Seven churches on Holy Thursday?

[Bobby_Jim]

Does anyone here have any familiarity with this practice of visiting seven churches for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday following the evening liturgy? I’ve done this (or tried to do this) the last few years in Chicago - sometimes I come up a bit short because of churches on my route that lock up early .

Anyone know the origins of this practice? I’ve heard variants with different numbers of churches, e.g. 7 or 10 or 12, different prayers or meditations (e.g. the “seven last words”) accompanying each church, etc. I’ve found it to be a really nice devotion, and also affords a chance to visit some of the magnificent old churches that I otherwise wouldn’t occasion to see.

Please share any stories or experiences you may have!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

We are doing this with our Catechumens and Candidates. Just to show a bit of universality. That this is one Holy Catholic Church.

 

[Kielbasi]

Its sometimes call a 7-church walk, however with sprawl and how far they are spread apart nowadays, thats a misnomer, as its not supposed to be an athletic competition, but a devotion.

This is from the Pittsburgh diocesan website:

SEVEN CHURCHES VISIT ON HOLY THURSDAY

PITTSBURGH – The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating in Rome, where early pilgrims visited the seven major basilicas as penance. They are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls, Saint Lawrence-outside-the-Walls, Saint Sebastian-outside-the-Walls, and Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem.

Pope Boniface VIII revived the pilgrimage tradition in 1300 with the establishment of the Jubilee Year, and Rome became a center for pilgrimages. The seven churches developed as particular sites for visits. The seven areas may also be related to the historical seven deacons of Rome, whose responsibility was to minister to the poor in their region of the city. The first seven deacons in the Church were the seven assistants ordained by the Apostles to minister to the poor.

The practice in the Diocese of Pittsburgh has continued to be strong, owing in part to the influence of the Holy Name Society whose members are instrumental in many of the local pilgrimages. The Diocesan Holy Name Society produces a book of prayers used on the seven church visitations. A new collection of meditations and prayers for 2005 is posted on the website, www.diopitt.org. Participants usually do seven Stations of the Cross as part of each visit.

Those in Pittsburgh, can link to the website to find out which parishes are conducting 7 church walks, or to find out which churches will be open late Holy Thursday if they would just as soon make their own walk.

diopitt.org/pr031505a.htm

 

[jpjd]

You folks obviously live in a big city. In my rural area, it would take so long to drive to 7 churches, it would lose all its meaning and take WAY too long.

 

[Bobby_Jim]

jpjd:

You folks obviously live in a big city. In my rural area, it would take so long to drive to 7 churches, it would lose all its meaning and take WAY too long.

yes indeed, this is MUCH more feasible in an urban area - in dense cities like Chicago and New York (not to mention places like Rome) you can find Catholic churches just blocks apart. Part of it here stems from the days when there were lots of little ethnic neighborhoods which each had their own parish church in a small geographic area.

Even in the suburbs here it would be hard to drive to 7 churches, not to mention rural areas.