Moodubelle: Holy Thursday celebrated with devotion and washing of the feet

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 21 April 2011: Holy Thursday also known as Maundy Thursday is observed during the Holy Week on the Thursday before the Easter. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Maundy Thursday Evening marks the beginning of Easter Triduum, that is a period of three days that are devoted to special prayer and observance. Maundy Thursday is followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday and concludes with evening prayers on Easter Sunday.

 

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified. In contrast to joyful Easter celebrations when Christians worship their resurrected Saviour, Maundy Thursday services are typically more solemn occasions.

 

The word ‘Maundy’ is derived from the old Latin word ‘mandatum’, meaning "commandment." Maundy refers to the commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.

 

Another important event of the Holy Thursday was that before the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. By performing this lowly act of service, the Bible says in John 13:1 that Jesus "showed them the full extent of his love." By his example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service. For this reason, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.

 

 

The institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus during the Last Supper is the most significant act and a central doctrine in the Roman Catholic faith, that of ‘transubstantiation’. During the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and asked his Father to bless it. He broke the bread into pieces, giving it to His disciples He said, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Then he took the cup of wine, shared it with his disciples and said, "This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you, an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you." These events recorded in Luke 22:19-20 describe the Last Supper and form the biblical basis for the practice of Communion. For this reason, many churches hold special Communion services as a part of their Maundy Thursday celebrations.

 

The Holy Thursday service in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle began at 5 pm with the solemn mass celebrated by Fr. Joswey Fernandes along with Fr. Charles Menezes, Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Fr. Maxim Pinto (OFM-Cap) and Fr. Valerian D’Silva (OFM-Cap).

 

The homily was delivered by Fr. Charles Menezes. He said that Holy Thursday holds special significance in the church. The Last Supper of Jesus with his Apostles was a special meal that Jesus wanted to share and during this occasion Jesus instituted the priesthood, constituted the Holy Eucharist and showed by His own example service with love. Fr. Charles explained with examples, the importance of meal in the Old and New Testaments.

 

Following the homily, Fr. Joswey Fernandes washed the feet of twelve parishioners commemorating the washing of feet of the twelve Apostles by Jesus and gave each of them a bread symbolising the Last Supper of Jesus with His Apostles.

 

At the end of the solemn Holy Thursday Mass, the Holy Eucharist was taken in procession to the decorated ‘Altar of Repose’ towards the left of the main altar and as the adoration was in progress conducted by Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Fr. Joswey Fernandes laid bare the main altar by removing the covering white cloth symbolising the beginning of the Passion of Christ that led to His agony in the garden, betrayal by Judas Iscariot, arrest, trail and finally the Way of the Cross and the Crucifixion on the next day, Friday.