Holy Thursday: Things You Need To Know

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Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper. It is observed on the Thursday that comes before the Good Friday, which is the day on which Jesus was crucified. The following Sunday is celebrated as Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus and his rise to the heavenly abode.

The Thursday before the Good Friday was celebrated as the Passover feast. The feast was Jesus's last supper and he shared it with his disciples. During the supper, Jesus predicted that he would be betrayed and that his death was near. The incident took place in the city of Jerusalem.

Read on to find more facts that you need to know about the Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday.

There is written proof that the Last Supper happened.
The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, John and Mark Luke mention that Jesus did have a Last Supper, which he shared with the 12 Apostles before he was crucified. The verses Matthew 26:17-30, Luke 22:1-19, Mark 14:12-31 and John 13:1-30 have references to the Last Supper.

The Last Supper is called the Passover Supper, as Jesus and the Apostles were Jews.

That night Jesus also said: "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

The feet of the parishioners are washed during the mass.
It is believed that Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles during the Passover Feast. To honour this incident, twelve parishioners have their feet washed by the priest.

This ritual takes place during the last mass before the Easter Sunday mass. No mass is conducted on Good Friday, as it is a day of mourning. The twelve parishioners represent the twelve Apostles who went on to become the first Bishops and priests in Christianity. This ceremony is usually performed in the night or after the sun sets.

Pope Francis washed the feet of the inmates of a Juvenile centre during his first Holy Thursday as the Pope. He visited a home for the disabled and the elderly and washed their feet in the year 2014.

The Eucharist celebration was installed on a Good Friday
Luke 22:17
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, Saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

This verse is chanted at each Sunday mass before the Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated. After this, the parishioners consume bread and wine. The bread represents the flesh of Jesus and the wine symbolises the blood that flowed in his veins.

Priesthood was established on Holy Thursday.
Jesus, knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girdled himself with a towel.

Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciple's feet, and wiped them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand," Peter said to him, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I do not wash you, you have no part in me."
John 13:3-8

By washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus was installing priesthood. The twelve were instituted to the office of the priesthood by this act of Jesus Christ.