Understanding Visita Iglesia: Deciding between 7 or 14 church visits?

One of the traditions Catholics observe during Holy Week is the Visita Iglesia, in which they go to several churches to pray, reflect, and spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

Traditionally done during Maundy Thursday, Fr. Francis Gustilo, president of Don Bosco School of Theology in Parañaque City, said Visita Iglesia is a time for the faithful to keep vigil and welcome Jesus Christ.

“First is bisitahin mo, you meet Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. And we do that, mag-tanod ka, watch and stay,” Gustilo told GMA News Online.

(First is to visit and meet Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Then keep vigil by keeping watch and staying.)

The question is: How many churches should the faithful visit during Visita Iglesia?

Some Catholics visit seven churches while others go to 14 churches and this practice became customary as time goes by, Gustilo said.

He explained that some Catholics observe Visita Iglesia and pray the Stations of the Cross, which is traditionally observed on Good Friday.

Since there are 14 Stations of the Cross, some Catholics pray two stations in seven churches, while others pray one station per church that they visit.

“Siguro to feel that kind of ‘gawin ko na rin yung pang Friday,’ na traditionally happens on a Good Friday, they have already started their own devotion to the Station of the Cross. Pero, originally, it is a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,” Gustilo said.

(Many begin by observing the Friday devotions on Thursday that they started their own devotion to the Station of the Cross. But originally, Visita Iglesia is a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.)

Maundy Thursday tradition

The tradition of Visita Iglesia began in the 16th century when Christian missionary St. Philip Neri visited seven major basilicas in Rome on Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, Gustilo said.

“Because seven is a Biblical number. Sa Bible, there are seven days a week. God created the world in seven days. And on the seventh, He rested,” Gustilo said.

“So ang tingin sa seven, complete number. Siguro na andun na rin yun, yung idea na pag gusto ko maging kompleto, seven,” he added.

(So seven is considered a complete number. That’s why the idea developed that if you want something to be complete, it should be seven.)

Traditionally done at night

Visita Iglesia is traditionally observed after the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening, when the Blessed Sacrament is taken out of the tabernacle and placed on an altar installed in one side of the church where the faithful spend time in prayer.

Gustilo explained that visiting churches is done at night as this practice is tied to the Gospel narrating the agony of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asked his disciples to stay with him and watch.

“He asked his disciples to please stay with me and watch, magtanod, and pray. Watch is not to look. Watch means hindi naman relo (not like a clock). Pero it's an hour,” Gustilo said.

Thus, during Visita Iglesia, the faithful are invited to remain in the church and keep vigil for an hour, from 6 p.m. during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, until 12 a.m. at the seventh church.

“Yung mga bisita-iglesia, nagtatapos yan ng midnight. Kasi meron parang stretch of six hours, even seven hours, para may possibility ang mga tao to stay with Jesus,” Gustilo said.

(The Visita Iglesia visits end at midnight because there’s roughly a stretch of six to seven hours to give people the opportunity to stay with Jesus.)

“It has to happen at night. Of course, now, because probably with the means of transportation, they make this bisita-iglesia like a pilgrimage of a parish of an association of Catholics, mostly friends, or mostly small groups,” he added.

(It has to happen at night. Of course, now, because probably with the means of transportation, Visita Iglesia has become more like a pilgrimage organized by a parish or a Catholic association, mostly among friends or small groups.)

This practice also opens opportunities for the faithful to engage in communal prayer and learn about the history of the church and places they visit.

Embrace God’s love

As Catholics observed Holy Week, Gustilo called on the faithful to embrace God’s love by giving Him one’s time through prayer and reflection.

“Bigyan natin siya ng konting oras araw-araw. Kahit 15 minutes a day. Monday hanggang Sunday (Let us give Him our time every day, even 15 minutes from Monday to Sunday),” Gustilo said, who is also Vice-Dean for the Institute of Salesian Studies & Spirituality.

He also urged Catholics to engage in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession, and observe Visita Iglesia even within one’s diocese.

“Huwag na tayo maging... ano, sabi na pumunta lang sa beach. Sana bigyan natin ang Diyos ng pagkakataon magpakilala sa atin ang Kanyang kakaibang pagmamahal ngayong mahal na araw,” Gustilo said.

(Let’s not just go to the beach. Hopefully, we can also give God the chance to show us His unique love this Holy Week.)

This year, Maundy Thursday will be on April 2, while Good Friday will be on April 3. — BAP, GMA Integrated News