What is the 7 Churches Visitation? A Brief History and Links to the Bible's Book of Revelation for the Visiting of Seven Church Stations

A custom began in Rome (often credited to St Philip Neri, circa 1533) to visit the seven major Basilicas of the City on Holy Thursday. The churches were: St Peter’s in the Vatican, St Paul’s outside the Walls, St John Lateran, St Mary Major, St Sebastian’s, St Lawrence Outside the Walls and Holy Cross in Jerusalem. However, faithful in many countries visit 7 churches in their neighborhoods on Holy Thursday.  The pilgrims can gain a plenary indulgence. 

 This Holy Thursday pilgrimage reflects the seven stops or “stations” during the night of Jesus’ arrest:

1. Jesus in the Garden in Gethsemane where He was arrested (Luke 22:39-46)
2. Jesus taken before Annas (John 18:19-22)
3. Jesus bound and taken before Caiaphas, the High Priest (Matthew 26:63-65)
4. Jesus taken before Pilate, the Roman governor (John 18:35-37)
5. Jesus goes before Herod (Luke 23:8-9, 11)
6. Jesus returns to Pilate (Matthew 27:22-26)
7. Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns and led to His crucifixion (John 19:1-16)

 Visiting the altar of Repose in the seven churches stems from pilgrims visiting the seven churches of Rome as a form of penance.

On Holy Thursday, following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is taken on a procession through the Church and reposed in the tabernacle specially decorated and adorned with at least six candles. The procession is lead by the cross, two lighter candles incense and the priest, carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

This is a time for intense devotion for the Most Holy Sacrament and prayer as we enter into these holy days. 

   The seven churches include: St Peter’s, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St. John in the Lateran, St. Laurence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross Jerusalem and St. Sebastian Outside the Walls.

Some link this visitation to the biblical book of Revelation 1:11, on the Greek island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs John of Patmos to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." John sees a vision of the Son of man, who walks among seven lampstands and has seven stars in his right hand. Revelation 1:20 states that "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."

 It reminds us of the great gift we have as Catholics in the Blessed Sacrament and a view of the universality of the Church. This tradition is carried out personally, among families or with parish group – pick out seven churches and visit Our Lord this Holy Night!  The book of Indulgences, the Raccolta, included this practice. The suggested prayers were an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, five times before the Altar of Repose of the Blessed Sacrament and then some private adoration and personal prayer (reflection on the scripture passages related to the “station”) before moving on to the next church.

Sources: https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/09/maundy-or-holy-thursday-of-the-passion-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-and-the-seven-churches-visitation-9-april/ https://donboscosalesianportal.org/wp-content/uploads/Holy-Thursday-7-Churches.pdf

https://www.ipadre.net/2010/04/01/the-seven-churches/