Seven Churches Devotion
“Night Watch”
Console Christ during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Altar of Repose
After Mass until midnight
The garage rollup door will close at 1 am
This tradition is credited to St. Philip Neri and his friends, who would prayerfully join together and go on a pilgrimage to seven churches.
It came out of a desire to increase prayer and keep with Christ’s request to “remain here, and watch”, hence why it is referred to as Night Watch (Mk 14:35).
By keeping with this tradition, we also become pilgrims staying with Christ in the garden and consoling him in his agony.
You can either pray two Stations of the Cross at each church or meditate on Scripture verses related to the last seven places Jesus stopped before he died.
1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:39-46)
2. Jesus before Annas (Jn 18:19-22)
3. Jesus before Caiaphas (Mt 26:63-65)
4. Jesus before Pilate (Jn 18:35-37)
5. Jesus before Herod (Lk 23:8-9; 11)
6. Jesus before Pilate again (Mt 27:22-26)
7. Jesus’s crucifixion and death (Mt 27:27-31)
Participating Churches & Suggested Order
1. Church of the Annunciation - 1618 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77003
2. St. Joseph Catholic Church - 1505 Kane St, Houston, TX 77007
3. Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart - 1111 St Joseph Pkwy, Houston, TX 77002
4. St. Nicholas Catholic Church - 2502 Clay St, Houston, TX 77003
5. Holy Rosary Catholic Church - 3617 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002
6. Chapel of St. Basil at the University of St. Thomas
7. St. Anne Catholic Church - 2140 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098