April 2 | Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum which is the shortest of the Church’s liturgical seasons. On this day, Jesus partook in the Last Supper with His Apostles and instituted both the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood, before proceeding to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane in preparation for His Passion. 

Liturgically, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in the evening, and contains various elements pointing to what occurred that night as we know from the four Gospel accounts. 

It is often common for the priest to wash the feet of several faithful – as Christ washed His Apostles’ feet – and after the conclusion of Mass, the altar is stripped and Tabernacle left empty in commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion and Death the following day (Good Friday). 

During a procession the Blessed Sacrament is placed in repose for the remainder of the Triduum and the faithful are often invited to remain in adoration throughout the night, keeping vigil as Christ did during His agony in the garden. 

The day is also known as Maundy Thursday, from the Latin mandatum (mandate), because on this night Christ gave the great mandate – “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another,” (John 13:34).