith, our Jewish brothers and sisters and our Muslim brothers and sisters, since we have the same root in our Father Abraham.”
Finally, Father Camacho, Vice-Rector of the sanctuary, with great generosity said the following remarks to the Betania Spirituality Movement: “I especially address the Betania Spirituality Movement: I am infinitely grateful for the service and efforts you made yesterday, especially for the donation of anthuriums for the grotto and the construction of the Holy Door. May God bless you for me and may He fill you with his infinite mercy. Mary Reconciler of All Peoples, pray for us!”
