Holy Thursday Church Visitation and The Altar of Repose

The Altar of Repose inside the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette
Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

After Holy Thursday’s evening Mass at the Shrine Church of Saint Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, I joined some friends on their annual pilgrimage to venerate the Blessed Sacrament at Saint Francis Cabrini Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and Saint Finbar Church in Bath Beach, Brooklyn. 

Growing up, Church Visitation was not part of my family’s Holy Thursday tradition, but it remains a fairly common custom among practicing Italian Catholics. Needless to say, I was honored to be invited and jumped at the opportunity to partake in the edifying ritual.

Each church had its own beautifully decorated Altar of Repose, which in southern Italy represents the Holy Sepulcher, or Christ’s tomb. At each one, we made a donation, lit a few candles and said our prayers. In keeping with tradition, my friends also made offerings of potted wheat sprouts grown in the dark. Called sepulcru, the pallid plants symbolize life born in darkness and the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.

I’m extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate and experience something new. I look forward to doing it again next year and making the rite part of my own tradition.

The Altar of Repose inside St. Francis Cabrini Church

Pietà inside St. Francis Cabrini Church

The Altar of Repose inside St. Finbar