Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper

2 April

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, the three sacred days in which the Church celebrates the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this evening the Church commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus gathered with his disciples on the night before he suffered and died. During this final meal he gave the Church some of its most precious gifts: the Eucharist, the ministerial priesthood, and the commandment of love expressed through service.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper therefore holds a unique and deeply moving place in the Church’s liturgical life. It is celebrated in the evening, recalling the moment when Christ shared the Passover meal with his disciples in Jerusalem. Within this sacred meal Jesus transformed the ancient Passover into the new covenant of his Body and Blood.

The Institution of the Eucharist

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and gave them a new and profound meaning. Taking the bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying:

“This is my body which will be given up for you.”

Then he took the cup and said:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
for this is the chalice of my Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
which will be poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of me.”

Through these words and actions, Christ instituted the Eucharist, the sacrament in which he remains truly present to his Church under the appearances of bread and wine. The Eucharist is therefore not simply a remembrance of the Last Supper, but the living memorial of Christ’s sacrifice, continually celebrated in the Mass throughout the world.

For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, the sacrament through which believers are united with Christ and with one another. Holy Thursday invites the faithful to reflect deeply on this extraordinary gift and to renew their reverence and gratitude for the Lord who gives himself to his people.

The Institution of the Priesthood

Holy Thursday also commemorates the institution of the ministerial priesthood. When Jesus commanded his apostles, “Do this in memory of me,” he entrusted them with the responsibility of celebrating the Eucharist and serving the Church in his name.

Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops and priests continue this apostolic mission. Every time the Eucharist is celebrated, the priest acts in the person of Christ, offering the sacrifice of the Mass and feeding the faithful with the Body and Blood of the Lord.

For this reason, Holy Thursday is also a day when Catholics give thanks for the gift of the priesthood and pray for priests throughout the world.

The Washing of the Feet

The Gospel proclaimed during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper recounts a striking gesture performed by Jesus during the Last Supper. Rising from the table, he knelt before his disciples and washed their feet.

In the culture of the time, washing a guest’s feet was a task normally carried out by servants. By performing this humble act, Jesus revealed the true meaning of his mission: he came not to be served, but to serve.

In many Catholic churches this gesture is repeated during the Holy Thursday liturgy. The priest washes the feet of several members of the community, recalling Christ’s example and reminding the faithful that Christian life must be rooted in humility, service and love for others.

This act of service provides the key to understanding the Eucharist itself. The Lord who gives his Body and Blood in the Eucharist also calls his followers to give themselves generously in love and service.

The Beginning of the Paschal Mystery

Holy Thursday leads the Church directly into the solemn events of Christ’s Passion. After the celebration of the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to a place of repose, where the faithful are invited to remain in prayer.

This moment recalls Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion, when he asked his disciples to remain with him and keep watch.

At the end of the liturgy, the altar is stripped and the church becomes quiet and bare. This powerful sign prepares the faithful for the solemn remembrance of Christ’s suffering on Good Friday.

A Call to Love and Service

Holy Thursday reminds the Church that the Christian life is rooted in the love of Christ made visible in the Eucharist and expressed in service to others. Jesus did not simply give instructions to his disciples; he gave them an example.

Through the gift of the Eucharist, he remains present among his people. Through the priesthood, he continues to nourish and guide the Church. Through the commandment of love, he calls every believer to follow his example.

As the Church enters the sacred days of the Paschal Triduum, Holy Thursday invites all Christians to remember the Lord’s words and to live them faithfully:

“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn. 13:15)