Holy Thursday
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be live streamed at 6:30 p.m. on our YouTube channel and website home page.
On this most holy night we commemorate four mysteries: the washing of the feet, the Lord’s Supper, the high priestly prayer of Christ in the Garden and the betrayal by Judas.
When the Lord walked through Paradise, in the beginning, his footsteps caused Adam and Eve anxiety for they know they disobeyed him. Today, on this most Holy Thursday evening, he amazes his disciples by washing their feet.
At the sacred supper that evening, two things were accomplished, in celebrating the Passover of old the Lord revealed the new Passover of his body and blood.
Then there was the agony of his prayer for us in the Garden, his bloody sweat and the chalice that did not pass.
And why did they come after him, with swords and clubs, to arrest the one that was about to die for them?
In your indescribable compassion, Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Remember that the washing of the feet by the Son of God is an example to all of us that we must love and serve others, no matter how hard it is. If our Creator, the innocent and all powerful Son of God can bow before his sinful creatures, we too can bow before our brothers and sisters, those we love and those we don’t. It is hard for me to love some people; I am not good at it, so I try to be better by praying for them.
A Suggestion:
Tonight, if you are able, after Mass come to the church and pray before the Lord’s presence in his body and Blood in our narthex for a time. Pray the following prayer.
Or, if you are not able to come to the church pray this prayer at home.
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ,
The Son of the living God, who came into the world
To save sinners of whom I am the first.
The Son of the living God, who came into the world
To save sinners of whom I am the first.
Though I cannot receive you this night in the Holy Eucharist, come to me
Spiritually and fill my body and my soul with your life and grace.
Accept me soon as a worthy partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God,
For I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies,
Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas,
But like the good thief I profess to you:
For I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies,
Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas,
But like the good thief I profess to you:
Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.
O Lord, I also believe and profess, that the Holy Eucharist
Is truly your most precious Body, and your life-giving Blood,
Which, I pray, make me worthy to receive
For the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
Is truly your most precious Body, and your life-giving Blood,
Which, I pray, make me worthy to receive
For the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.
I will carry all of you in my heart to the altar of God. I will offer you up with the bread and wine to the Father. I will be praying that the Holy Spirit will come down upon you and the Holy Gifts to be the body and blood of Christ in the world and on the altar.
An ancient tradition of the Church: “Father, put me on the paten.”
People used to ask the priest before Mass or through Mass Intentions to put them on the “paten.” (You can still do this.) The paten is the plate which holds the bread that will become the body of the Lord. To say, “Put me on the paten” is to say, “Father, offer me to God the Father for my good and for my salvation.” This tradition is a way of uniting ourselves to the Sacrifice of Christ in the Mass. When we see the bread and wine being brought to the altar it is the time to say to God, “Lord, I offer myself to you.” Then you have added yourself to the countless souls who throughout the centuries desired to serve God and live in Christ.
This Holy Thursday night I will carry all of you in my heart to the altar of God. I will offer you up with the bread and wine to the Father. I will be praying that the Holy Spirit will come down upon you and on the Holy Gifts to be the body and blood of Christ in the world and on the altar.
In the Love of the Lord,
Fr. Phil
