Simone Lawson
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is a Christian holy day that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his betrayal by Judas. It is the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week. On this day, Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion and the institution of the priesthood. The Eucharist is placed on a temporary altar of repose, and the faithful are invited to spend time in quiet prayer and adoration. The ritual reenactment of the Last Supper is celebrated at every Mass, with the priest washing the feet of several parishioners. This day also celebrates the worth God ascribes to the humility of service and the need for cleansing with water, as seen in Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet. The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are classified into three categories: initiation, healing, and service. These include Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday before Easter |
| Name variations | Maundy Thursday, Green Thursday, Sheer Thursday |
| Liturgy | Evening |
| Observance | Ritual reenactment of the Last Supper at Mass |
| Sacrament | Holy Communion |
| Priesthood | Sacerdotal priesthood |
| Washing of feet | Symbol of baptism |
| Adoration | Blessed Sacrament |
| Altar | Altar of Repose |
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What You'll Learn
- Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion
- The Eucharist is placed on a temporary altar of repose, where it remains until Good Friday
- The ritual reenactment of the Last Supper is celebrated at Mass, with the washing of feet
- Holy Thursday is also known as Maundy Thursday, derived from the Latin Mandatum novum do vobis
- The day is marked by the Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, where the faithful remain in its presence
Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion. It is the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week.
During the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, saying, "Do this in memory of Me." He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." He then took a cup, gave thanks, and passed it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
Holy Thursday is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which are visible rites seen as signs and channels of God's grace. The seven sacraments are classified into three categories: initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist), healing (Penance and Anointing of the Sick), and service (Holy Orders and Matrimony).
The Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday begins as usual, but with the addition of church bells that ring with the Gloria and remain silent until the Easter Vigil. The faithful remain in the presence of the Eucharist, just as the disciples kept vigil with Christ after the Last Supper. The ritual reenactment of the Last Supper is central to the observance of Holy Thursday, and the washing of feet may also be performed during the Mass, symbolizing humility and service.
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The Eucharist is placed on a temporary altar of repose, where it remains until Good Friday
Holy Thursday is a commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates the institution of the priesthood. On Holy Thursday, there is a special Mass in Cathedral Churches, attended by as many priests of the diocese as possible. The Eucharist is placed on a temporary altar of repose at the end of the Holy Thursday Mass, where it remains until Good Friday.
The altar of repose is a temporary altar where the Communion hosts consecrated during the Mass of the Lord's Supper are placed or "reserved" for use on Good Friday. The place where the Sacrament is reserved is a focus for the love and aspirations of the faithful. Eucharistic adoration is encouraged at the place of reservation. The faithful are invited to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night.
The altar of repose is usually decorated with candles and flowers. It is customary for the faithful to process together to this altar and spend time in quiet prayer and adoration. The Roman Missal states:
> 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 has grown 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.
The altar of repose should be decorated with special care. At least four to six candles or lamps, and preferably more, should burn around it. It should be tastefully arranged with flowers, drapes, fine cloths, carpets, and subdued electric lighting to create an ambiance of silence and meditation.
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The ritual reenactment of the Last Supper is celebrated at Mass, with the washing of feet
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is a commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion before his arrest and crucifixion. It is the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week.
The central observance of Holy Thursday is the ritual reenactment of the Last Supper at Mass, celebrated at every Mass as part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This reenactment is also known as the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper and constitutes a special commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
The washing of feet holds significance in the context of ritual purification and hospitality, reflecting the humility of service. It also underscores the need for cleansing with water, symbolized by the Mandatum, or the washing of Jesus' disciples' feet, and the priest's subsequent stripping and washing of the altar. This emphasis on ritual washing gave rise to the tradition of spring cleaning in preparation for the Easter celebration.
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Holy Thursday is also known as Maundy Thursday, derived from the Latin Mandatum novum do vobis
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is a commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples. It is also the day Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion before his arrest and crucifixion. The name Maundy Thursday is derived from the Latin "Mandatum novum do vobis", which translates to "a new commandment I give to you" (John 13:34). This reflects Jesus' commandment of love for his disciples, as he explained to them the significance of his action of washing their feet: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34-35).
The English word "maundy" in the name for the day is derived through Middle English and Old French "mandé", which comes from the Latin "mandatum" (also the root of the English word "mandate"). While the term "Maundy Thursday" is commonly used in England, "Holy Thursday" is more prevalent in countries like Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States.
On Maundy Thursday, participants remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples, during which he also washed their feet. This foot-washing ritual is often included in Maundy Thursday services, symbolizing Jesus' act of humility and servanthood. Additionally, the day may include the observance of communion, also known as the Lord's Supper.
Holy Thursday is considered the most complex and profound of religious observances, second only to the Easter Vigil. It is a solemn occasion that marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Holy Triduum, which includes Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. The day is celebrated with a special Mass, attended by numerous priests from the diocese.
During the Mass, the Eucharist is placed on a temporary "altar of repose" away from the sanctuary, and the faithful are invited to process to this altar for quiet prayer and adoration. This tradition reflects the disciples' vigil with Christ after the Last Supper, as they kept watch with him in the garden. The Mass also includes a reenactment of the Last Supper and the establishment of the priesthood, with the priest washing the feet of several parishioners.
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The day is marked by the Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, where the faithful remain in its presence
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is a commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It is also a remembrance of the institution of the priesthood.
On Holy Thursday, Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place, where the faithful remain in the presence of the Eucharist, mirroring the way the Disciples kept a vigil with Christ after the Last Supper. This is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the priesthood. The Eucharist is placed on a temporary "altar of repose" away from the sanctuary, and the faithful process to this altar to spend time in quiet prayer and adoration.
The Roman Missal invites the faithful to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable length of time during the night, but after midnight, the adoration should continue without solemnity. The Blessed Sacrament is then reposed in a safe place outside of the parish church, typically the parish rectory.
The day also demonstrates the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, as shown in the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus, and the need for cleansing with water, as symbolised by the priest's washing of the altar. This action gave rise to the name Maundy Thursday, derived from the Latin "Mandatum novum do vobis", meaning "a new commandment I give to you".
Holy Thursday is a complex and profound religious observance, marking the end of Lent and the beginning of the Holy Triduum, which includes Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday.
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Frequently asked questions
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion.
The sacraments constituted on Holy Thursday are the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, and the institution of the priesthood.
The Eucharist is a symbol of Christ's body and blood, offered to his apostles during the Last Supper as "a memorial of his death and Resurrection".
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