Maundy Thursday

"Holy Thursday" redirects here. For other uses, see Holy Thursday (disambiguation).

Maundy Thursday
The Mystical Supper, Russian Orthodox icon, 1497
Also called	Holy Thursday Covenant Thursday Great and Holy Thursday Thursday of Mysteries Shere from the word shere (meaning "clean" or "bright") or Sheer Thursday
Observed by	Christians
Type	Christian/Civic
Significance	Commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ
Observances	Chrism Mass, Mass of the Lord's Supper, Washing of the feet, distribution of Maundy money
Date	Easter − 3 days
2023 date	April 6 (Western) April 13 (Eastern)
2024 date	March 28 (Western) May 2 (Eastern)
2025 date	April 17 (Western) April 17 (Eastern)
2026 date	April 2 (Western) April 9 (Eastern)
Frequency	annual
Related to	Holy Week and Easter

Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, among other names, ^{[note 1]} is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels. ^[1]

It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) and followed by Good Friday. ^[2] "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment." ^[3] The date of the day will vary according to whether the Gregorian calendar or the Julian calendar is used. Eastern churches generally use the Julian system.

Names

Use of the names "Maundy Thursday", "Holy Thursday", and others is not evenly distributed. The generally accepted name for the day varies according to geographical area and religious affiliation. Thus, although in England "Maundy Thursday" is the normal term, the term "Holy Thursday" is more commonly used in Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States. ^[4] The latter is the official name used in English by the Catholic Church in England and Wales. ^[5]

The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, which is the mother Church of the Anglican Communion, uses the name "Maundy Thursday" for this observance. ^[6] The corresponding publication of the US Episcopal Church, which is another province of the Anglican Communion, also refers to the Thursday before Easter as "Maundy Thursday". ^[7] Throughout the Anglican Communion, the term "Holy Thursday" is a synonym for Ascension Day. ^{[6] [8] [9]}

The Roman Rite of the Catholic Church uses the name "Holy Thursday" in its modern English-language liturgical books. ^[5] The Latin books use the name Feria quinta in Cena Domini ("Thursday of the Supper of the Lord"; the medieval spelling Cœna was used in place of Cena in documents predating the 1955 decree Maxima redemptionis), along with Maundy Thursday as the English name, as given in The Saint Andrew Daily Missal. ^[10] The personal ordinariates in the Catholic Church, which have an Anglican patrimony, retain the traditional English term "Maundy Thursday", however. ^[11] An article in the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia used the term "Maundy Thursday", ^[12] and some Catholic writers use the same term either primarily, ^[13] or alternatively. ^[14]

The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965) uses the term "Maundy Thursday"; ^[15] the Book of Worship (1992) uses the term "Holy Thursday", ^[16] and other official sources of the United Methodist Church use both "Maundy Thursday" ^[17] and "Holy Thursday". ^{[18] [19]}

Both names are used by other Christian denominations as well, including the Lutheran Church, ^{[20] [21]} and certain Reformed Churches. ^{[22] [23] [24]} Certain Presbyterian Churches use the term "Maundy Thursday" to refer to the holy day in their official sources. ^{[24] [25]}

In the Byzantine Rite the name for the holy day is "Great and Holy Thursday" ^[26] or "Holy Thursday", ^{[27] [28]} and in Western Rite Orthodoxy "Maundy Thursday", ^{[29] [30]} "Holy Thursday" ^[31] or both. ^[32] The Coptic Orthodox Church uses the term "Covenant Thursday" or "Thursday of the Covenant". ^{[33] [34] [35] [36] [37]}

In the Maronite Church ^[38] and the Syriac Orthodox Church, ^[39] the name is "Thursday of Mysteries".

"Maundy Thursday" is the official name of the day in the civil legislation of England ^[40] and the Philippines. ^[41]

The day has also been known in English as Shere Thursday (also spelled Sheer Thursday), from the word shere (meaning "clean" or "bright"). ^[42] This name might refer to the act of cleaning, or to the fact that churches would switch liturgical colors from the dark tones of Lent, or because it was customary to shear the beard on that day, ^[43] or for a combination of reasons. ^[44] This name has cognates in the Nordic languages, such as Danish skærtorsdag, Swedish skärtorsdag, Norwegian skjærtorsdag, Faroese skírhósdagur and skírisdagur, Icelandic skírdagur, and Finnish kiirastorstai.

Derivation of the name "Maundy"

Maundy ceremony in a Church in Wales parish church during a Maundy Thursday service of worship

Maundy is the name of the Christian rite of footwashing, ^[45] which traditionally occurs during Maundy Thursday church services. ^[45]

The English word maundy in the name for the day is derived through Middle English and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum (also the origin of the English word "mandate"), the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.") By this statement in chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.

The phrase is used as the antiphon sung in the Roman Rite during the Maundy (Ecclesiastical Latin: "Mandatum") ceremony of the washing of the feet, which may be held during Mass or as a separate event. A priest or bishop, representing Christ, ceremonially washes the feet of others, typically 12 persons chosen as a cross-section of the community. In 2016, it was announced that the Roman Missal had been revised to allow women to participate as part of the 12 in the Mandatum. Previously, only males partook of the rite. ^[46]

Others theorize that the English name "Maundy Thursday" arose from "maunds" or baskets or "maundy purses" of alms which the king of England distributed to certain poor at Whitehall before attending Mass on that day. Thus, "maund" is connected to the Latin mendicare, and French mendier, to beg. ^[47]

A source from the Shepherd of the Springs, Lutheran Church likewise states that, if the name was derived from the Latin mandatum, we would call the day Mandy Thursday, or Mandate Thursday, or even Mandatum Thursday. The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin mendicare, Old French mendier, and English maund, which as a verb means to beg and as a noun refers to a small basket held out by maunders as they maunded. ^[48] Other sources reject this etymology. ^[49]

Services

Western Christianity

Maundy Thursday initiates the Paschal Triduum, the period which commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This period includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. ^{[1] [50]} The Mass of the Lord's Supper or service of worship is normally celebrated in the evening, when Friday begins according to Jewish tradition, as the Last Supper was held on the feast of Passover, according to the three Synoptic Gospels. ^[51]

Services

Main articles: Mass of the Lord's Supper and Royal Maundy

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Maundy service involves the Monarch offering "alms" to deserving senior citizens – one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age. ^[52] These coins, known as Maundy money or Royal Maundy, are distributed in red and white purses, and is a custom dating back to King Edward I. The red purse contains regular currency and is given in place of food and clothing. The white purse has money in the amount of one penny for each year of the Sovereign's age. Since 1822, rather than ordinary money, the Sovereign gives out Maundy coins, ^[53] which are specially minted 1, 2, 3 and 4 penny pieces, and are legal tender. The service at which this takes place rotates around English and Welsh churches, though in 2008 it took place for the first time in Northern Ireland at Armagh Cathedral. Until the death of King James II, the Monarch would also wash the feet of the selected poor people. There is an old sketch, done from life, of Queen Elizabeth I washing people's feet on Maundy Thursday.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Maundy (washing of the feet) is practised among many Christian groups on Maundy Thursday, including the Anglican/Protestant Episcopal, ^[54] Armenian, ^[55] Ethiopian, Lutheran, Methodist, Eastern Catholic, Schwarzenau (German Baptist) Brethren, ^[56] Mennonite, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic traditions. ^{[57] [58] [59]}

Altar and crucifix veiled in a Methodist church on Maundy Thursday in preparation for Good Friday.

With Maundy Thursday commemorating the Last Supper, Christian denominations who observe this day universally celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, which they teach was instituted by Jesus on this night. ^[59] In the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and in certain Anglican congregations, the Mass of the Lord's Supper begins as usual, but the Gloria is accompanied by the ringing of church bells, which are then silent until the Easter Vigil. ^{[60] [61]} After the homily the washing of feet may be performed. The Blessed Sacrament remains exposed, at least in the Catholic Mass, until the service concludes with a procession taking it to the place of reposition. The altar is later stripped bare, as are all other altars in the church except the Altar of Repose. In pre-1970 editions, the Roman Missal of the Catholic Church envisages this being done ceremonially, to the accompaniment of Psalms 21–22, ^{[62] [63]} a practice which continues in the Lutheran churches and Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship. ^[64] In other Christian denominations, such as the Methodist Churches, the stripping of the altar and other items on the chancel also occurs, as a preparation for the somber Good Friday service. ^[65] The stripping of the altar represents "the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion." ^[64]

Chrism Mass

Main article: Chrism Mass

Chrism Mass in the Lateran Basilica

The Chrism Mass is a religious service held in Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. ^{[66] [67]}

Maundy Thursday is notable for being the day on which the Chrism Mass is celebrated in each diocese. Usually held in the diocesan cathedral, it is generally held on the morning of Maundy Thursday, but may in some dioceses take place on another day during Holy Week. ^[68] The Mass is a celebration of the institution of the priesthood. ^{[66] [69]}

During the Mass, those present are called to renew their baptismal promises. Priests/ministers and deacons also reaffirm their ministry by renewing the promises made at their ordination. ^{[70] [71]} The Mass takes its name from the blessing of the holy oils used in the sacraments throughout the year, which are then given to priests to take back to their parishes. ^[72]

The service is a 1967 restoration of the rite recorded in the early 200s by the historian Hippolytus who writes of a ceremony taking place during the Easter Vigil at which two holy oils were blessed and one was consecrated. In the decree renewing this rite Pope Paul VI said, "The Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the bishop's priesthood and signifies the closeness of the priests with him." ^[73]

The Holy Oils are:

• Chrism – used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders, as well as for the consecration of altars and the dedication of churches. ^[74]
• the oil of catechumens – also used in the sacrament of Baptism, and
• the oil of the sick – used in the rite of the Anointing of the Sick

The oil of the catechumens and chrism are used on the upcoming Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil, for the baptism and confirmation of those entering the church. While the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick, are simply "blessed," the Sacred Chrism is "consecrated,". Holy chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, an aromatic resin. Balsam is poured into the oil, which gives it a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the "odor of sanctity" to which those who are marked with it, are called to strive. ^[70]

With respect to Anglicanism, the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (p. 307) calls for chrism to be consecrated by the bishop. In many dioceses, the consecration of chrism by the bishop may be done at a service of reaffirmation of ordination vows during Holy Week. During the Chrism Eucharist, the Bishop will bless the oils used throughout the next year for baptisms and healing. In addition, the Bishop and clergy in attendance will reaffirm their Ordination Vows. ^[67]

Plenary indulgence

In the Roman Catholic Church, plenary indulgence is obtained in the following cases: ^[75]

1. If during the solemn reservation of the Blessed Sacrament (typically on a side altar), which follows the Mass of the Lord's Supper, it is recited or sung the Eucharistic hymn Tantum ergo .
2. If it is adored the solemnly reserved Blessed Sacrament for a half hour.

Eastern Christianity

Eastern Orthodoxy

Orthodox icon of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles (16th century, Pskov school of iconography)

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the liturgical colours are brighter, white being common. On this day alone during Holy Week, the fast is relaxed to permit consumption of wine and oil.^{[ citation needed ]}

The primary service of this day is Vespers combined with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at which is read a Composite Gospel, primarily taken from Matthew, but with episodes inserted from John (the Washing of the Feet) and Luke (Jesus sweating blood), and many of the normal hymns of the Divine Liturgy are substituted with the following troparion:

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas. But like the Thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom. ^[76]

When necessary to replenish the sacrament for communing the sick at a time not following a divine liturgy, an additional Lamb (Host) is consecrated on this day, intincted, covered, and left to dry until Holy Saturday when it is divided, completely dried with a candle flame, and the pieces placed in the artophorion.^{[ citation needed ]}

In cathedrals and monasteries the ceremony of the Washing of Feet is normally performed.^{[ citation needed ]} When there is need to consecrate more chrism, that is performed by patriarchs and other heads of the various autocephalous churches.^{[ citation needed ]}

Maunday Thursday and other named days and day ranges around Lent and Easter in Western Christianity, with the fasting days of Lent numbered

In the evening, after the Liturgy, all of the hangings and vestments are changed to black or some other dark colour, to signify the beginning of the Passion. Anticipating the Matins of Friday morning, the Holy Passion service of the reading of the Twelve Gospels is conducted. In these readings Christ's last instructions to his disciples are presented, as well as the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, Christ's prayer, and his new commandment. The twelve readings are:

• John 13:31–18:1
• John 18:1–29
• Matthew 26:57–75
• John 18:28–19:16
• Matthew 27:3–32
• Mark 15:16–32
• Matthew 27:33–54
• Luke 23:32–49
• John 19:19–37
• Mark 15:43–47
• John 19:38–42
• Matthew 27:62–66

Beginning on Holy and Great Thursday, the memorial service for the dead is forbidden until after Thomas Sunday.

Local customs

• In Greek practice, the Mystery of Unction is performed on Great Wednesday as preparation for the reception of Holy Communion on Great Thursday and Pascha, a custom that originated when Greece was under Ottoman control and parish priests, being uneducated, were not permitted to hear confession, so this sacrament, by which sins are believed to be forgiven, came to be performed.^{[ citation needed ]}
• In Greek tradition, a procession is made during the service of the Twelve Passion Gospels. It takes place after the reading of the fifth gospel during the singing of "Today He Who Hung". During this procession, a large cross with the body of Christ is carried throughout the church while lights are extinguished, bells are slowly tolled, and the faithful prostrate themselves. The cross, with Christ's body hung upon it, is placed in front of the Royal Doors. The icon of Christ on the cross (sometimes with nails affixing it) is struck upon the hands and feet with a stone multiple times, and is then stood up in front of the church, where it is censed.^{[ citation needed ]}
• In some Slavic traditions, a lesser procession is made after the Twelve Passion Gospels immediately prior to the dismissal with an icon of Christ's crucifixion which is placed on the central icon stand, where it is censed by the clergy, and then venerated.^{[ citation needed ]}

Oriental Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodox Churches celebrate Covenant Thursday during Holy Week (based on their local calendars). They offer praises and vespers every day of week, and on Thursday and Saturday they remain in church praising God and reading about the First Liturgy and Judas' Betrayal. On Saturday they sing praises for the Entrance of the Messiah in Hades freeing all of the faithful ones including Moses and Abraham.^{[ citation needed ]}

Customs and names around the world

Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (Armenian Apostolic Church) washing the feet of children during the Washing of Feet ceremony

Blessing Chrism

Pesaha appam (unleavened bread) and Pesaha milk made during Maundy Thursday by Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India.

• If statues and crucifixes have been covered during Passiontide (the last 2 weeks of Lent, at least in the 1962 Catholic missal), the crucifix covers are allowed to be white instead of purple for Holy Thursday.
• The popular German name Gründonnerstag means either "mourning Thursday" or "green Thursday". ^[77]
• In the Czech Republic and Slovakia the day is called Zelený čtvrtek or Zelený štvrtok respectively, again meaning "Green Thursday", because the typical meals of this day were made of fresh, green vegetables etc. From that day there is no usage of the church bells until Holy Saturday, here called "White Saturday", because "they have flown to Rome" (a euphemism); in some regions they are replaced by groups of children walking round their village (or around the church) and making noise with wooden rattles. This is to announce to the people approaching beginning of the liturgy and to call the people to church.
• The tradition of silent bells also occurs in Luxembourg: the bells fall silent until Easter, because "they have flown to Rome for Confession", so children take to the streets, calling people to church with melancholy wooden rattling. ^[78]
• In the Netherlands and Belgium, the day is called Witte Donderdag (White Thursday) referring to the liturgical colour of the day.
• In Malta, Holy Thursday is known as Ħamis ix-Xirka (Communion Thursday) and the tradition of visiting seven churches (see below) is called is-seba' visti or is-Sepulkri.
• Eastern Slavic cultures traditionally carried out a range of cleansing ceremonies on Maundy Thursday (sometimes known in Russian as "Clean Thursday" (Russian : Чистый четверг)). ^[79]
• In Welsh, Maundy Thursday is Dydd Iau Cablyd.
• In Sweden Maundy Thursday (skärtorsdagen) is connected to old folklore as the day of the witches. Young children often dress up as witches and knock on doors getting coins or candy for Easter eggs.
• In Bulgaria Maundy Thursday is called Veliki Chetvurtuk (Great Thursday), and is traditionally the day when people color their Easter eggs and perform other household chores geared toward preparing for Razpeti Petuk (Crucifixion Friday), Velika Subota (Great Saturday) and Velikden (Easter Day).
• In Kerala the day is called as Pesaha (പെസഹ), a Malayalam word derived from the Aramaic or Syriac word "Peshai" meaning Passover . Maundy Thursday and following Good Friday are observed as statewide public holiday declared by the Government of Kerala, given the high number of Syrian Christians in the state. ^[80] The tradition of consuming Pesaha appam or Indariyappam is customary after special longer Holy Qurbana, which are conducted on the or at midnight till morning in churches of Saint Thomas Christians. On the evening before Good Friday the Pesaha bread is made at home. It is made with unleavened flour and they use a sweet drink call Pesaha Paal made up of coconut milk and jaggery along with this bread. On the Pesaha night the bread is steamed in a new vessel, immediately after rice flour is mixed with water and they pierce it many times with handle of the spoon to let out the steam so that the bread will not rise. This bread is cut by the head of the family and shared among the family members after prayers. In some families, Pesaha Paal a creamy dip made up of jaggery and coconut milk is used along with the Pesaha bread. If the family is in mourning following a death, Pesaha bread is not made at their home, but some of the Saint Thomas Christian neighbours share their bread with them. ^[81] The Saint Thomas Christians diaspora also celebrate this day by having Holy Communion services in the parishes according to their respective liturgies. The tradition of washing feet by priests is practiced in every parish commemorating Jesus washing the feet of his disciples symbolizing humbleness.
• In the Philippines, the day is officially known as Huwebes Santo (phonetic transliteration of Jueves Santo in Spanish, Holy Thursday) or "Maundy Thursday". Most businesses are closed during the Easter Triduum, with shopping malls opening on Black Saturday. Terrestrial television and radio stations either go completely off-air during the Triduum or operate on shorter hours with special programming; cable channels usually retain their normal programming. Newspapers do not publish on Good Friday and Black Saturday.

Public holiday

Christus, by the Lutheran Lucas Cranach the Elder. This woodcut of John 13:14–17 is from Passionary of the Christ and Antichrist.

Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in most countries that were part of the Spanish empire (Argentina, ^[82] Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, ^[83] Uruguay and Venezuela), countries that were part of the Danish colonial empire (Denmark, ^[84] Iceland, Norway and United States Virgin Islands), and in the Kerala State of India. Certain German states declare a public holiday for public sector employees. In the UK, civil servants were traditionally granted a half-day holiday (known as "privilege leave") on this date, but that was abolished, by David Cameron, after 2012.

Seven Churches Visitation

Main article: Seven Churches Visitation

The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating in Rome. ^[85] and occurs among the faithful in countries around the world.

In India, the custom is to visit fourteen churches, one per Station of the Cross. Traditionally, this is performed on Maundy Thursday evening but is more often done on the morning of Good Friday or on any day of Lent. Usually, whole families would participate, customarily fasting for the duration of the rite. It is also undertaken by parish devotional groups.

In the Philippines the tradition is called Visita Iglesia (Spanish, "church visit") – people visit churches to pray, usually reciting the Stations of the Cross. It is a chiefly urban custom, as churches are located closer to each other in cities, and supposedly because it originates in visiting the seven churches of Intramuros that stood until the 1945 Bombing of Manila. ^[86] The original purpose of the ritual was to venerate the Blessed Sacrament in the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday night, but since no prayers were prescribed (apart from those for the Pope), the Stations of the Cross were recited.

In Singapore, the visiting of churches occurs shortly after the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. Prayers at each church consist of seven repetitions of the Lord's Prayer, Ave Maria, and the Gloria Patri . Due to the new trend of late Mass times (sometimes 7 or 8 pm) to allow for more churchgoers, eight churches are the maximum number visited (even in the city area, where these are closer to each other than in outer residential areas) before these close at midnight. A festive atmosphere exists, with the sale of drinks, hot cross buns and other local snacks like the traditional kueh ko chee. Observant Catholics have a 'Last Supper' meal in anticipation of the next day's fast.

Gallery

• 
  Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper, painting of Altar of Siena Cathedral in 14th century
• 
  "The Last Supper" – museum copy of Master Paul's sculpture
• 
  Reading of the 12th Passion Gospel on Great and Holy Thursday
• 
  Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting, located inside the Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan, Italy.

See also

• Corpus Christi
• Friday of Sorrows (Friday before Palm Sunday)
• Life of Jesus in the New Testament
• Paschal cycle
• Tenebrae (service)
• Thursday of the Dead
• Tristis est anima mea (responsory), second responsory for the Tenebrae at Maundy Thursday

Footnotes

1. The day is also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Holy and Great Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries.

References

1. Ramshaw, Gail (2004). Three Day Feast: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Augsburg Books. ISBN   9781451408164 . Retrieved 11 April 2009. In the liturgies of the Three Days, the service for Maundy Thursday includes both, telling the story of Jesus' last supper and enacting the footwashing.
2. Stuart, Leonard (1909). New century reference library of the world's most important knowledge: complete, thorough, practical, Volume 3. Syndicate Pub. Co. Retrieved 11 April 2009. Holy Week, or Passion Week, the week which immediately precedes Easter, and is devoted especially to commemorate the passion of our Lord. The Days more especially solemnized during it are Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
3. "Maundy Thursday". Online Etymology Dictionary.
4. "Maundy Thursday 2022 Messages, Quotes & Bible Verses: Send Jesus Christ Wallpapers, HD Images, Holy Thursday Pics, Telegram Photos & Sayings on the Day Before Good Friday | 🙏🏻 LatestLY". LatestLY. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
5. "General Instruction of the Roman Missal, with adaptations for England and Wales" (PDF). Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
6. "A Table of the Vigils, Fasts and Days of Abstinence to be observed in the year" (PDF). Church of England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
7. "The Calendar of the Church Year" (PDF). p. 17.
8. Thomas Ignatius M. Forster (1828). Circle of the Seasons, and Perpetual key to the Calendar and Almanack. Oxford University Press. p.  377 . Retrieved 1 April 2012. Holy Thursday or Ascension Day. Festum Ascensionis. Le Jeudi Saint d' Ascension.
9. George Soane (1847). New Curiosities of Literature and Book of the Months. Churton. p.  275 . Retrieved 1 April 2012. Ascension Day, or Holy Thursday. This, as the name implies, is the anniversary of Christ's Ascension.
10. Lefebvre, Dom Gaspare (1999). The Saint Andrew Daily Missal. St. Bonaventure Publications. pp. 532–533.
11. "Holy Week and Easter with the Ordinariate in London" (PDF). Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
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13. Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons. Mark I. Miravalle, S.T.D. 2008. p. 659. ISBN   978-1579183554 . Retrieved 5 April 2014. The season of Lent prepares the Church for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery during the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
14. Akin, Jimmy (27 March 2013). "10 things you need to know about Holy Thursday". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 5 April 2014. Holy Thursday is thus sometimes called Maundy Thursday because it was on this day that Christ gave us the new commandment –the new mandate –to love one another as he loves us.
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33. Malan, Solomon Caesar (1872). The Divine Liturgy of Saint Mark the Evangelist. Original documents of the Coptic Church. London: D. Nutt. p.  55 . Retrieved 4 April 2017.
34. Butler, Alfred J. (1884). The Ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt. Vol. 2. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. p. 350. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
35. Abdennour, Samia (2007). Egyptian customs and Festivals. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press. p. 89. ISBN   978-977-416-060-8 . Retrieved 4 April 2017.
36. "History of Making the Holy Chrism in the Coptic Orthodox Church since Pope Athanasius (326–378) until Pope Shenouda the 3rd (1971– )". Hallesche Beiträge zur Orientwissenschaft . Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. 2007. p. 29. ISSN   0233-2205.
37. Dunne, Agnese (1957). "The Thursday of the Covenant". Jubilee: A Magazine of the Church & Her People. Vol. 5. A.M.D.G. Publishing Company. pp. 4–5.
38. "Liturgical Notes: Thursday of Mysteries". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
39. Thomas Joseph. "Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church". Sor.cua.edu. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
40. "The Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001". United Kingdom Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
41. "Republic Act No. 9492". Philippine Government. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
42. Charles Dickens (1889). Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Sine nomine . Retrieved 22 March 2012. Maundy Thursday is the day immediately preceding Good Friday. It was also known as Shere Thursday, probably from a custom of the priests, who on this day are said to have shaved themselves and trimmed their hair, which had been allowed to grow during the preceding six weeks. An old chronicle says 'people would this day shere theyr hedes, and clypp theyr berdes, and so make them honest against Easter Day.'
43. "New Catholic Dictionary". Catholic-forum.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
44. "The old English name for Maundy Thursday was 'Sheer Thursday', when the penitents obtained absolution, trimmed their hair and beards, and washed in preparation for Easter" ( "Hungarian Saints". Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.).
45. Peter C. Bower. The Companion to the Book of Common Worship. Geneva Press. Maundy Thursday (or le mandé; Thursday of the Mandatum, Latin, commandment). The name is taken from the first few words sung at the ceremony of the washing of the feet, 'I give you a new commandment' (John 13:34); also from the commandment of Christ that we should imitate His loving humility in the washing of the feet (John 13:14–17). The term mandatum (maundy), therefore, was applied to the rite of foot-washing on this day.
46. Daniel Burke (21 January 2016). "Pope Francis changes foot-washing rite to include women". CNN.
47. Philip Schaff. "History of the Christian Church". Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
48. "Shepherd of the Springs, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
49. Langland, W.; Skeat, W.W. (1886). The Vision of William Concerning Piers the Plowman: In Three Parallel Texts; Together with Richard the Redeless. Clarendon Press. p.  239 . Retrieved 17 February 2017.
50. Bower, Peter C. (2003). The Companion to the Book of Common Worship. Geneva Press. ISBN   9780664502324 . Retrieved 11 April 2009. All of Holy Week points toward the passion – the death and resurrection of Christ. The week's three final days (from sunset Thursday through sunset on Easter) complete the commemoration of Christ's passion. These three days are called the Triduum.
51. Windsor, Gwyneth; Hughes, John (1990). Worship and Festivals. Heinemann. ISBN   9780435302733 . Retrieved 11 April 2009. On the Thursday, which is known as Maundy Thursday, Christians remember the Last Supper which Jesus had with his disciples. It was the Jewish Feast of the Passover, and the meal which they had together was the traditional Seder meal, eaten that evening by the Jews everywhere.
52. "Royal Maundy Service". The Royal Family. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
53. "Maundy Money". The Royal Mint. Archived from the original on 28 March 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
54. Episcopal and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 1994. p. 93.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
55. "Maundy Thursday". The Armenian Church. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
56. "Churches of the Brethren". Brethren.org. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
57. "What is Maundy Thursday?". United Methodist Church. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
58. Stamm, Mark (2015). Devoting Ourselves to the Prayers: A Baptismal Theology for the Church's Intercessory Work. Upper Room Books. ISBN   978-0-88177-714-7.
59. Elwell, Walter A. (2001). Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Baker Academic. p. 750. ISBN   978-0-8010-2075-9. Observed in the Roman Catholic Church, Maundy Thursday appears on the Lutheran, Anglican, and many Reformed liturgical calendars and is almost universally celebrated with the Lord's Supper.
60. "Maundy Thursday". Catholic Culture. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
61. Gramenz, Stefan (27 March 2021). "Holy Week II: Maundy Thursday". The Lutheran Missal. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
62. "Missale Romanum" (PDF). 1962. p. 161. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
63. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Stripping of an Altar"  . Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.
64. "The Three Days: traditions of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil of Easter". Living Lutheran. 5 April 2013. After the Eucharist is celebrated it is customary to "strip the altar," which symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion. It represents the humiliation of Jesus and the consequences of sin as a preparation for the celebration of new life. In many congregations Psalm 22 is read or sung while the paraments are being removed.
65. Pfatteicher, Philip H; Messerli, Carlos R (1979). Maundy Thursday: Stripping the Altar. Lutheran Church. ISBN   978-0-8066-1676-6 . Retrieved 21 March 2007.
66. How is oil used in worship?. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2013. p. 2. This service, also called a Chrism Mass, is held during Holy Week and presided over by a synodical bishop. At this unique liturgy, the blessing of oil is coupled with a renewal of vows for rostered leaders. The traditional day for this service is Maundy Thursday).
67. "Chrism Mass 2017". The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
68. Saunders, William. "What is the Chrism Mass?", Arlington Catholic Herald, March 23, 2017
69. "What is the Chrism Mass?". The Monitor. McAllen, Texas. 11 April 2017.
70. Jalbert, Jason. "Chrism Mass". Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire).
71. "Chrism Mass". Cathedral of St. Mary's, Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. 4 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
72. Chatelain, Kim (11 April 2017). "Chrism Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral". Times-Picayune.
73. "Chrism Mass". Catholic Review. Archdiocese of Baltimore. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
74. "Chrism Mass 2017". St. James Cathedral, Seattle. 6 April 2017.
75. "How to obtain plenary indulgence during Holy Week 2024".
76. "Communion Prayers". St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
77. The word is of medieval origin and may refer to the widespread custom of eating green herbs on Maundy Thursday (cf. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Deutsches Wörterbuch".). The name could also derive from Old High German grīnan ("mourn" or "wail", cf. Engl. groan), referring to the passion of Jesus Christ or the penitents' return to the Eucharist on this day in olden times (Küppers, K. (2003). Gründonnerstag. Vol. IV. Munich: DTV.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help).
78. Spicer, Dorothy Gladys (1958). Festivals of Western Europe.
79. Agapkina, Tat'yana Alekseevna (2012). "Чистый четверг". In Tolstoy, N. I. (ed.). Slavyanskie drevnosti: Etnolingvisticheskii slovar: v 5 tomakhСлавянские древности: Этнолингвистический словарь : в 5 т.[Slavic antiquities: an ethno-linguistic dictionary in 5 volumes] (in Russian). Vol. 5. Moscow: Межд. отношения. pp. 555–558. ISBN   978-5-7133-1380-7.
80. "Kerala government releases list of holidays for 2019". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
81. Sunish George J Alumkalnal, (2013). "Pesaha celebration of Nasranis: a sociocultural analysis." Journal of Indo Judaic studies13, pp. 57–71
82. "Maundy Thursday". officeholidays.com. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
83. except in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia
84. "Planning your trip_www.visitdenmark.com". VisitDenmark. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
85. "Hill, William. "Join the 7-church visits", Diocese of Pittsburgh, April 11, 2014". Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
86. Of the seven, only Manila Cathedral and San Agustín Church remain in situ following the Second World War.

Bibliography

• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Maundy Thursday"  . Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.

External links

• Pope Francis, "Homily for Chrism Mass" Archived 13 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine , News.va, March 28, 2013.
• Cosentino, Tony. "Chrism Mass: its Symbols and Their Meaning", Diocese of St. Catherine's, Ontario.