(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.