Each year followers of Christ commemorate Holy or Maundy Thursday during the holy week to reflect on the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples the night before his Crucifixion.

The term ‘Maundy’ Thursday is said to have been derived from the Latin word ‘mandatum’ which means commands or laws.

Maundy Thursday also signifies Jesus’ commands to his followers to keep his commandments as instructed in the bible. One such instance is in the scripture John 13 vs 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

This year, Holy Thursday is being (April 6) and it is a day for Christians to reflect on the unconditional love of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for the sins of others.

Communion

During the Last Supper, Jesus ate bread and drank wine with his disciples during the week of Passover, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the escape of the Israelites from Egypt.

The bread symbolized Jesus’ body while the wine was symbolic of his blood that was shed for others. As written in the Gospel Of Mark 14 vs 12 “And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”

Jesus then took a cup and gave his twelve disciples to drink and said to them “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”

Christians today still practice the act of consecrating bread before sharing it with the congregation. This is not only on Holy Thursday but during some church services.

Washing of the feet

Holy Thursday is also commemorated with the washing of the feet during church services. The washing of the feet is an act imitated from the biblical story of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet at the Last Supper.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:14–17 (NKJV)

The act of feet washing is said to have originated in Palestinian homes where servants or the wife of the host wash the feet of the visitors.

Chrism Mass

Some religious denominations such as Roman Catholic, Protestant and Anglican churches commemorate Holy Thursday with a Chrism Mass service.

This service is held on the morning of Holy Thursday when the bishop or priest consecrates the holy oils used for sacraments and rituals.

The holy oils include Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam oil of catechumens, used during baptisms and oil of Infrim, used for the anointing of the sick.

Stripping of the Altar

The act of stripping the altar of linens and ornament is another act practised by Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Protestant churches during Holy Thursday.

The stripping of the altar reflects the way in which the soldiers stripped Jesus of his garments before his crucifixion.

The act of stripping the altar is usually done at the end of the Maundy service.

–Send feedback to [email protected]