During the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet. This act has sometimes
been followed literally in history as a good way of reminding rulers that
they are here to serve their subjects. On this day, Christians remember the
Last Supper. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with
his disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their
worship in church.
The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal – the meal which Jewish
people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the
people from slavery in Egypt.
The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by
Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Redditio symboli was so called because,
before being admitted to baptism, the catechumens had to recite the creed
from memory, either in the presence of the bishop or his representative.
Pedilavium (washing
of the feet), traces of which are found in the most ancient rites, occurred
in many churches on Holy Thursday, the capitilavium (washing of the head) having
taken place on Palm Sunday (St. Augustine, "Ep. cxviii, cxix", e.
18).
Exomologesis, and reconciliation
of penitents: letter of Pope Innocent I to Decentius of Gubbio, testifies that
in Rome it was customary "quinta feria Pascha" to absolve penitents
from their mortal and venial sins, except in cases of serious illness which
kept them away from church (Labbe, "Concilia" II, col. 1247; St. Ambrose,
"Ep. xxxiii ad Marcellinam"). The penitents heard the Missa pro reconciliatione
paenitentium, and absolution was given them before the offertory. The "Sacramentary"
of Pope Gelasius contains an Ordo agentibus publicam poenitentiam (Muratori,
"Liturgia romana vetus", I, 548-551).
Olei exorcizati confectio:
In the fifth century the custom was established of consecrating on Holy Thursday
all the chrism necessary for the anointing of the newly baptized. The "Comes
Hieronymi", the Gregorian and Gelasian sacramentaries and the "Missa
ambrosiana" of Pamelius, all agree upon the confection of the chrism on
that day, as does also the "Ordo romanus I".
Anniversarium Eucharistiae:
The nocturnal celebration and the double oblation early became the object of
increasing disfavour, until in 692 the Council of Trullo promulgated a formal
prohibition. The Eucharistic celebration then took place in the morning, and
the bishop reserved a part of the sacred species for the communion of the morrow,
Missa praesanctificatorum (Muratori, "Liturg. rom. Vetus", II, 993).
Other observances: On
Holy Thursday the ringing of bells ceases, the altar is stripped after vespers,
and the night office is celebrated under the name of Tenebræ.
Today most Christians celebrate this
with a service in church called Holy Communion. Through receiving the bread
and wine they commune (come into union) with Jesus. This union links them with
God and their fellow Christians both now and in the past.
Different churches celebrate Holy Communion in different ways - some use unleavened
bread as Jesus did at the Last Supper, whilst others like to use our everyday
bread; some drink from individual glasses, others from a large cup called a
chalice.
Most Protestant Christians see the bread
and wine as important symbolic reminders of Jesus, whereas Roman Catholic Christians
talk about the bread and wine becoming his body and blood.
In Roman Catholic churches the bread
and wine are called the 'Blessed Sacrament' and kept in a Tabernacle (cupboard)
with a light burning in front of it.
Many Christians commemorate the Last
Supper in a special Eucharist. In some churches, they may wash each other's
feet. After the service the altar is stripped. Some Christians may hold an all
night vigil in church, remembering Christ's time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
