Holy Thursday in the Catholic Church

We enter the last three days of Holy Week: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It is called the Easter or Sacred Triduum (Triduum Sacrum), which is the three-part drama of Christ's redemptive act.

Holy Thursday is also known as "Maundy Thursday". The word "maundy" is derived from the Latin "mandatum" which means commandment. It is in reference to what Jesus said to his apostles at the Last Supper after the washing of their feet:

           

                                "I give you a new commandment: Love one another

                                  as I have loved you." (John 13:34)

In all Catholic churches only two Masses are allowed on Holy Thursday: the Chrism Mass in the morning, and the evening Mass of the Last Supper.

Chrism Mass

Each diocese celebrates the Chrism Mass or the Mass of the Holy Oils presided by the bishops with all his priests in the diocese con-celebrating, usually at the cathedral of the diocese.

The bishop blesses the holy oils during the Mass, which will be used throughout the diocese for the following year in ministering the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the sacrament of the Sick.

The Chrism Mass is also a solemn observance of the institution by Christ himself of the priesthood during the Last Supper with his disciples. That is why all the priests in the diocese celebrate with their bishop and together they renew their sacerdotal priesthood.

The Catholic faithful are encouraged to participate in Chrism Mass at least once in their lives to experience the communion of priests with their bishop, so that together they celebrate Chrism Mass as a People of God or the Living Church.

Mass of the Last Supper

The Mass of the Last Supper is celebrated in the evening of Holy Thursday. The timing is so because the original Passover by the Jews began at sundown.

The liturgy of the Mass recalls the Passover, the Last Supper, which includes the washing of the feet of the disciples.

Since this is the only Mass in the evening of this day, the whole community and the priests of the parish participate. It is a joyful Mass as we recall the institution by Christ of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. The priests wear vestments with liturgical color white, the altar is filled with flowers, the "Gloria" is sung, and the church bells are rung.

After the singing of the "Gloria" we shall not hear organ music and the ringing of the bells until the Easter Vigil in the evening of Holy Saturday.

The final blessing by the priest after the Communion Prayer is omitted.  Instead the Holy Eucharist is carried in procession through the church and then transferred into a place of reposition, usually a side altar.

When the Mass is completed, we now recall and reflect on the Agony in the Garden, and the arrest and imprisonment of Jesus. Thus in keeping with the sorrowful mood the altar is stripped bare, crosses are removed or covered with purple cloth.

The Altar of Repose

We remain in quiet prayer and adoration at the altar of repose where the Holy Eucharist has been placed after the procession. This is in keeping with Christ's invitation to his disciples to keep him company, "Could you not, then, watch one hour with me?" (Matt 26:40)

After mid-night on Holy Thursday, the adoration of the Holy Eucharist concludes without solemnity, since the day of the Lord's Passion has began.

"Visita Inglesia"

There is an inspiring Filipino tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try to visit seven churches and their altar of repose during the evening of Holy Thursday. This is called "Visita Iglesia" which is a good culmination of our devotion on Holy Thursday, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during his agony on the Mount of Olives, before the betrayal by Judas.

The Road to Calvary

After the "Visita Iglesia", we end Holy Thursday in spiritual meditation as we now prepare ourselves to journey with our Lord tomorrow  on the Road to Calvary.

Deo Optimo Maximo!

Sources: CatholicCulture.org and Catholic Online