Little Known Facts About Holy Thursday

As we enter into this Holy Week, there is much that could be said about each of the liturgies that the Church invites us to celebrate. But since we have limited space, I will focus on one of them: Holy Thursday. Ever since I could remember, the liturgies of Holy Thursday have always been some of my favorite, not only of the Sacred Easter Triduum, but of the entire liturgical year. Here are a few reasons why.

On Holy Thursday, we mark the Institution of the Holy Priesthood. On this day, all priests around the world renew the promises they made on the day of their ordination to the priesthood before their bishop, in the context of the Chrism Mass. Traditionally, the Chrism Mass was always celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday. It is still the case in the Diocese of Rome with the pope. However, for practical reasons, most dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass on another day during Holy Week. Here in the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, the Chrism Mass will be on Tuesday March 31^st at 5pm at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.  All are welcome to join and witness this beautiful event. It is also in the context of the Chrism Mass that the archbishop will bless the holy oils used for the various sacraments of the Church. Individual parish representatives receive the blessed oils of the sick, of catechumens, and of Sacred Chrism to bring back to their parishes in time for the celebration the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, where lots of Sacred Chrism oil flows over the newly baptized and confirmed.

It is at the evening Mass on Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, that the Institution of the Priesthood though is       commemorated in every parish by the washing of the feet of 12    individuals. This ritual commemorates the moment Jesus washed the feet of the first priests, the 12 apostles, and shows all of us what real priesthood after the heart of Jesus looks like: “if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

Along with the institution of the Holy Priesthood, Holy Thursday marks the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. It is at the Last Supper that the First Mass and, theologically speaking the only Mass, was celebrated by the One, and only, High Priest, Jesus Christ. With his apostles, Jesus took bread and wine and transformed them into his own body and blood; while saying the words of institution we hear at every Mass to this day: “Do this in memory of me.” The Mass begins therefore with much jubilation and fanfare. We sing the Gloria for the first time since the start of Lent while ringing bells. At the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper however, that jubilation quickly fades. Bells are not permitted to be rung until the great Easter Vigil.

The Holy Thursday liturgy does not actually have an end.  There is no final blessing on Thursday evening, but a procession with the Holy Eucharist to the Altar of Repose for a time of silence, prayer, and waiting. This commemorates the time in prayer Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane with his apostles after the Last Supper before his betrayal. Jesus invites his apostles to spend an hour with him in prayer (cf. Matthew 26:40). Hence many parishes will stay open late for the faithful to pray in silence at the altar of repose. In some cultures, there is a beautiful tradition to make a pilgrimage to 7 different churches and pray at each of their altars of repose. At St.       Andrew, we will stay open until the school closes at approximately 9pm. At St. Monica, we will stay open until midnight. These are just a few reasons why I love Holy Thursday!

Fr Kevin Burgess