This post is the first of eight in my series about the Catholic tradition of visiting Seven Churches on Holy Thursday. It serves as an introduction to the seven daily posts to follow. Each of those will be about a visit to one church, with the idea of the last post falling on Holy Thursday to complete the series.
The Tradition
Let’s talk about the tradition, what it’s all about, and how it got started. So, Holy Thursday is the feast day where Catholics celebrate the last supper. The priest takes the Eucharist off the main altar at the close of the mass, and places it on an altar of repose, away from the main altar of the church.
In the bible, it’s after the last supper that Jesus begins his journey to the cross. He visits seven ‘stations’, or places, before being condemned to death. These are not to be confused with the 14 “Stations of the Cross”. The seven stations include:
- Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
- Jesus is bound and taken before Annas
- He (Jesus) is taken to the High Priest, Caiaphas
- Jesus is taken to Pilate
- He (Jesus) is taken to Herod
- Jesus is taken to Pilate again
- Jesus is given the crown of thorns and led away to be crucified
Basically, these stations are every place Jesus went after the last supper, up to and including receiving the crown of thorns. The tradition of visiting seven churches on this night is waiting for the crucifixion. Catholics carry on this tradition of waiting, as Jesus asked his disciples to wait in the garden, and afterwards as the disciples waited for the crucifixion.
At each church in turn Catholics kneel before the altar of repose, and meditate on the ‘station’. So, at the first church you meditate about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. At the second church, you meditate on Jesus being bound and taken before Annas, and so on.
That’s basically it in a nutshell. Now, while you’re reading these posts, I don’t want you to feel any pressure. For me, this is nostalgic as well as religious. But if you want, just read the stories of the churches and take a look at the photos. I’m only hoping these posts give you a few minutes of peace during this very stressful time.
Let’s Get Personal For a Minute
As a child, every year, my father would take us to visit seven churches on Good Friday morning. We didn’t go on Thursday night after the mass of the last supper, because my father worked afternoons. I don’t remember my mother ever coming with us. Probably either because her family never practiced the tradition, or she probably needed the house quiet so she could prepare for Easter Sunday. There were five of us kids (#6 came along later on), so it seems plausible that the latter was the case.
That’s me in the hoodie eyeing up what is probably a sour ball hard candy in my sister’s hand.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that my father grew up on the East Side in the Broadway/Fillmore neighborhood. He considers himself to be of 100% Polish descent. It’s what we’ve heard our whole lives from his parents, aunts and uncles. And it’s entirely possible, as Ancestry.com has me at 57% ‘Eastern European’.
I mention my Polish roots because Poland is one of the countries where this tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is big. I mean really big. And it’s pretty big here in Buffalo too.
The Tradition of Visiting Seven Churches Continues
My family eventually got away from our ‘Good Friday pilgrimages’. But about 15 years ago, we picked it back up and started doing it again. My parents came along too. Later on, extended family joined in. Driving between East Side churches, my Dad would tell stories of his childhood. We used walkie talkies one year so the people not driving with him could hear his stories. Dad’s a great storyteller.
One year, my sister Kate (#6) mentioned that it was a shame that we’d been visiting these churches our whole lives, but had never attended mass at any of them. So, we started our own little mass mob. Before mass mobs were a thing. Each Sunday in lent, we’d attend mass at a different East Side church. Afterwards, we’d do something social, like go out to breakfast in the neighborhood of whatever church we were at that week. Various people joined us on various weeks. It was a lot of fun! (And we discovered Lucky’s on Clinton too!)
The Covid-19 Crisis Closes Churches
Covid-19 has certainly changed all of our lives. Not being able to attend masshas been a big change for an awful lot of people. Look, I know there are a lot of you reading this who have a problem with the Catholic Church. But there are many, many faithful Catholics in the Buffalo area.
I have been visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday evening for five years or so now. The last three on the Holy Roll – a take on Buffalo’s Slow Roll – travelling to each church on bikes, headed up by Fr. Jud Weiksnar and some of his friends. And this is why I have decided to write these posts.
Our Buffalo churches are treasures. Both spiritually and architecturally, and in art. I once heard someone say that some of Buffalo’s churches rival the great churches of Europe. So even if you’re not Catholic, or religious, you will be able to appreciate the history (which I will tell you) and the photos of each of these treasures.
Try to keep in mind that although I’ve taken photos of these churches over the years, I am not able to go back and get the good shots I normally try to bring you in my posts. Perhaps I’ll have to make a point to do it when the churches reopen, and come back and add more photos later. Hmmm, another thing to put on my list of things to do when the lockdown ends.
Join us tomorrow for the first church, SS. Columba-Brigid.
I hope you enjoy these posts, and I sincerely hope that you are all well in mind, body and soul. Peace be with all of you.
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How wonderful! Thank you so much. My sisters and I have been going to seven churches for about the last 14 years. Various people would join us. I lost my first sister ten years ago and a month ago I lost my other sister. I have been thinking how sad Holy Thursday was going to be without this. Now I can go! Thank you.
I am so sorry to hear about your sisters. I hope that soon your great memories of them will replace the grief you feel right now. I am happy that I could be a tiny part of that journey! I will pray for you and your family.
This is truly a very wonderful idea as those of us who have also carried on this tradition had no idea what we could do this year . Thank you !
Thank you for helping to keep the tradition alive!
Ellen this is so beaitifully written. I always knew you had a wonderful family and and now know why you so Embrace this tradition
Thanks Sheryl! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have been going to Seven Churches since I was 5. I’m now 63. My mother died on Holy Thursday and still I went because this is what she and I did. Thank you for doing this. I now take my children and grandchildren. My parents grew up in the Broadway Fillmore area on Wilson Street. I know many stories of their childhood. This will ease my heart this year as I was thinking of a creative way to do my Seven Churches this year. Thank you.
This is exactly the reason I decided to do this! I’m so happy and honored to be able to keep this tradition alive!
Thank you . it will be interesting to learn the history if the churches we visited throughout the years. We have carried on this tradition for over 50 years. I am the last of 11 and still remember. Going with my mom and dad. My family still goes and our children and theirs. Thanks and God Bless looking forward to our New Holy Thursday experience this year
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m so happy and honored to be able to bring Buffalo these stories! Happy Easter to you and your whole family.
Ellen, I didn’t realize you were doing this. I have led a Pilgrimage for at least 10-15 years. I was so sad that it wouldn’t happen this year. This is a wonderful substitute until next year. God Bless……Aunt Kathy’s friend, Sharon
Hi Sharon! I’m so happy to be able to bring you these stories! Happy Easter to you and your family!
This is a tradition I would like to begin with my children. This year we will do it by streaming mass at as many churches as will be streaming and next year full on visiting ! Thanks for the article !
Sounds like a plan Nancy! It’s a great tradition, thank you for reading!
Thank you Ellen for sharing these posts. I’m not catholic but have always been spiritual. In the last few years I feel I have lost my way so your posts will help me renew my faith. Thank you and be safe until we see each other again.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the series! You be safe too, hopefully we’ll see you in the summer!
Ellen, I remember you telling me about your family tradition and enjoyed reading about it as well. We took part in the “church mob” During the years you and Tim organized it. We loved the history and beauty of the churches.
Thanks for your insight on all of this.
So glad you enjoyed it Martha! I remember you coming with us to some of those masses! 🙂
Thank you for bringing this tradition to life virtually! I am really going to miss the visitations this year 🙁
We’ll be back next year!
Thank you so much. I have been to most of the churches and they are beautiful and the story of each one is very interesting.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy Easter to you and yours!
Great article and I had to chuckle at your mention of Lucky’s on Clinton. Had several early morning breakfasts there after a night on the town
Great food at Lucky’s – especially after a night on the town!
Do you know if the churches will be open this Easter season 2021?
I would suggest checking with each individual church, before going out. But I would guess most will be open.
Thank you for reminding us of this beautiful tradition. It was something my family did for most of my life. My church will not be open after mass.
I love that so many of us have the memories of this tradition. I am at the same time sorry to hear that your church will not be open. Are there other churches in your area that will be open? If not, why not follow along with the blog posts, it might help you feel better about not being able to do it in person. There are links at the end of each one (including the introduction) that will lead you to the next. Enjoy. And a very happy Easter to you and yours!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience on this. I grew up in the Philippines and this is a popular tradition that the people follow on Maundy Thursday, which we called VISITA IGLESIA. I’m now a grandma but I never really knew the significance of this tradition. Never really knew what to pray except ONE OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE! This is awesome to know that you meditate on the first seven Stations of the Cross. This is cool to know I can apply my learning of the St Ignatius way of prayers while you meditate imagine yourself present at the scene and describe what and how are you feeling while there! So appreciative of your blog!!! Happy Easter!
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Holy Thursday is so close to my heart! I used to just say those three prayers too, until I wrote this post. When I looked it up, it all made so much more sense! I appreciate you reading. Happy Easter to you and your family!