Sinjin’s Visita Iglesia

Today is Holy Thursday and I, together with my family, will do the Visita Iglesia, a tradition that we have been doing every Holy Thursday.

What is the Visita Iglesia?

Visita Iglesia is traditionally a visit of only seven (7) churches, done on the evening of Holy Thursday after the Mass Commemorating the Last Supper and Washing of the Feet. The Blessed Sacrament in all Churches are exposed, sometimes elaborately designed or decorated with flowers, candles, dim lighting, others a make shift ‘tomb’ or a rocky garden supposed to represent the “Garden of Gethsemane”. The true and meaningful Visita Iglesia is done up until 12 midnight. The goers or ‘pilgrims’ should visit, pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament.

It is not intended to commemorate the 7 Last Words of Christ (which is done on Good Friday between 12 noon to 3pm), nor the Stations of the Cross (which is traditionally done any day during the holy week or on Good Friday morning before the 7 Last Words), but people may still do so because such devotion add to the solemnity and commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Visita Iglesia should be solemn, full of prayers of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and humility before the cross of Jesus. It should not be done for the intention of ‘touring around’, or solely for wishing for something. Though it is said that petitions to our Heavenly Father may be lifted up to Him during each church visit, still the main purpose and intention of Visita Iglesia should be the profound commemoration of the Last Supper, Christ’s passion and death, and our renewal of faith to Christ’s victory over sin on the day of resurrection.

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Our usual 7 churches:

1. Church of Our Mother of the Perpetual Help (Redemptorist Church; where we also hear the Last Supper mass)
2. Sacred Heart Church
3. Church in the Archbishop’s Palace
4. Sto. Rosario Church
5. Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Capitol Parish)
6. Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Asilo)
7. Mabolo Church or Carmelite Church (tentative)

Have a solemn Holy Week everyone!

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