2009-04-09 10:05:35

Maundy Thursday


(09 Apr 09 - RV) Holy Thursday marks the first day of the Triduum, the three days that lead up to Easter and the most sacred period in the litirgical year.


In his general audience yesterday, Pope Benedict reflected on how Christians should live this intense spiritual period :


“The Holy Triduum, the heart of the entire liturgical year, is a time when we immerse ourselves in the central events of our Redemption. The Chrism Mass serves as a prelude to these three days, as priests renew their promises to the Bishop, who then blesses the holy oils and consecrates the chrism signifying the gift of the Holy Spirit.


On Thursday morning Pope Benedict celebrates Chrism mass In St Peter’s Basilica with priests from his diocese.


Thursday evening he will cross the Tiber to the Cathedral of St John Latern for the celebration of the Mass « In Ceona Domini«, which marks Our Lord’s Last supper and the institution of the Eucharist.
“At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we recall the institution of the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ’s love for us”.


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. It also shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing, commemorating Jesus' washing the feet of His apostles, as well as in the priest's stripping and washing of the altar. Cleansing, in fact, gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday, in many English speaking countries.










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