Holy Thursday is also known as "Maundy Thursday," the beginning of the Sacred Triduum. The word maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel acclamation …More
Holy Thursday is also known as "Maundy Thursday," the beginning of the Sacred Triduum. The word maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel acclamation: Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut diléxi vos. "I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34).
By meditating on the Gospels (cf. Matt 26:1 ff.; Mark 14:1 ff.; Luke 22:1 ff.; John 13:1 ff.), we recall all of Our Lord’s actions on that first Holy Thursday. They included: 1) the eating of the Easter lamb or the paschal meal; 2) the washing of the disciple's feet; 3) the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist (the first Holy Mass at which Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest, is the celebrant; the first Communion of the Apostles; the first conferring of Holy Orders); 4) the foretelling of Judas' betrayal and Peter's denials; 5) the farewell discourse and priestly prayer of Jesus; 6) the agony and capture of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
Source: Fr. Bernard Strasser, With Christ Through the Year, 1947
By meditating on the Gospels (cf. Matt 26:1 ff.; Mark 14:1 ff.; Luke 22:1 ff.; John 13:1 ff.), we recall all of Our Lord’s actions on that first Holy Thursday. They included: 1) the eating of the Easter lamb or the paschal meal; 2) the washing of the disciple's feet; 3) the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist (the first Holy Mass at which Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest, is the celebrant; the first Communion of the Apostles; the first conferring of Holy Orders); 4) the foretelling of Judas' betrayal and Peter's denials; 5) the farewell discourse and priestly prayer of Jesus; 6) the agony and capture of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
Source: Fr. Bernard Strasser, With Christ Through the Year, 1947