Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of
the Lord's Supper
Isaiah,
Chapter 43, verse 5
FEAR
not, for I am with you; from the east I will bring back your offspring, from
the west I will gather you.
This chapter of Isaiah is about the redemption and
restoration of Israel which appears to have been fulfilled in the creation of
the State of Israel. Yet in a deeper sense it includes us Catholic and
Christians. As we celebrate this day let us also contemplate the deep love and
sacrifice our God made to get us here and remember He is with us.
ON this day the Church
commemorates the institution of the holy sacrifice of the Mass and of the
Blessed Eucharist, or the Sacrament of the Altar. The Introit of the Mass of
the day is as follows: We ought to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by Whom we have been saved
and delivered. May God have mercy on us and bless us; may He cause the light of
His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us.
Prayer. O God, from Whom Judas received the punishment of
his guilt, and the good thief the reward of his confession, grant us the effect
of Thy mercy, that as Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His passion, gave to each
different retribution, according to his deserts, so He would take from us our
old errors, and grant us the grace of His resurrection.
EPISTLE, i. Cor. xi. 20-32.
Brethren: When you come
together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord’s supper. For everyone
taketh before his own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry, and another is
drunk. What! have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the
Church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Do
I praise you?
In this I praise you not.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you: that the
Lord Jesus, the same night ill which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving
thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat : this is My body, which shall be
delivered for you : this do for the commemoration of Me. In like manner, also,
the chalice, after He had supped, saying: This chalice is the New Testament in
My blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me.
For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show
the death of the Lord, until He come. Therefore, whoso ever shall eat this
bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord un worthily, shall be guilty of the
body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him
eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of
the Lord. Therefore, are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep.
But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But whilst we are
judged, we are chastised by the Lord, that we be not condemned with this world.
GOSPEL. John xiii. 1-15.
Before the festival-day of the Pasch, Jesus knowing
that His hour was come, that He should pass out of this world to the Father:
having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And
when supper was done (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas
Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him), knowing that the Father had given
Him all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and goeth to God : He
riseth from supper, and layeth aside His garments, and having taken a towel,
girded Himself. After that, He putteth water into a basin, and began to wash
the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.
He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to Him: Lord, dost Thou
wash my feet?
Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do, thou
knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith to Him: Thou shalt
never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no
part with Me. Simon Peter saith to Him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my
hands and my head. Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to
wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all. For He knew
who he was that would betray Him; therefore, He said: You are not all clean.
Then after He had washed their feet and taken His garments, being sat down
again, He said to them: Know you what I have done to you?
You call Me Master, and Lord; and you say well, for
so I am. If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another’s feet; for I have given you an example, that as I
have done to you, so you do also.
Why did Jesus
wash His disciples’ feet? To show His humility and
love, and to teach them how pure they should be in approaching the Holy
Sacrament of the Altar. Hence arose the pious custom that spiritual superiors
and temporal rulers should on this day wash the feet of some of their subjects,
usually of twelve poor persons, and afterwards serve them at table, or at least
make them presents.
Why is it that
only one priest in each church says Mass to-day, while the rest go to communion;
and why is the Blessed Sacrament carried to the repository? To imitate the example of Jesus Christ, Who on this day gave to His
apostles His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. In like manner, all should
to-day receive communion from one. The priests appear to-day in their stoles,
the emblem of the spiritual dignity and power which were on this day given to
the apostles, and through them to their successors. The removal of the Most
Holy Sacrament to the repository signifies Jesus’s going to Mount Olivet, where
His Godhead concealed itself.
Why is it that the
bells are not rung until Saturday, but pieces of wood used instead; and why are
the altars denuded? So that the Church may express her deep grief for
the sufferings and death of Jesus, and remind us to mourn in silence, and in a
spiritual manner to die to the world and to self; she also further indicates
thereby the silence of the apostles, who out of fear at this time were dumb.
The removal of decorations from the altars signifies how Jesus, through His
passion, lost His form and beauty, and was stripped of His garments, on which
account the twenty-first psalm, in which all this is predicted, is said while
the altars are denuded. It is also a call to sorrow and penance.
Lenten
Calendar[2]
Read: The summit of the liturgical year, the Easter Triduum, begins this
evening and continues into the evening of Easter Sunday. While chronologically
three days, they are liturgically one day, unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s
Paschal Mystery.
Reflect: “To encounter the living God it is necessary to tenderly kiss Jesus’
wounds in our hungry, poor, sick and incarcerated brothers and sisters.” (Pope
Francis, Homily for the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle)
Pray: Spend time with this Catholic Relief Services prayer: Remain Here
and Keep Watch With Me.. . .
Act: Sunset today marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Triduum – the
3 most solemn days of the liturgical year. Begin the Triduum by attending Mass
this evening.
Holy
Thursday[3]
Holy Thursday is also known as Maundy Thursday and is a celebration of the institution of the
Eucharist and the priesthood. There were originally three separate Masses for
Maundy Thursday. The first, no longer in use, is the Mass of Remission, whereby the public penitents who had been doing
special penance during Lent were received back into the Church. The second is
the Chrism Mass, when the bishop blesses the holy oils to be used
for the year. The third is the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, in
which the Church celebrates the institution of the Eucharist and the
priesthood. The special ceremonies for this exultant Mass (the Gloria returns
and white vestments are used) include the priest's washing the feet of twelve
men, the removal of the Eucharist to the Altar of Repose, and the stripping of
the altars. After the Blessed Sacrament is "laid to rest" in a
special tabernacle on the Altar of Repose, it is customary
for the church to stay open all night and for private devotion to take place. A
variation of this custom is to visit seven such shrines during the night in
imitation of the Sette Chiese of the Roman Stations (see Stations). This
custom was quite popular in American cities like Boston until the late 1960s.
Start a new tradition and visit churches in your area on this Holy Night
spending 15 minutes in prayer on each visit.
"Clean" Thursday Customs
Because it was the day that penitents and catechumens
were cleansed of their sins (and allowed to bathe again), Maundy Thursday is
known in some parts of the world as "Clean" Thursday. The idea of
cleanliness also extended to the rest of the faithful. In a time when bathing
did not happen every day, Clean Thursday became the occasion for thoroughly
cleansing the body in preparation for Easter. There is also a charming legend
that after the bells are rung for the Gloria during the Mass of
the Last Supper, "they fly to Rome" where -- depending on who is
telling the story -- they either are blessed by the Pope and sleep on the roof
of St. Peter's Holy Saturday night, or are given Easter eggs to return with
them on Sunday morning.
The Altar of Repose[4]
When the Eucharist is processed to the
altar of repose after the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we should remain in quiet
prayer and adoration, keeping Christ company.
Popular piety is particularly sensitive to
the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the wake of the Mass of the Lord's
supper. Because of a long historical process, whose origins are not entirely
clear, the place of repose has traditionally been referred to as "a holy sepulcher".
The faithful go there to venerate Jesus who was placed in a tomb following the
crucifixion and in which he remained for some forty hours.
It is necessary to instruct the faithful
on the meaning of the reposition it is an austere solemn conservation of the
Body of Christ for the community of the faithful which takes part in the
liturgy of Good Friday and for the viaticum of the infirmed. It is an
invitation to silent and prolonged adoration of the wondrous sacrament
instituted by Jesus on this day.
In reference to the altar of repose,
therefore, the term "sepulcher" should be avoided, and its decoration
should not have any suggestion of a tomb. The tabernacle on this altar should
not be in the form of a tomb or funerary urn. The Blessed Sacrament should be
conserved in a closed tabernacle and should not be exposed in a monstrance. After
midnight on Holy Thursday, the adoration should conclude without solemnity,
since the day of the Lord's Passion has already begun.
A Holy Thursday tradition: Pilgrimage to seven churches[5]
·
Holy Thursday is the feast that marks the end of
Lent and the beginning of the Holy Triduum, which also includes Good Friday,
Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. At this Mass of the Lord’s Supper Catholics
remember the Passover meal, when Jesus instituted the sacrament of the holy
Eucharist by sharing bread and wine with his disciples, saying, “Do this in
memory of Me.” “The faithful are invited to continue adoration before the
Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night, according to
circumstance.”
·
The Seven Churches Visitation is a tradition that
grew out of this time of prayer and adoration. Catholics remember when Jesus
asked his disciples to stay and watch with Him while they were in the garden.
This tradition of mindful watching is a sort of pilgrimage to various altars of
repose, in different churches that correspond to each of the seven places, or
“stations,” that were made by Jesus between the Last Supper in the Upper Room
to His crucifixion on the cross.
·
The seven stations consist of: Jesus in the Garden
of Gethsemane (Luke 22: 39-46), Jesus bound and taken before Annas (John 18:
19-22), Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas (Matthew 26: 63-65), Jesus
taken before Pilate (John 18, 35-37), Jesus taken before Herod (Luke 23: 8-9;
11), Jesus taken before Pilate again (Matthew 27: 22-26) and Jesus given the crown
of thorns and led to his crucifixion (Matthew 27: 27-31).
·
Upon entering each church, pilgrims visit the altar
of repose, kneel, make the sign of the cross, read the appropriate scripture
for each station and engage in private prayer and adoration. Some may add other
prayers as well. At the seventh station, many will close their pilgrimage by
opting to observe a Holy Hour.
·
The origin of the Seven Churches Visitation is
typically credited to St. Philip Neri and is practiced by Catholics around the
world, including in Poland, Mexico, Italy and the Philippines. The devotion can
also be traced back to the Station Churches of Rome, where the tradition is
still practiced. More information is also available in George Weigel’s book
“Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches.”
·
Some will argue that the Holy Thursday pilgrimage
has roots in the Book of Revelation, in which the Seven Ancient Churches are
visited by an angel. For those who live in an urban area with several Catholic
churches nearby, they may want to visit seven different churches. However,
those who live in a rural area can still take part in the tradition by praying
all seven stations. For participating families with young ones, adaptations can
be made for the sake of time and parish availability. Pilgrims may choose to
say prayers for two stations at one location.
·
The Seven Churches Visitation is a powerful way to
spend time in adoration, meditating on Christ’s sacrifice of love for the
salvation of souls in preparation for the joy of Easter. There is something
special about visiting churches late into the nigh. It is not just because of
the opportunity to visit other parishes, it’s because of intentionally seeking
Christ to spend time with Him and contemplating the gift of His love.
Holy Thursday Top Events
and Things to Do[6]
·
Take
a close look online of Michelangelo's The Last Supper. Notice what
each of the disciples is doing, and how Jesus is portrayed.
·
Watch
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) with Max von Sydow as Jesus.
Pay attention to the Last Supper scene.
Eighteen Questions on
the Paschal Triduum[7]
The
following eighteen questions address the most commonly received questions
concerning the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and may be freely reproduced by diocesan
Offices for Worship, parish Liturgy Committees, and others seeking to promote
the effective celebration of these most sacred days.
1.
When does the Triduum begin and
end? The Easter
Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday,
reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening Prayer on
Easter Sunday.
2.
May another Mass besides the Mass
of the Lord’s Supper be celebrated on Holy Thursday? Ordinarily, no other Mass may be
celebrated on Holy Thursday. However, by way of exception, the local Ordinary
may permit another Mass in churches and oratories to be celebrated in the
evening, and, in the case of genuine necessity, even in the morning. Such
Masses are provided for those who in no way are able to participate in the
evening Mass.
3.
How are the Holy Oils, consecrated
and blessed at the Chrism Mass, to be received in the parish? A reception of the oils may take
place before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The oils, in suitable vessels, can
be carried in procession by members of the assembly.
4.
Is the Mandatum, the washing of
feet at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, required? No. The Roman Missal only
indicates, “After the Homily, where a pastoral reason suggests it [ubi ratio
pastoralis id suadeat], the Washing of Feet follows.”
5.
When should the Good Friday
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion take place? Normally it should take place in
the afternoon, at about 3:00 PM, to enable people to assemble more easily.
However, pastoral discretion may indicate a time shortly after midday, or in
the late evening, though never later than 9:00 PM. Depending on the size or
nature of a parish or other community, the local Ordinary may permit the
service to be repeated.
6.
May a deacon officiate at the
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion? Although
the Celebration of the Lord's Passion appears to be a service of the Word with
the distribution of Holy Communion, the Roman Missal does not permit a deacon
to officiate at the celebration. Historically, even though the Eucharist is not
celebrated on this day, the liturgy of Good Friday bears resemblance to a Mass.
At one time it was called the “Mass of the Presanctified” (referring to the
pre-consecrated hosts used at Communion, even when only the priest received
Communion). This is also reflected in the prescribed vesture for the priest:
stole and chasuble. The liturgy of Good Friday, as an integral part of the
Triduum, is linked to the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the
Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. While there may be cases where a parish with
multiple churches or chapels (e.g., mission churches or a cluster of parishes
under one pastor) might rotate the liturgies among the various locations, it
would not be appropriate for a community to celebrate only part of the Triduum.
7.
May any of the readings at the
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion be omitted? The Lectionary for Mass does not
indicate that any readings may be omitted at the Celebration of the Lord’s
Passion. All three readings (Isaiah, Hebrews, and the Passion according to
John) are required. It should be noted, however, for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s
Passion, the Lectionary indicates that while all three readings provided should
be used, there may be circumstances in which one or more of the readings at
Mass could be omitted: “Given, however, the importance of the account of the
Lord’s Passion, the priest, having in mind the character of each individual
congregation, is authorized to choose only one of the two readings prescribed
before the Gospel, or if necessary, he may read only the account of the
Passion, even in the shorter form. This permission applies, however, only to
Masses celebrated with a congregation.” Thus, the account of the Passion is
never omitted.
8.
Does the Church encourage any other
liturgical celebrations on Good Friday? On this day the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer
could appropriately be celebrated with the participation of the people in the
churches. Note that Evening Prayer is only prayed by those who do not
participate in the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.
9.
Do devotions have a particular
importance on Good Friday? The
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2002) provides the proper
perspective in paragraphs 142-145. Clearly the central celebration of this day
is the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. In no way should
manifestations of popular piety, either by the time or manner in which they are
convoked, substitute for this solemn liturgical action. Nor should aspects of
the various acts of piety be mixed with the Good Friday celebration, creating a
hybrid. In recent times, Passion processions, celebrations of the Stations
of the Cross, and Passion Plays have become more common. In such
representations, actors and spectators can be involved in a moment of faith and
genuine piety. Care should be taken, however, to point out to the faithful that
a Passion Play is a representation which is commemorative and they are
very different from “liturgical actions” which are anamnesis, or the mysterious
presence of the redemptive event of the Passion.
10. How
does the Adoration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday begin? The Adoration of the Holy Cross begins
with one of two forms of the Showing of the Holy Cross. The First Form begins
as the deacon or another suitable minister goes to the sacristy and obtains the
veiled Cross. Accompanied by two ministers with lighted candles, the veiled
Cross is brought to the center of the sanctuary in procession. The priest
accepts the Cross and then, standing in front of the altar and facing the
people, uncovers the upper part of the Cross, the right arm, and then the
entire Cross. Each time he unveils a part of the Cross, he sings the
acclamation, Behold the wood of the Cross. In the Second Form of the Showing of
the Holy Cross, the priest or deacon goes to the church door, where he takes up
the uncovered Cross. Accompanied by two ministers with lighted candles, he processes
to the sanctuary, stopping at the door of the church, in the middle of the
church, and before entering the sanctuary, to sing the acclamation, Behold the
wood of the Cross.
11.
How is the cross venerated by
members of the congregation on Good Friday? After the showing of the Cross, the priest or deacon
may carry the Cross to the entrance of the sanctuary or another suitable place.
The first person to adore the Cross is the priest celebrant. If circumstances
suggest, he takes off his chasuble and his shoes. The clergy lay ministers and
the faithful then approach the Cross. The personal adoration of the Cross is an
important feature in this celebration and every effort should be made to
achieve it. The rubrics remind us that “only one Cross” should be used for
adoration. If the numbers are so great that all cannot come forward, the
priest, after some of the clergy and faithful have adored the Cross, can take
it and stand in the center before the altar. In a few words he invites the
people to adore the Cross. He then elevates the Cross higher for a brief period
of time while the faithful adore it in silence. It should also be kept in mind
that when a sufficiently large Cross is used even a large community can
reverence it in due time. The foot of the Cross as well as the right and left
arm can be approached and venerated. Coordination with ushers and planning the
flow of people beforehand can allow for this part of the liturgy to be
celebrated with decorum and devotion.
12. When
should the Easter Vigil take place? The
Vigil, by its very nature, must take place at night. It is not begun before
nightfall and should end before daybreak on Easter Sunday. The celebration of
the Easter Vigil takes the place of the Office of Readings of Easter Sunday.
The Easter Vigil begins and ends in darkness. It is a nocturnal vigil,
retaining its ancient character of vigilance and expectation, as the Christian
people await the Resurrection of the Lord during the night. Fire is blessed and
the paschal candle is lighted to illumine the night so that all may hear the
Easter proclamation and listen to the word of God proclaimed in the Scriptures.
For this reason, the Solemn Beginning of the Vigil (Lucernarium) takes place
before the Liturgy of the Word. Since sunset varies at different locations
throughout the country, local weather stations can be consulted as to the time
of sunset in the area, keeping in mind that twilight concludes (i.e., nightfall
occurs) somewhat later.
13. What
considerations should be given for the paschal candle used at the Easter Vigil?
This candle should
be made of wax, never be artificial, be replaced each year, be only one in
number, and be of sufficiently large size that it may convey the truth that
Christ is the light of the world. The paschal candle is the symbol of the light
of Christ, rising in glory, scattering the darkness of our hearts and minds.
Above all, the paschal candle should be a genuine candle, the pre-eminent
symbol of the light of Christ. Choice of size, design, and color should be made
in relationship to the sanctuary in which it will be placed.
14. In
the case of mission churches and cluster parishes, can multiple paschal candles
be used for the Service of Light? The
Roman Missal, not envisioning the pastoral situation of mission churches or
cluster parishes, specifies that only one paschal candle is used. To accommodate
the particular circumstances, the Secretariat of Divine Worship might suggest
that the candles from the mission churches or other parish churches could be
present at the Easter Vigil, having been prepared in advance, and blessed
alongside the main candle (perhaps having deacons or other representatives
holding them). In keeping with the rubrics, for the lighting and procession
only one candle should be lit (the principal one, or the one which will remain
in that particular church). As the other candles in the congregation are lit,
the other paschal candles could be lit and held (but not high, in order to
maintain the prominence of the one principal candle) by someone at their place in
the assembly. Once all the candles are extinguished after the singing of the Exsultet,
the other paschal candles are put aside. On Easter Sunday morning, those
candles could be taken to each of the missions and carried, lit, in the
entrance procession at the first Mass at each church and put in place in the
sanctuary.
15. How
many readings should be proclaimed at the Easter Vigil? One of the unique aspects of the
Easter Vigil is the recounting of the outstanding deeds of the history of
salvation. These deeds are related in seven readings from the Old Testament
chosen from the law and the prophets and two readings from the New Testament,
namely from the Apostle Paul and from the Gospel. Thus, the Lord meets us once
again on our journey and, “beginning with Moses and all the prophets” (Lk
24:27) opens up our minds and hearts, preparing us to share in the breaking of
the bread and the drinking of the cup. The faithful are encouraged to meditate
on these readings by the singing of a responsorial psalm, followed by a silent
pause, and then by the celebrant’s prayer. Meditation on these readings is so
significant for this night that we are strongly urged to use all the readings
whenever it can be done. Only in the case of grave pastoral circumstances can
the number of readings be reduced. In such cases, at least three readings from
the Old Testament should be read, always including Exodus 14.
16. How
is the First Communion of the neophytes to be emphasized during the Easter
Vigil? The
celebrant, before he says, Behold the Lamb of God, may make a brief remark to
the neophytes about their first Communion and about the importance of so great
a mystery, which is the climax of initiation and the center of the Christian
life. This is a night when all should be able to receive Holy Communion under
both forms.
17. What
directions are given for the celebration of Masses on Easter Sunday? Mass is to be celebrated on Easter
Day with great solemnity. A full complement of ministers and the use of
liturgical music should be evident in all celebrations. On Easter Sunday in the
dioceses of the United States, the rite of the renewal of baptismal promises
may take place after the homily, followed by the sprinkling with water blessed
at the Vigil, during which the antiphon Vidi aquam, or some other song of
baptismal character should be sung. (If the renewal of baptismal promises does
not occur, then the Creed is said. The Roman Missal notes that the
Apostles' Creed, "the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church," might be
appropriately used during Easter Time.) The holy water fonts at the entrance to
the church should also be filled with the same water. On the subsequent Sundays
of Easter, it is appropriate that the Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of
Water take the place of the Penitential Act.
18. Where
is the paschal candle placed during Easter Time? The paschal candle has its proper
place either by the ambo or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the
more solemn liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday,
whether at Mass, or at Morning and Evening Prayer. After Easter Time the candle
should be kept with honor in the baptistery, so that in the celebration of
Baptism the candles of the baptized may be lit from it. In the celebration of funerals,
the paschal candle should be placed near the coffin to indicate Christ’s
undying presence, his victory over sin and death, and the promise of sharing in
Christ’s victory by virtue of being part of the Body of Christ (see Order of
Christian Funerals, no. 35). The paschal candle should not otherwise be lit nor
placed in the sanctuary outside Easter Time.
·
Holy
Thursday, Thursday Night, Early Friday Morning:
• The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and preparation for the
Passover for Jesus and the disciples. (Mt 26:17-19; Mk 14:12-16; Lk 22:7-13; Jn
19:14) •
·
The
Last Supper (Mt 26:20-25; Mk 14:17-21; Lk 22:14, 21-23; Jn 13 “before the Feast
of Passover”) •
·
Agony
in the Garden of Gethsemane; the betrayal of Judas and the arrest of Jesus. •
·
Jesus
taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest. Annas sends Jesus
to Caiaphas (Jn 18:12-25) •
·
Jesus
taken to the high priest Caiaphas’ home where the scribes, elders, and the
chief priests had gathered. (Mt 26:57-75; Mk 14:53-72; Lk 22:54-71) •
·
Peter
denies Jesus three times. •
·
Jesus
was kept overnight in a cistern below Caiaphas’ home.
Holy Week takes a
somber turn on Thursday. From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the
Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That
evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared
to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus
demonstrated by example how believers are to love one another. Today, many
churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday
services. Then Jesus shared the feast of Passover with his disciples, saying:
“I
have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until
there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
As the Lamb of
God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to
be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death.
During this Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord's Supper, or Communion,
instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in
the elements of bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20). Later, Jesus and the disciples
left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in
agony to God the Father. Luke's Gospel says that "his sweat became like great
drops of blood falling down to the ground." Late that evening in
Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by
the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the
whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus. Meanwhile,
in the early morning hours, as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied
knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.[9]
Tonight,
if possible, visit Him in the Bless Sacrament chapel between 9 P.M. and
midnight for it was on Holy Thursday between these hours that our Lord was in
so much agony over us that He sweat blood and he was most alone. Spend time
with Him.
Hell,
and the Devil have been pillaged, stripped of their ancient armor, robbed of
their special power. And just as the giant Goliath had his head cut off with
his own sword, so also has the Devil, the father of death, been put to rout
through the death of Christ. He finds that the very same weapon he used to
wield as the ready tool of his deceit has now become the mighty instrument of
his own destruction. We might put it this way: The Devil went fishing and cast
his line and hook to catch yet another man in death. But the Man he caught this
time was Christ, whose divine nature was hidden within His human nature. For
this reason, the martyrs leap upon the head of that dragon the Devil, and look
with disdain on every kind of torment. ST. GREGORY THAUMATURGUS
Catholic tradition engages the whole person; all the
senses and has been called at times the religion of “bells and smells.” God
created us as a unity of body and soul, and we return ourselves entirely to him
in worship. We worship him is spirit and truth and, in our worship, we present
our bodies as a living sacrifice. Thus, the Churches worship engages all that
we are both body and senses. We contemplate during worship the mysteries of God
using our total selves, our hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smells. We ring
bells to herald the Lord’s appearance and we burn incense before his altar. Our
worship is good and true, but it is also beautiful.
The
Mass is a reenactment of the death of our Lord. It is thought-provoking to
contemplate that Pilate’s notice above Christ’s head, was printed in three
languages Hebrew, Latin and Greek. These three cultures in a sense represented
the characteristics of God. The Hebrew’s were Gods people and represented the good of man and brought the idea that
the person was created by God and is more valuable than the universe. Latin the
language of the Romans brought the idea that truth is the highest value and the Greek culture brought the idea
of beauty being the greatest value.
In Christ’s death is represented all three values. That a good God died for
man; true to the end; and His shame was turned by love to beauty.
Via the Masses worldwide we live out the words of the
prophet Malachi 1:11,
“From the rising of the sun to its setting,
my name is great among the nations; Incense offerings are made to my name
everywhere, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says
the LORD of hosts.”
Daily
Devotions
[1]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896
[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-03-29
[6]
https://www.wincalendar.com/Holy-Thursday
[7]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/triduum/questions-and-answers.cfm
[8]https://www.catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/Timeline-of-Holy-Week.pdf
[9]https://www.thoughtco.com/holy-week-timeline-700618
[10]
Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books.
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