PM: Special Edition--Holy Thursday

Tonight we begin the Sacred Triduum. These are the holiest days of the liturgical year, where we enter into the mysteries of Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Let our glory be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in him we have salvation, life and resurrection; through him we are rescued and set free. 

V. May God have mercy on us and bless us; may he cause his face to shine upon us and may he have mercy on us. 

Cf. Gal. 6:14; V. Ps. 66

The Introit speaks of our glory in His "shame". Yet it is because of this "shame" we have been forgiven and redeemed.

The eyes of all creatures look to you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season. 

V. You open your hand and fill every living thing with your blessings. 

Ps. 144:15; V. 16

With the Gradual, recall also the Gospel passage when fathers here on Earth will not deny good things to their children. So it is with our heavenly Father.

From the place where the sun rises to the place of its setting, my name is great among the nations. 

V. And in every place, a sacrifice is offered to my name, a pure offering, for my name is truly great among the nations. 

V. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I have prepared for you. 

Malachi 1:11 and Prov. 9:5

We hear in the Tract an echo of the Third Eucharistic Prayer. The focal point of every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass condensed in one sentence. The invitation of Jesus for the Last Supper is here.

What follows are some antiphons that you might hear during the rite of the Washing of the Feet:

After rising from the table, the Lord poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples. Such is the example that he left them.\ 

Cf. John 13;4, 5, 15

The Lord Jesus, after eating supper with his disciples, washed their feet and said to them: "Do you realize what I have done for you, I who am your Lord and your Master? I have given you an example so that you may do likewise." 

John 13:12, 13, 15

R. "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "If I do not wash your feet, you will have no portion with me." 

V. Jesus came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him:  R.  

V. "At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand."  R. 

John 13:6, 7, 8

If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then surely, all the more, ought you to wash one another's feet. 

Cf. John 13:14

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 

V. That is what Jesus declared to his disciples. 

John 13:35

I give you a new commandment: love one another, just as I have loved you, says the Lord. 

John 13:34

Let these three abide in you: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love. 

V. Now faith, hope and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

1 Cor. 13:13

Comping from the Gospel just proclaimed, the actions of Jesus are recalled. The motive behind it is the last listed antiphon.

R. Where love is found to be authentic, God is there. 

V. The love of Christ has gathered us together into one. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Let us fear and love the living God, and love each other from the depths of our heart. R. 

V. Therefore when we are together, let us take heed not to be divided in mind. Let there be an end to bitterness and quarrels, an end to strife, and in our midst be Christ our God. R. 

V. And, in company with the blessed, may we see your face in glory, Christ our God: pure and unbounded joy for ever and for ever. R.

The Offertory is the only Proper which is actually a hymn. In a sense, this is the Mandatum for the People of God.

"This is my body which is given up for you; this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood", says the Lord. "Each time that you partake thereof, do it in memory of me." 

1 Cor. 11:24, 25

In this Communion, Christ's command to "eat of His flesh and drink of His blood" (cf. John 6) is heard. The ultimate question is, "Do we truly believe it is Him?"

Domimus meus et Deus meus.