The 2 Holy Thursday Mass Types Held During the Commemoration of the Last Supper
HOLY THURSDAY MASS – There are only two (2) masses that are held during the Holy Thursday, the Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Across the globe. the Christians are commemorating the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ to save the world. The said religious event is called the Holy Week which includes the Holy Thursday, the Good Friday, and the Black Saturday which has specific significance.
The significance of the Holy Thursday focuses on the commemoration of the Last Supper meal. It is also called as the Passover meal – the meal that the Lord Jesus Christ had together with his Disciples prior to his arrest. It was when he introduced bread as a symbol of his flesh and wine as a symbol of his blood as foods for eternal life.
In Churches, the priest lead the commemoration of the Last Supper or the Passover meal during the institution of the Eucharist. During Holy Thursday, another important event of masses held in church is the washing of the feet. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s humility of, despite being the Son of God, bending his knee and washing the feet of his Apostles.
Catholics believe that Jesus was the first bishop and his Disciples were the first priests. The said event is re-enacted by a bishop and priests during Holy Thursday.
What is held as the Holy Thursday mass? Based on Catholic Culture, there are only two (2) masses allowed during Holy Thursday – the Chrism Mass or the Mass of the Holy Oils and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
According to the article, the Chrism mass is usually held in the morning at the cathedral of the diocese. During this Holy Thursday mass, the priests have a communion with the bishop. It is also during this mass that the bishop blesses the oils that will be used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick the following year. It is also a celebration of the institution of priesthood.
The other mass held is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is held in the evening as the Passover started at sundown. It commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and priests wear white vestments, flowers are filling the altar, the Gloria is sung, and the bells are rung. After the singing of the Gloria, the organ music and the bells won’t be heard anymore until the Easter Vigil.
Also, during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the re-enactment of the Washing of the Feet is held. After the prayer for Communion, the priest will not bestow a final blessing unlike the usual mass.
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