In Coena Domini

(21 Mar 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI marked the end of Lent and the beginning of the Triduum yesterday evening in the Solemn celebration of the Mass of Our Lords Supper in the Cathedral of St John Lateran.


The evening Holy Thursday Liturgy, marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the sacred "Triduum" ("three days") of Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter Vigil, and concludes at Vespers on the evening of Easter day.


The Mass begins in the evening, because Passover began at sundown; it commemorates Our Lord's institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. He said it also shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing of our sins with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing of the feet.


After the chanting of the Gospel in Latin and Greek, in a rite symbolising Christ’s humbling of himself in service of the Apostles, Pope Benedict XVI dressed in a simple dalmatic, washed the feet of twelve men, all canons of the Cathedral of St John Lateran.


In his homily Pope Benedict reflected on the rite in light of the Gospel. He said “the union of gift and example, found in the Washing of the Feet, is characteristic of Christianity in general. Christianity in relation to moralism, is much more and different. Our moral capacity, our actions are not the starting point of Christianity. Christianity is above all a gift: God gifts himself to us”.

He said we need the “washing of the feet, the washing away of our sins every day. We must recognise that even in our new identity as baptised we still sin and that only through the cleansing of our sins in confession are we fit to sit at the table of the Lord, in order to participate in Christ’s community we must be sincere”.

This is how we understand Christ’s words to the Apostles at the end of the Washing of the Feet, when he says to the Apostles and to all of us: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do”.

This is what Holy Thursday urges us he concluded: do not allow that rancour towards others poison our souls. It urges us to continuously purify our memory, to wholeheartedly forgive each other, to wash each others feet, so we may go together to God’s banquet. Holy Thursday is a day of gratitude and Joy for the gift the Lord gave to us of love to the end.