Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday April 17, 2025 Maundy Thursday - Mass of the Lord's Supper Holy Mass/Eucharist 7 PM Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion (the institution of the Holy Eucharist as the true body and blood of Jesus Christ) prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. The holy day falls on the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice. During the Last Supper, Jesus offers himself as the Passover sacrifice, the sacrificial lamb, and teaches that every ordained priest is to follow the same sacrifice in the exact same way. “Maundy” is derived from the Latin “mandatum,” which means “commandment.” It refers to when Jesus, during the Last Supper, said to the disciples: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28 [Jesus said,] “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the Last Day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” John 6:54-55