Udupi/M’Belle: Maundy Thursday observed with washing of feet of both men and women

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 24 Mar 2016: Maundy Thursday was observed in the twin dioceses of Mangalore and Udupi with great devotion and washing of feet of both men and women by the chief celebrant on Thursday, 24 March 2016 indicating the equal opportunities that are being granted to both men and women in the Catholic Church. This practice is being introduced in the parishes of these twin dioceses on the explicit instructions from the Bishops of the respective dioceses.

 

In St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle, the Maundy Thursday service began at 5 pm with the chief celebrant, Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, parish priest, arriving to the main altar in procession led by altar servers and other concelebrant-Fr. Victor Fernandes(OFM Cap), Fr. Anil Sunil D’Souza (OFM Cap), Fr. Sunil D’Souza, Fr. Roshan D’Souza and Dn, Lawrence Cutinha.

 

In his homily, Fr. Clement emphasised on the significance of the Maundy Thursday, Thereafter he washed the feet of 6 men and 6 women reminding the washing of the feet of 12 Apostles by Jesus Christ.

 

 

Following end of the mass, the Holy Eucharist was taken ceremoniously to the floral decorated Altar of Repose while the main altar was stripped of the white covering and removing the flowers and  leaving it bare as a symbol of the eve of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the next day, that is, Good Friday.

 

The reverential transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the Altar of Repose was followed by adoration. Thereafter, the faithful dispersed and went to their homes in silence.

 

Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day  before Good Friday(the Friday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday.

 

First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples.

 

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. Should we observe Maundy Thursday? The Bible neither commands nor forbids it. It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It is a good thing to remember the Lord’s example of humility. However, at the same time, we should avoid ritualistic observances of holidays unless they are truly focused on God and our relationship with Him.

 

Observing a special Lord’s Supper service on Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday in remembrance of the Last Supper is a good thing to do. Doing a foot-washing in remembrance of how Christ humbled Himself and washed the feet of the disciples is a powerful reminder of how we are to live the Christian life (Philippians 2:1-11).