Holy Thursday is the day on which we recall the Lord's Last Supper, the institution of the Priesthood, the institution of the Eucharist, and the "Mandatum" - the command to wash one another's feet. Jesus celebrated the Last Supper as part of the Passover (or Seder) Meal which commemorates the escape of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. It was during this supper that Jesus offers Himself as THE Paschal Lamb - the Paschal Sacrifice. Every ordained priest to this day presents this same sacrifice, by Christ's authority and command, in exactly the same way. The Last Supper was also Christ's farewell to His assembled disciples, some of whom would betray, desert or deny Him before the sun rose again.
The Holy Thursday liturgy, celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown, also shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing in Jesus' washing the feet of His disciples, and in the priest's stripping and washing the feet of some of his parishioners (in our case, the Knights of the Holy Temple). Cleansing, in fact, gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday.
The action of the Church on this night also witnesses to the Church's esteem for Christ's Body present in the consecrated Host in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, carried in solemn procession to the Altar of Repose, where it will remained 'entombed' until the celebration of the Night Prayer of the Church. The people were invited to come and spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
There is such an abundance of symbolism in the solemn celebration of the events of Holy Thursday layer upon layer, in fact that we can no more than hint at it in these few words. For many centuries, the Last Supper of Our Lord has inspired great works of art and literature, such as the glorious stained glass window in Chartres cathedral, Leonardo's ever popular (and much imitated) Last Supper in the 16th century, and the reminiscence called Holy Thursday, by the French novelist, Franasois Mauriac, written in the 1930s. Today, our liturgical mind shifts now to the Crucifixion of Christ. Today we have Morning Prayer at 8am; the Office of Readings at 11:30; the Stations of the Cross at 12noon; and the solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at 7pm this evening.
The text of the Holy Thursday homily follows:
The text of the Holy Thursday homily follows:
Tonight’s Mass was the best Holy Thursday Mass I have ever attended. And what a great homily.
ReplyDeleteI loved your Homily tonight, Is there a way I could get a copy of it? During these days where we hear and read all over the problems brought to our Church and the way our Holy Father is being criticized, I want to keep your words in mind. I also want to keep in mind the five things you asked us to do. I do remember the first one, to pray for you and I promise that I will do that in my daily prayers. I know you have many people to pray for but I kindly ask you to remember me once in a while :-)
ReplyDeleteFr. Bateman;
ReplyDeleteTonight's service sincerely touched my heart and soul; thank you. Thank you for all of the hard work that was put into it being so meaningful and very reverent. I already thanked Kathy for the beautiful music from our talented choir.
The Knights of the Holy Temple truly add to the level of reverence that I feel when they are helping you celebrate the Mass. I know all of these boys quite well; having chaperoned retreats, Hershey Park trips, etc. I have seen them in "action" but tonight each and every one of them assisted you with great pride and adoration. Ben was precious trying to get both of his shoes and socks back on; he looked up at the congregation with a smile..........like I am going as fast as I can.
Your homily was totally prepared. You definitely gave us so much to think about, the time you spent preparing was obvious.
I do pray for you every single day. I wish I could put into words what it is like for me being in the congregation all of my life and feeling at some services I am hearing things for the very first time. I have always tried to pay attention in Mass; but tonight I really really heard you.
You are just what we needed at St. Andrew after our recent changes in priests. I personally liked both of them for different reasons; but losing them both so quickly as we did left much fear, resentment and uncertainty with my fellow parishioners.
You are so dedicated and focused as a priest. You walk, speak and live with the confidence that you are exactly where you are supposed to be in your life and that is being a priest.
I pray you never feel unwanted or unappreciated here at our parish.
It is late and I will close for now so that I can stay awake to say my prayers and pray for God to continue guiding you on the path you are on with the strength to hold us up where you have brought us.
I will work to post last night's homily in this blog later today, so stay tuned...
ReplyDeleteIn you short time at St Andrew's you have done wonders. I am amazed at the large attendance at all of the services.
ReplyDelete