Maundy Thursday, commemorated on April 17, 2025, marks the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum and recalls Jesus Christ's institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood at the Last Supper, along with His command of love demonstrated through the washing of the disciples' feet.
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is a pivotal feast in the Church calendar, falling on April 17, 2025, and initiating the Sacred Paschal Triduum, which culminates in Easter Sunday. This day commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, giving His Body and Blood as spiritual nourishment, and simultaneously established the ministerial priesthood, empowering His apostles to continue His saving work. Furthermore, it highlights Christ's profound act of humility and service in washing the feet of His disciples, providing a new commandment of love and service to one another, thereby playing a crucial role in salvation history by laying the foundational sacraments and demonstrating the ultimate example of servant leadership before His Passion and Death.
Maundy Thursday, falling on April 17, 2025, stands as the solemn gateway to the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the three holiest days of the Christian year, culminating in Easter Sunday. This profound feast, also known as Holy Thursday, is not merely a day of remembrance but a living commemoration of the pivotal events that transpired on the night before Jesus Christ's crucifixion. It is a day steeped in immense theological significance, marking the institution of the two foundational sacraments of the Church: the Holy Eucharist and the ministerial Priesthood. Beyond these sacramental gifts, Maundy Thursday also powerfully recalls Christ's radical act of humility and service through the washing of His disciples' feet, thereby imparting a 'new commandment' of love and mutual service that forms the very heart of Christian discipleship. The name "Maundy" itself derives from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning "command," referring to Christ's command to love one another as He has loved us.
The air in the Upper Room was thick with the scent of roasted lamb and unleavened bread, but a deeper tension hung unspoken among the Twelve. They had just arrived, weary from their journey, and the customary basin of water and towel for foot-washing lay untouched. No servant was present, and none of the disciples, each vying for a place of honor, dared to stoop to such a menial task. Then, Jesus, their Master, rose from the table. He laid aside His outer garments, took a towel, and poured water into a basin. A hush fell over the room, a collective breath held. Could it be? The Son of God, the one they believed to be the Messiah, was about to perform the task of a lowly slave. He began with Peter, who, in his characteristic impulsiveness, protested, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Peter, ever the leader, could not fathom his Lord humbling Himself in this way. Jesus looked at him with gentle wisdom, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Still, Peter resisted, "You will never wash my feet!" But Jesus' response was firm, yet loving, revealing the profound spiritual truth behind the physical act: "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." At this, Peter's resistance crumbled, replaced by eagerness: "Lord, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well!" Jesus then completed the washing for all, even Judas, whose betrayal loomed. When He had finished, He put on His garments, returned to the table, and asked, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." In that simple, profound act, Jesus revealed the very heart of His mission and the essence of Christian love: not power, but humble service; not being served, but serving others, even to the point of laying down one's life. It was a "new commandment," a mandatum, etched not just in their minds, but in the very fabric of their souls, forever transforming their understanding of leadership and love.
April 5, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On the evening of Holy Thursday, we relive the atmosphere of what took place in the Upper Room at the Last Supper. It was the evening before his Passion, when the Lord gave his disciples his greatest gift: the gift of himself in the Eucharist, the gift of the ministerial Priesthood. These two gifts, which come from the same act of love, are inseparable. The Eucharist is the deepest expression of Jesus' self-giving, of his love to the end. It is the sacrament of his enduring presence among us, the living Bread come down from heaven. The ministerial Priesthood, in turn, is the means chosen by Christ to perpetuate his Eucharistic presence among men. The priest is the one who, in the person of Christ, renews the miracle of the loaves, the miracle of the multiplication of the Bread of Life, so that all may have the possibility of participating in the Body and Blood of the Lord and thus find nourishment for their journey.
The Last Supper was a Passover meal, celebrated in the context of the Jewish Passover. Jesus, the true Lamb, fulfills the ancient Passover. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. He offers himself as a sacrifice, and by his sacrifice, he establishes the New Covenant, a covenant of love and forgiveness. In the Eucharist, we do not simply commemorate a past event, but we participate in the living reality of Christ's sacrifice. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, the Paschal Mystery of Christ is made present, and we are drawn into its saving power. This is the great mystery of faith that we contemplate and adore on this Holy Thursday.
After instituting the Eucharist and the Priesthood, Jesus performed another gesture that profoundly reveals the meaning of his entire life and mission: he washed the feet of his disciples. This act, so simple and yet so revolutionary, is a powerful lesson in humility and service. In a society where foot-washing was a task reserved for servants, Jesus, the Lord and Master, kneels before his disciples and washes their feet. He does not just give them an example; he gives them a 'new commandment' (mandatum novum), from which this day takes its name, Maundy Thursday. 'As I have loved you, so you also should love one another' (Jn 13:34). This love is not a mere sentiment, but a concrete act of service, a willingness to put oneself at the disposal of others, even to the point of self-sacrifice.
The washing of feet is a symbol of purification, but also a call to radical service. It reminds us that to follow Christ means to serve, to humble ourselves, and to make ourselves available to our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, the weakest, and those most in need. It is a concrete expression of charity, which is the soul of all Christian life. The priest, in particular, is called to live this dimension of service in a special way. He is called to be a servant of the Eucharist and a servant of his brothers and sisters, following the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.
This evening, we also recall the Chrism Mass, celebrated this morning in every diocese. In that Mass, the sacred oils – the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Holy Chrism – were blessed. These oils are essential for the celebration of the sacraments, especially Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. The Chrism Mass is also a moment when priests renew their priestly promises before their bishop and the people of God. It is a profound expression of the unity of the presbyterate with its bishop and a reaffirmation of the priestly commitment to serve Christ and his Church.
Finally, after the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we will transfer the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose. This solemn procession and the subsequent adoration symbolize Christ's journey from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he began his agony. We are invited to keep watch with him, to pray with him, and to share in his solitude and suffering. This vigil of adoration is a moment of profound communion with the suffering Christ, a time to reflect on the immense love that led him to offer himself completely for our salvation. It is a preparation for the solemn commemoration of his Passion and Death on Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday, therefore, is a day of immense gratitude, deep contemplation, and renewed commitment. It is a day when we give thanks for the greatest gifts of Christ's love: the Eucharist, the Priesthood, and the commandment of fraternal love and service. May we respond to these gifts with hearts full of faith, humility, and charity, truly striving to live as disciples of the Lord, following his example of self-giving love.
The ritual Washing of the Feet (Mandatum) is performed during the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, where the celebrant washes the feet of twelve individuals, commemorating Jesus' act of humble service to His disciples.
This tradition directly recalls Jesus' explicit command and example of humble service as recorded in John 13:1-17, where He washed the feet of His apostles and instructed them to do likewise.
After the Evening Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is solemnly transferred in procession to an Altar of Repose, specially adorned, where the faithful are invited to spend time in adoration, often until midnight or later.
This vigil of adoration symbolizes keeping watch with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, recalling His plea to His disciples to 'remain here and keep watch with me' before His arrest.
Following the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament, the altars in the church are stripped bare of all cloths, candles, and decorations, and holy water fonts are emptied.
This liturgical act symbolizes the desolation and stripping of Christ before His crucifixion, as well as the emptiness and sorrow of the Church mourning its Lord, in preparation for the solemnity of Good Friday.
In many traditionally Catholic countries, such as the Philippines, Spain, and Latin America, the pious practice of 'Visita Iglesia' (Church Visit) is observed, where the faithful visit seven (or sometimes more) churches to pray before the Altar of Repose in each.
This tradition is believed to commemorate the seven stops Jesus made on His way to Calvary after His arrest, or to honor the seven last words of Christ, serving as a pilgrimage of prayer and penance.
In Germany, Maundy Thursday is known as 'Gründonnerstag' (Green Thursday), and it is customary for families to eat green foods like spinach, kale, or other green vegetables.
The origin of 'Gründonnerstag' is debated, possibly deriving from an Old German word for 'to weep' (referring to penance) or simply the color green representing new life. The tradition of eating green foods is associated with this name and the idea of purification or health.
Plain, flat bread made without yeast, symbolizing the bread used by Jesus at the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal.
Directly recalls the unleavened bread consumed during the Jewish Passover, which Jesus transformed into the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospels.
Roasted lamb, a traditional dish for the Passover Seder, which the Last Supper was.
Reflects the Paschal Lamb of the Jewish Passover, which prefigured Jesus Christ, the 'Lamb of God' who takes away the sins of the world, sacrificed on the cross.
Various green vegetables consumed as part of a meal.
Associated with 'Gründonnerstag' (Green Thursday), the German name for Maundy Thursday. The 'green' may derive from an Old German word for 'to weep' or 'mourn,' or it could refer to the new growth of spring, symbolizing purification or health. Eating green foods is a traditional custom on this day in Germany.
Soft, often salted, baked goods twisted into a distinctive knot shape.
While more commonly associated with Lent in general, pretzels are sometimes consumed on Maundy Thursday. Their shape is believed to represent arms crossed in prayer, and their simple ingredients (flour, water, salt) align with Lenten fasting traditions.
As meat is traditionally abstained from on Fridays during Lent, fish is a common main course for Thursday meals during Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday falls during Holy Week, a penitential season leading up to Good Friday, which is a day of obligatory abstinence from meat. While not strictly required for Thursday, many families continue the Lenten practice of abstaining from meat as a spiritual preparation for the Triduum, making fish a popular choice.