My husband and I were talking with our son, who goes to school in Wyoming, and we jokingly asked if he and his classmates were participating in the Seven Churches Devotion this Holy Thursday. He responded with a laugh, "Yeah, right. I don't even think there are seven churches in the whole state of Wyoming!" I'm sure there are, but I suppose the distance between them prohibits the practice of this devotion. Or does it?
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While I wasn't able to find out the exact origins of this devotion, I did see that it became more well-known in the 1500s because of St. Philip Neri who would lead people on a pilgrimage to seven different churches in Rome as a way to get them excited again about the faith. The devotion also commemorates the seven places that Jesus went between the Last Supper and His crucifixion.
How to Make the Seven Churches Devotion
On Holy Thursday evening, at the end of the Mass, the priest processes with the Eucharist around the church and sets the ciborium on a temporary "altar of repose" that is off to the side in the church, or somewhere away from the sanctuary. Usually the parish will decorate this side altar with candles and flowers. Some we have seen are very lavish while others are quite simple.
After this is done, the faithful are then encouraged to spend some time in silence with the Lord, as Jesus had asked His disciples to do while he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
What to Pray
During this time of prayer you can:
- say your own silent prayers
- read the scripture verses that go along with the seven places that Jesus went during His Passion (see the highlighted box below for information on that!)
- pray the Stations of the Cross, praying two stations at each church
While we are driving from one church to the next we pray a decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary (and eat homemade soft pretzels, but that's not a requirement).
Ways to Modify the Seven Churches Devotion
If you have small children and can't even fathom travelling from one church to another, let alone seven, you can modify this devotion by staying home and praying the rosary or reading the Passion narrative on your own.
If you live in an area where there just aren't seven churches, then go to as many as you can and spend time in prayer there.
When we lived in a more rural location, the most we could ever make it to was three churches. It was still very moving, although it still took us as long as doing seven because we had much farther to drive between visits.
Join Me on Facebook or Instagram on Holy Thursday Evening
If you can't make the Seven Churches Devotion, for whatever reason, you can always join me on my Facebook or Instagram account. I will be taking photos of each of the seven altars of repose that we visit and posting them as we leave. I will also be adding the scripture verse to go along with each one. This way, even though you can't make it out in "real time", you will be participating virtually in this great tradition of the church. My guess is we'll be ready to go around 8:45 pm cst (give or take a few minutes).
I hope that you will consider adding this devotion to your Holy Week. Since moving to a more urban area, where seven churches are well within driving distance, we have been practicing this devotion.
It has added a spiritual dimension to our Triduum that we all cherish. It's also fun to run into other families we know, and some people that we haven't seen in a long time. It is both joyful and sorrowful at the same time.