Maundy Thursday

On the first Maundy Thursday night Jesus gave to his Church three precious gifts: the Blessed Sacrament, the Priesthood, and his new commandment to love one another, which he illustrated by his example of humbly washing his disciples’ feet.

In spite, therefore, of the imminence of the horror of Good Friday, the Church cannot refrain from rejoicing.  And so the vestments are white and the Gloria is sung to the accompaniment of the ringing of bells in thanksgiving for the Eucharist and the gift of the Blessed Sacrament.

The other emphasis is on the love which must animate the hearts and wills of each communicant.  On that solemn night before he died, Jesus took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of his disciples.  He told them, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another…” (NRSV, John 13:34).  The Latin for commandment is mandatum (as in mandatory) and it is from this that we get the word ‘Maundy’.

In Communion we are united with Christ, but Christ is one, he is not divided, and therefore in him we are also united with one another.  Our love for Christ, therefore, whom we receive in the Blessed Sacrament, will, if it is genuine, show itself in an active goodwill to all the members of his Church.  And this love should extend to all our fellow human beings.  Thus, love and charity to one’s neighbour is not only a condition of a good Communion but also its fruit.

After the sermon, the celebrant may wash the feet of some of the congregation as a token of Christian love and service.  The words of the Maundy Thursday Antiphon may be sung:

“Where charity and love are, there is God also.
When therefore we are gathered together as one body,
take heed that we are not inwardly divided from one another.
Let all malice and contention cease,
and let Christ our God be in our midst”.