The Seven Churches Pilgrimage is the practice of visiting seven different churches on Holy Thursday, in imitation of the journey of Christ on the eve of his crucifixion.

The devotion is thought to have originated in sixteenth-century Rome, where pilgrims — likely led by St. Philip Neri — would visit the seven major basilicas there: St. Peter’s in the Vatican, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St. Sebastian Outside the Walls, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.

Pilgrims undertaking this journey anywhere in the world can visit any seven churches while adoring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament upon the Altar of Repose, fulfilling his request of his disciples to stay with him as he awaited his Passion. There are specific Scripture passages that pilgrims can meditate upon at each altar.

©LPi