Book Review: Opening the Holy Door by Joan Watson

“Every twenty-five years, pilgrims from all over the world flock to Rome for a jubilee year to witness the opening of a special door on the north side of St. Peter’s Basilica—the Holy Door—and to receive a special blessing by passing through it. This bronze Holy Door uniquely depicts the salvation story, from the dawn of creation to the present, through sixteen panels that inspire the faithful to connect their lives to the timeless story of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Goodreads blurb for Opening the Holy Door

Review:

As the 2025 Jubilee Year begins, Opening the Holy Door is a fantastic book to pick up to start the spiritual year. A large part of the book is a history on the door’s panels and the connections to Scripture, but it’s also a workbook with several prompts (spanning over 12 days) for reflection. 

For the purpose of this read-through, I didn’t participate as I would have normally by reading it daily and keeping a journal. I hope to enter through one of the Holy Doors some time this year and I will keep in mind to look back at this book for preparation. Even if someone reading is unable to visit one of the doors (and I’ll say especially if someone is unable), this book will bring you a little closer. 

Thanks to Ave Maria Press and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• I loved the history and close up images of the Holy Door.
• Great prompts.

What I didn’t like:

• The book is extremely fast-paced. I read this in one sitting, so I imagine it goes by even quicker reading the sections daily. I would have liked it to be at least 100 pages longer.

Afterthoughts:

I would recommend people purchase a physical copy of the book for the best experience viewing the photographs.

Where to buy the book: