The meaning of the celebration
+ Traditionally two masses are celebrated on this day: the Chrism Mass (during which the diocesan bishop blesses the holy oils and sacred chrism for the coming year, and which is often transferred to a different day in Holy Week in many dioceses) and the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
+ The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, the most solemn days of the entire Church Year.
+ This Mass celebrates not only the gift of the Eucharist, but also includes the ceremonial washing of feet called the Mandatum (from the Latin word for “command”).
+ On Holy Thursday the Church invites us to reflect on Jesus’ absolute gift of himself to his followers in the gift of the Eucharist and symbolized by his humble service. We are called to imitate him in his service and self-offering.
For prayer and reflection
“This is the evening when Christ left his disciples the testament of his love in the Eucharist, not as a remembrance, but as a memorial, as his everlasting presence. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, as I said at the beginning, we renew this mystery of redemption. In this Sacrament, Jesus substituted the sacrificial victim – the Paschal lamb – with himself: his Body and Blood grant us salvation from the slavery of sin and death. The salvation from every form of slavery is there.”—Pope Francis
Prayer
O God, who have called us to participate
in this most sacred Supper,
in which your Only Begotten Son,
when about to hand himself over to death,
entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,
the banquet of his love,
grant, we pray,
that we may draw from so great a mystery,
the fullness of charity and of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Collect for the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...