Holy Thursday customs

[Aurelia]

Does anyone else make a “novena” of visiting 9 neighboring churches during the adoration after Holy Thursday Mass? This custom was, and in certain areas, still is practiced in the Chicago area. (Probably because of the numerous ethnic parishes which abounded in the city. It was not unusual to find two Catholic churches just a few blocks from each other.) It used to be nice to see each parish’s Altar of Repose–a side altar decorated with flowers and candles where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday. Altar boys and Sodality girls would sign up for 30 minute or 1 hour shifts to kneel before the Blessed Sacrament. When the time was up, there was a changing of the guard–the outgoing group and the incoming crew would genuflect in unison in the aisle. It was a beautiful thing.

 

[baltobetsy]

In Baltimore, it was seven churches. My mother (who would have been 92 this year) used to tell me about groups of teenagers and young adults going from church to church as almost a social activity on Holy Thursday night. What you described does sound beautiful.

As for me, I prefer to stay in adoration in just one place - the travel time cuts too deeply into the praying time, now that churches are so distant from each other.

Betsy

 

[Bobby_Jim]

I’ve done it in Chicago as 7 churches as well. On an earlier thread on this topic someone posted an article suggesting this originated with the practice of making pilgrimage to the 7 major Basilicas in Rome.

I’m not sure why the difference - 7 or 9 (I think I’ve heard other numbers as well). One time when I visited seven, for each church we read a reflection on one of the seven “last words” from the cross. So that was a nice fit.

I’m curious how one actually manages to visit 9 - I’ve had trouble getting to 7 in recent years because it seems like a lot of the churches that I try to visit close early. I know there are some that stay open to midnight or even all night, but a lot of them lock their doors at 10 pm. The Holy Thursday service and procession of the Blessed Sacrament at my own church ends between 9-9:30, which doesn’t leave that much time! But I do love doing this (unfortunately I wasn’t able to last night…)

 

[brotherhrolf]

It was 9 in New Orleans on Good Friday during my mother’s time. I don’t think it’s done now.