The Seven Churches Pilgrimage

Basilicas of the Holy Year 2000: 800 l: Saint Peter's Basilica (Scott 1137) 1000 l: Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Scott 1138) 1200 l: Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Scott 1139) 2000 l: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls (Scott 1140) Roman Basilicas Issue of 1949: 13 l: Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem (Scott 126) 16 l: Saint Sebastian Outside-the-Walls (Scott 127) 25 l: Saint Lawrence Outside-the-Walls (Scott 128) A recent Daily Email focused on the four major Roman Basilicas. The article looked at the stamps issued as part of the Holy Year 2000 celebration and was entitled “Basilicas of the Holy Year 2000”. In today’s article, we want to take the pilgrimage to the four major Basilicas to another level to look at the “Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches”. This procession, originally conceived by Saint Philip Neri, is one of the oldest Roman traditions and is of special importance to pilgrims from around the world visiting Rome during the Holy Year. The pilgrimage walk is thus back in the forefront of people’s minds with the Jubilee Year of 2025 in full swing. The Pilgrimage Walk covers a course of approximately 25 kilometers, and snakes through the entire city of Rome. The trek eventually reaches its conclusion out in the Roman countryside. Visits to the catacombs and stops at some of Rome’s most famous churches, in addition to its magnificent basilicas, are all part of the walk. The tradition of the Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches may not have started by the future saint, Philip Neri, in the mid-16th century, but he is credited with renewing its popularity. The goal was to combine a friendly and lively sense of brotherhood with the sharing of a common religious experience. Neri drew up the itinerary that included visits to the following basilicas across Rome, in order: St. Peter's Basilica St. Paul Outside-the-Walls St. Sebastian's Outside-the Walls St. John Lateran Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls St. Mary Major Saint Philip Neri: Left: 400th Anniversary of Death (Scott 995, 1995) Right: 500th Anniversary of Birth (Scott 1605, 2015) Neri and his friends would meet before dawn and then begin the trek for the day. At each church, there would be prayers, singing and a brief sermon by Neri. Although today the Pilgrimage Walk can be done at any time, during the Lenten season the Walk is traditionally done on Wednesday of Holy Week. In addition, the Walk is also conducted in the month of May, with the Feast Day of Saint Philip Neri falling on May 26. The popularity of the Pilgrimage Walk waned for a period of time, but it was revived in the 1960’s by Saint Philip’s congregation of secular priests, the Oratory. An article from the Catholic News Agency, written by Hannah Brockhaus and accessible via the link in the references, recounts the revival of the Walk in 2022, following a two-year hiatus resulting from the COVID pandemic. The article provides a history of the Walk as well as a nice telling of the experiences of those who participated in the 15.5 mile, 10 hour walk in May of 2022. In addition, by clicking on the link to the Jubilee 2025 website in the references, the reader will be brought to a map of the Seven Churches Pilgrimage. REFERENCES: Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, May 26, 2022, St. Philip Neri’s 7 Churches Pilgrimage returns after pandemic break Jubilee 2025 website, www.iubilaeum2025.va/en, The Seven Churches Pilgrimage Wikipedia, Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search