From Tina Coleman, parishioner of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish

I’d like to invite everyone to know about, and participate in this tradition. Some have done this every year; others may not know about it. With the merging of several parishes this past year, there have been changes. I have put together information about the tradition, and a list of the Parishes who will have Mass, and an Altar of Repose. Most are open until Midnight for Prayer, Adoration, and some sung Prayer, so there are many opportunities to gather with fellow Catholics on your pilgrimage. It’s a beautiful tradition of keeping watch with our Lord. It’s heartwarming to see how many people participate. You can go with a group, you can do it on your own, or you can stay at your own church praying the 7 stations and scripture. Make it your own. I hope you have the opportunity to experience it. PAX CHRISTI.

ABOUT THE TRADITION: This Holy Thursday is the feast that marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Holy Triduum—Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we remember the Passover meal, when Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist by sharing bread and wine with his disciples, saying, “Do this in memory of Me.”

At the conclusion of Holy Thursday Mass, we process with the Holy Eucharist to a temporary “altar of repose” away from the sanctuary. We are invited to hold vigil, spending time in adoration and quiet prayer during this time, just as the disciples were asked to stay with our Lord during his Agony in the Garden.

The Roman Missal states: “The faithful are invited to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night, according to circumstance.”

The Seven Churches Visitation is a tradition that grew out of this time of prayer and adoration. It represents mindful watching as you make a pilgrimage to various altars of repose in different churches that correspond to each of the seven places, or “stations,” that were made by Jesus between the Last Supper in the Upper Room to His crucifixion on the cross.

The Bible passages to be read representing the seven stations consist of:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22: 39-46)
2. Jesus bound and taken before Annas (John 18: 19-22)
3. Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas (Matthew 26: 63-65)
4. Jesus taken before Pilate (John 18, 35-37)
5. Jesus taken before Herod (Luke 23: 8-9; 11)
6. Jesus taken before Pilate again (Matthew 27: 22-26)
7. Jesus given the crown of thorns and led to his crucifixion
(Matthew 27: 27-31).

Upon entering each church, pilgrims visit the altar of repose, kneel, make the sign of the cross, read the appropriate scripture for each station and engage in private prayer and adoration. Some may add other prayers as well, such as a Rosary decade, etc. At the seventh station, or church, many close their pilgrimage by observing a Holy Hour.

The Seven Churches Visitation is a powerful way to spend time in adoration, meditating on Christ’s sacrifice of love for the salvation of souls in preparation for the joy of Easter. Calling to mind we are called to be like Jesus through humility and sacrifice. It’s a special act we carry out when visiting other churches late into the night. You get to meet up with other faithful, who together, are intentionally seeking Christ, to spend time with Him and contemplating the gift of His love.

The origin of the Seven Churches Visitation is credited to St. Philip Neri and the devotion is traced back to the Station Churches of Rome, where the tradition is still practiced.

Here is a list of some Parishes who will have Altars of Repose, following Holy Thursday Mass:

~ST. RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, Open Until 10pm
6000 Jamieson Ave. 314-352-9474 (St. Louis Hills)

~ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL, Open Until 11pm
6303 Nottingham Ave. 314-353-6303 (St. Louis Hills)

~CATHEDRAL BASILICA, Open Until Midnight
4431 Lindell Blvd. 314-373-8200 (Central West End)

~EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD, Open Until Midnight
6596 Smiley Ave. 314-781-1199. (Lindenwood)

~ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, Open Until Midnight
*Procession to Gym Meeting Room-Left of Main Gym Doors*
7622 Sutherland Ave. 314-647-5611 (Shrewsbury)

~ST. AMBROSE, Open Until Midnight
5130 Wilson Ave. 314-771-1228 (The Hill)

~ST. JOAN OF ARC, Open Until Midnight
At Hampton / Pernod. 314-832-2838 (North Hampton)

~THE ORATORY OF SS GREGORY &; AUGUSTINE,
Open Until Midnight. *Mass at 5pm.*
7230 Dale Ave. 314-644-2144 (Richmond Hts)

~ST. STEPHEN PROTOMARTYR, Open Until Midnight
3949 Wilmington Ave. 314-481-1133 (Holly Hills)

PLEASE NOTE: Information gathered and provided from multiple
Catholic sources.