a more modern sense, denotes a grand church solemnity or ceremony, celebrated at Rome, wherein the pope grants a plenary indulgence to all sinners; at least to as many as visit the churches of St Peter and St Paul at Rome.

The jubilee was first established by Boniface VII. in 1300, in favour of those who should go ad limina apostolorum; and it was only to return every hundred years. But the first celebration brought in such store of wealth to Rome, that the Germans called this the golden year; which occasioned Clement VI. in 1343, to reduce the period of the jubilee to fifty years. Urban VI. in 1389, appointed it to be held every thirty-five years, that being the age of our Saviour; and Paul II. and Sixtus IV. in 1475, brought it down to every twenty-five, that every person might have the benefit of it once in his life. Boniface IX. granted the privilege of holding jubilees to several princes and monasteries; for instance, to the monks of Canterbury, who had a jubilee every fifty years; when people flocked from all parts to visit the tomb of Thomas à Becket. Jubilees are now become more frequent, and the pope grants them as often as the church or himself have occasion for them. There is usually one at the inauguration of a new pope. To be entitled to the privileges of the jubilee, the bull enjoins fasting, alms, and prayers. It gives the priests a full power to absolve in all cases, even those otherwise referred to the pope; to make commutations of vows, &c. in which it differs from a plenary indulgence. During the time of jubilees, all other indulgences are suspended.

One of our kings, viz. Edward III., caused his birthday to be observed in manner of a jubilee, when he became fifty years of age, in 1362, but never before or after. This he did by releasing prisoners, pardoning all offences except treason, making good laws, and granting many privileges to the people.

There are particular jubilees in certain cities, when several of their feasts fall on the same day: at Puy en Velay, for instance, when the feast of the Annunciation happens on Good-Friday; and at Lyons when the feast of St John Baptist concurs with the feast of Corpus Christi.

In 1649, the Jesuits celebrated a solemn jubilee at Rome; that being the centenary or hundredth year from their institution; and the same ceremony was observed in all their houses throughout the world.