visiting 7 churches...

[King Rami]

any infos about visiting 7 churches?

why do christians visit 7 churches on that day?

[WiseCookie]

One thing for sure is that it seems to be a Catholic custom, more related to dogma than anything. As a child I was told it was because Virgin Mary visited 7 Churches, but I doubt that's the real reason.

Here is what I found on the internet.

As a child I remember going to seven churches on Holy Thursday evening to visit the Blessed Sacrament. Can you explain the origin and significance of this practice to me. Is is still being done today?

I don't have a lot of detail on this, but it apparently is a custom has been practiced in different places. I have evidence that it is a Polish Catholic custom, though it is also shared by other ethnicities, such as Italians.

Common sense would suggest that it may also be an urban custom (cities having the abundances of churches needed for folks to do this) compared to a rural custom (where churches are fewer & farther between).

There's info on it and other Polish customs ON THIS PAGE.

It also appears to have been mentioned on a Knights of Columbus Page that has moved or is no longer on the web. That page stated:

The Altar of Repose

When the Eucharist is processed to the altar of repose after the Mass of Lord's Supper, we should remain in quiet prayer and adoration, keeping Christ company. There is a tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try and visit seven churches and their altar of repose during this evening.

As to whether it is still practiced, according to the Denver Catholic Register, it is:

To this day, Italians customarily visit seven churches for Eucharistic adoration on Holy Thursday night, a reflection of the ancient pilgrimage practice of visiting seven Roman basilicas to obtain the plenary indulgence. Austrians light bonfires on Holy Saturday night to welcome the light of the risen Lord

Perhaps others can comment with their knowledge of the custom.

[Inanna]

the priest told us yesterday this tradition goes back to when all the Churches used to be open, and people used to pass by them all to make sure nobody steals the Eucharist, so they had to pass by many Churches and it became a tradition,
i personally prefer to spend my time in one Church, praying, attending a mass and then contemplating, then visiting 7 Churches as a tour and not feeling the emotion i should!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

These are all traditions of man and have nothing to do with Christ's sacrifice.

[abou Libnan]

i've never even heard of this

[coralie]

la visite des 7 eglises le jeudi saint est une commemoration en ce jour aux 7 blessures du christ : la courone d'epine sur la tete , les clous dans les 2 mains et 2 pieds , le vinaigre qu'on lui a donne a boir sur la croix , et en fin de compte la lance dans son cote = 7 blessures de la crucifiction !

[arbre]

Originally Posted by WiseCookie

Here is what I found on the internet.

As a child I remember going to seven churches on Holy Thursday evening to visit the Blessed Sacrament. Can you explain the origin and significance of this practice to me. Is is still being done today?

I don't have a lot of detail on this, but it apparently is a custom has been practiced in different places. I have evidence that it is a Polish Catholic custom, though it is also shared by other ethnicities, such as Italians.

Common sense would suggest that it may also be an urban custom (cities having the abundances of churches needed for folks to do this) compared to a rural custom (where churches are fewer & farther between).

There's info on it and other Polish customs ON THIS PAGE.

It also appears to have been mentioned on a Knights of Columbus Page that has moved or is no longer on the web. That page stated:

The Altar of Repose

When the Eucharist is processed to the altar of repose after the Mass of Lord's Supper, we should remain in quiet prayer and adoration, keeping Christ company. There is a tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try and visit seven churches and their altar of repose during this evening.

As to whether it is still practiced, according to the Denver Catholic Register, it is:

To this day, Italians customarily visit seven churches for Eucharistic adoration on Holy Thursday night, a reflection of the ancient pilgrimage practice of visiting seven Roman basilicas to obtain the plenary indulgence. Austrians light bonfires on Holy Saturday night to welcome the light of the risen Lord

Perhaps others can comment with their knowledge of the custom.

I have never heard of this tradition, this definetely is not a polish one.

What we do sometimes, is visiting churches to see the decoration made for Easter, it is usually the Jesus' grave, but it may be anything which some way is connected to Easter, with some message to ppl. So if we know about a church with an intresting decoration, we go to see it. But there is no rule to go to 7 churches. And we dont do that on friday, its still a working day, but mostly on saturday.

[Lebanese_dream]

Originally Posted by coralie

la visite des 7 eglises le jeudi saint est une commemoration en ce jour aux 7 blessures du christ : la courone d'epine sur la tete , les clous dans les 2 mains et 2 pieds , le vinaigre qu'on lui a donne a boir sur la croix , et en fin de compte la lance dans son cote = 7 blessures de la crucifiction !

Pour moi ce n'est pas cela... je reprends mon post dans un autre thread http://www.lfpm.org/forum/showpost.p...0&postcount=11

Pourquoi 7 ? Car les Sacrements Chretiennes sont 7. Confession, Eucharistie, Communion, Bapteme, Pardon, Pretrise et Consecration

Cette habitude ne se fait pas dans tous les pays du monde.

[Inanna]

number 7 holds a deep meaning in the Christian religion, it's a Christian number par excellence since it can be related in many ways to that religion, and the example given in this thread prove it,
but beside all this, i believe that it's not visiting 7 Churches that counts that much if you're doing it as a kazdoura, but if you visit 1 or 10 and really pray from the heart, assist to a mass... than this is what counts!

[WiseCookie]

Originally Posted by Inanna

number 7 holds a deep meaning in the Christian religion, it's a Christian number par excellence since it can be related in many ways to that religion, and the example given in this thread prove it,
but beside all this, i believe that it's not visiting 7 Churches that counts that much if you're doing it as a kazdoura, but if you visit 1 or 10 and really pray from the heart, assist to a mass... than this is what counts!

Yes, that's true. Here are the seven sorrows of Mary for example.

The Seven Sorrows is a series of meditations on the sufferings of Mary as the Mother of Jesus.

1) The Prophesy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus

2) The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.(Gospel of Matthew 2:13-21)

3) The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. (Luke 2:41-51)

4) The Meeting of Jesus & Mary Along the Way of the Cross. (Luke 23:27-31)

5) Mary Watches Jesus Suffer and Die upon the Cross.(Gospel of John19:25-27)

6) Mary Receives the Body of Jesus Taken Down from the Cross. (Matthew 27:55-61)

7) Mary Watches as the Body of Jesus is Buried in a Tomb. (Luke 23: 55-5