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One of the all-time greatest devotions in Holy Week in general and the Triduum in particular.
One of the all-time greatest devotions in Holy Week in general, and the Triduum in particular, is the Visitation of the Seven Churches after the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy (Maundy) Thursday. My father, whom I consider one of the wisest men in the world, often says, “Those who neglect ancient traditions do so at their own peril.” The Seven Churches Devotion is one of those traditions worth keeping. And promoting.
And it seems to be one that is still very much alive, in pockets of this country, as it is a model of simplicity. After attending the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is moved to a separate altar, and per the Roman Missal (GIRM no. 43): “The faithful are invited to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night, according to local circumstance.”
Simply put, the “Seven Churches” devotion is a visit to the “new”, temporary home of the Blessed Sacrament, the altar of repose, at seven different churches, spending a few minutes in silent prayer at each church.
One of the blessings of this devotion is that you get to know a couple of different things: First, you see how churches other than your own home parish decorate for this occasion. For example: the two Polish parishes (Holy Trinity and St. Stan’s) we’d visit as kids in Niagara Falls would have full-fledged tombs set up, along with an altar guarded by Knights of Columbus in full regalia. At the lone Franco-English parish (St. George’s), the Eucharist was actually exposed, though behind a thin, see-through linen veil.
Continued below.
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One of the all-time greatest devotions in Holy Week in general, and the Triduum in particular, is the Visitation of the Seven Churches after the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy (Maundy) Thursday. My father, whom I consider one of the wisest men in the world, often says, “Those who neglect ancient traditions do so at their own peril.” The Seven Churches Devotion is one of those traditions worth keeping. And promoting.
And it seems to be one that is still very much alive, in pockets of this country, as it is a model of simplicity. After attending the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is moved to a separate altar, and per the Roman Missal (GIRM no. 43): “The faithful are invited to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night, according to local circumstance.”
Simply put, the “Seven Churches” devotion is a visit to the “new”, temporary home of the Blessed Sacrament, the altar of repose, at seven different churches, spending a few minutes in silent prayer at each church.
One of the blessings of this devotion is that you get to know a couple of different things: First, you see how churches other than your own home parish decorate for this occasion. For example: the two Polish parishes (Holy Trinity and St. Stan’s) we’d visit as kids in Niagara Falls would have full-fledged tombs set up, along with an altar guarded by Knights of Columbus in full regalia. At the lone Franco-English parish (St. George’s), the Eucharist was actually exposed, though behind a thin, see-through linen veil.
Continued below.
‘To the Seven Churches Go!’
One of the all-time greatest devotions in Holy Week in general and the Triduum in particular.
