Just came home from Visita Iglesia. I don’t know if it should be Visita Iglesia or Bisita Iglesia. This is my fifth year of doing the filipino Catholic tradition. Visita Iglesia is a tradition wherein you would visit seven churches. Even if I’m out of town vacation, I make it a point to do the tradition as my “panata” (filipino word that means vow or pledge). 
Visita Iglesia is not just visiting seven churches just like some who unknowingly doing every Holy Thursday. Stations of the Cross is also on Maundy Thursday and can be done either at daytime or at night. As far as I know, Visita Iglesia is giving honor to the Blessed Sacrament of each seven churches. Usually, the celebration begins with a mass, mostly at 6pm. The mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose. So, unlike Stations of the Cross, Visita Iglesia will be done at night time ONLY until midnight. All saints and stations inside the church were veiled with lavender fabrics, lights are off to the main altar and the Altar of Repose is lighted and adorned with flowers.
Every year, I want to include church or churches on my list that I haven’t been visited. This year’s Visita Iglesia, I leave home at around 4:30 pm to give extra alloted time for travel. Here’s the list of the churches in order:
- St. Vincent De Paul Parish Church
- Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)
- Sta. Cruz Parish Church
- Manila Cathedral
- San Agustin Church
- Shrine Of Nuestra Senora De Guia (Ermita Church)
- Malate Church
Some churches are offering free salabat (ginger juice) or hot tea, and/or any food to church goers at the church compound. My thoughts: hmmn… I thought there’s supposed to be proper “dress code” to church. I did found so many people wearing sleeveless, spaghetti straps and short shorts.
Related posts:
In the 1950s in Australia, we used to do something similar to Visitia Iglesia but not seven times — we did nine.
For example, I went to Mass and received the Sacrament on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month, same thing for visiting and giving reverence to Our Lady in nine different churches. There were more but I can’t remember them now
Actually, the first time I did Visita Iglesia, it was nine churches I’ve visited. I didn’t know that time that it has to be seven churches. I guess, we have different traditions but almost similar in different countries.
[...] on my list. Remember, Visita Iglesia is at night time. The picture of the Altar of Repose from my Visita Iglesia article was taken here at Ermita Church or Nuestra Senora De Guia Church. Their Altar of Repose is [...]