Maundy Thursday

The commemoration of Jesus’s Last Supper with his disciples, Maundy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum (Three Days) leading to Easter. Marked by foot washing, the institution of the Eucharist, and Jesus’s new commandment to love, it’s a day of both intimacy and impending betrayal, service and sacrifice.

The Name

“Maundy”: From Latin “mandatum” (commandment)

• Jesus’s new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34)
• “Mandatum novum do vobis” (A new commandment I give you)
• English corruption of Latin word

Biblical Events

The Last Supper

Passover Meal Context:

• Jesus celebrated Passover with Twelve
• Upper room in Jerusalem
• Thursday evening before crucifixion
• Synoptic Gospels: Passover meal
• John’s Gospel: Day before Passover

Institution of Eucharist: “This is my body… This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:26-28)

Significance:

• Transforms Passover elements
• Establishes new covenant
• Anticipates crucifixion
• “Do this in remembrance of me”

Foot Washing (John 13)

Jesus’s Example:

• Took towel and basin
• Washed disciples’ feet
• Slave’s task performed by Master
• Peter’s objection

Teaching: “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14-15)

Symbolism:

• Servant leadership
• Humility
• Cleansing
• Love in action

Other Events

Judas’s Betrayal Revealed:

• Jesus identifies betrayer
• Gives morsel to Judas
• “What you are about to do, do quickly”
• Judas leaves into night

Farewell Discourse (John 14-17):

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life”
• Promise of Holy Spirit
• Vine and branches
• High Priestly Prayer

Gethsemane:

• After supper, to garden
• Jesus’s agony and prayer
• “Not my will but yours”
• Disciples sleep
• Arrest

Liturgical Observance

Catholic Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Evening Service:

• Last Mass with Gloria until Easter Vigil
• Bells ring during Gloria, then silent
• White vestments (despite Holy Week purple)
• Washing of feet (priest washes 12 people’s feet)

Eucharist Central:

• Institution narrative emphasized
• Extra hosts consecrated for Good Friday
• Procession to Altar of Repose
• Adoration through night

Stripping of Altar:

• After Mass, altar stripped bare
• All decorations removed
• Tabernacle left open and empty
• Symbolizes Jesus’s humiliation

Adoration:

• Watching with Christ
• Remembering Gethsemane
• “Could you not watch one hour?”
• Some parishes keep vigil all night

Orthodox Great Thursday

Vesperal Liturgy:

• Twelve Gospel readings (Passion)
• Washing of feet
• Taking up cross
• Holy Communion

Stripping Altar:

• Removing everything
• Preparing for Good Friday

Protestant Services

Variations:

• Communion emphasized
• Foot washing (many churches)
• Simple, Scripture-focused
• Maundy Thursday Tenebrae

Contemporary Practices:

• Agape meals
• Seder meals (educational)
• Servant projects

Traditions and Customs

Foot Washing

Pedilavium:

• Priest or pastor washes feet
• Usually twelve people (apostles)
• Or entire congregation
• Powerful humility symbol

Reactions:

• Uncomfortable (like Peter)
• Moving and meaningful
• Levels hierarchy
• Christ-like service

Tenebrae

Service of Shadows:

• Gradual extinguishing of candles
• Readings from Passion
• Darkness symbolizes abandonment
• Loud noise (tomb closing)
• Exit in darkness and silence

Timing:

• Some on Thursday night
• Others Good Friday
• Varies by tradition

Stripping the Altar

Symbolic Act:

• All removed—cloths, candles, decorations
• Bare altar like stripped Christ
• Psalm 22 recited
• Stark, shocking

Maundy Money

British Tradition:

• Monarch distributes specially minted coins
• To elderly recipients
• Commemorates Jesus washing feet
• Ancient royal custom

Theological Significance

Eucharist Instituted

Sacrament Begins:

• Central Christian practice
• Continuous from that night
• “Do this in remembrance”
• Real Presence debated (transubstantiation vs. memorial)

New Covenant:

• Replacing old covenant
• Blood seals new relationship
• Passover fulfilled and transformed

Servant Leadership

Radical Reversal:

• Master serves slaves
• Lord washes feet
• Greatness through service
• Power through humility

Model for Church:

• Leaders as servants
• Love through action
• Mutual service
• Foot washing as metaphor

Betrayal and Loyalty

Judas and Peter:

• Judas betrays
• Peter denies (foretold)
• Human weakness
• Needed for redemption narrative

Contrast:

• Jesus knows, still serves
• Washes even Judas’s feet
• Love for betrayer
• Grace despite treachery

Intimacy Before Death

Last Meal:

• Final time together
• Poignant farewell
• Teaching moments
• Preparing disciples

Love Expressed:

• Through food
• Through service
• Through words
• Through gift of Eucharist

The Easter Triduum

Three Days:

1. Maundy Thursday: Last Supper, institution
2. Good Friday: Crucifixion, death
3. Holy Saturday: In tomb
4. Easter Vigil/Sunday: Resurrection

Single Liturgy:

• One continuous celebration
• Thursday through Sunday
• Holiest days of Christian year

Modern Observance

High Attendance:

• Many come to Thursday service
• Holy Week services well-attended
• Meaningful for regular and occasional churchgoers

Ecumenical:

• Broad observance across denominations
• Some interfaith Seders
• Common Christian ground

The Message

Maundy Thursday presents love in action: Jesus taking towel and basin, kneeling before dirty feet, washing disciples—including Judas. This is what love looks like—not sentiment but service.

The bread broken and wine poured anticipate body broken and blood poured. Eucharist as prophecy: “This is my body, given for you.” The supper points to sacrifice.

And the new commandment—“Love one another as I have loved you”—defined not by words but by the towel and cross. Love unto death. Love that serves. Love that sacrifices.

Maundy Thursday’s stripped altar says: He emptied himself. Made himself nothing. Was stripped before crucifixion. The bare altar mirrors bare cross.

This day invites us to the table and the towel—to receive grace in broken bread and poured wine, and to serve as Christ served.

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” — John 13:14