7 Churches Mini-Pilgrimage

Seven Churches Pilgrimage

(Mini-Pilgrimage Downtown Detroit. Michigan)

Visit 7 or more altars of repose at 13 downtown churches on 1 holy night. March 28th Thursday 2024

The Seven Churches visitation grew out of the penance given to pilgrims to visit the seven basilicas of Rome. St. Philip Neri is credited with the popularization of the Seven Churches Pilgrimage in the 16th Century. The practice has proliferated around the world and today is popular in Italy, Poland, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Pilgrims are invited to draw closer to Jesus through prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at the start of the Holy Triduum by visiting seven Altars of Repose. The Seven Churches visitation is reminiscent of when Jesus asked disciples to stand watch with him and pray while in the garden of Gethsemane. In visiting seven locations, we are reminded of the seven places Jesus went between the Last Supper and Calvary.

This custom map shows 13 churches participating with driving directions for “West” and “East". Click Map to expand and open in Google/maps

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. At the final church, many opt to observe a Holy Hour.

Station 1: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Luke 22:39-46 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.45At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Station 2 Jesus bound and taken before Annas

John 19:19-22 (New Living Translation)

Station 2 Jesus bound and taken before Annas

John 18:19-24 (New Living Translation)

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. 20Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. 21Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

22Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

24Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Station 3 Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas

Matthew 26:63-65 (New Living Translation)

63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

Station 4 Jesus taken before Pilate

John 18: 35-37 (New Living Translation)

35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

36Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

37Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

Station 5 Jesus taken before Herod

Luke 23:8-9,11 (New Living Translation)

8Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

Station 6 Jesus taken before Pilate Again

Matthew 27:22-26 (New Living Translation)

22Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

23“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

25And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Station 7 Jesus given the crown of thorns and led to his crucifixion

Matthew 27:27-31 (New Living Translation)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.