Holy/Maundy Thursday

The Paschal Triduum:
Maundy/Holy Thursday Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper

Whenever possible, the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated on Thursday evening after sunset. Those who participate in the Liturgy do not offer vespers.

[The Western Divine Liturgy begins with the Invocation and the Apostolic Greeting.] The following form is used to introduce the Confession of Sin.

Priest: Beloved in Christ, in this Lenten season we have heard our Lord’s call to intensify our struggle against sin, death, and the devil. This is the struggle to which we were called at our baptism, and it is the struggle that we experience each day of our lives. In this season we have also heard our Lord’s promise of mercy, for he never tires of forgiving our sins and granting to his people the peace of reconciliation. Therefore, as we enter into this sacred Triduum in which we celebrate the Paschal mysteries of our Savior, let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor, that we might come before the Lord with hearts that have been cleansed by the saving blood of Christ.

The Liturgy continues with the Confession of Sin and the following Prayer of the Day:
Father in heaven, on the night of his betrayal your blessed Son showed his humility by washing the feet of his disciples, and bestowed upon the Church the perpetual remembrance of his passion and resurrection. Through your Spirit grant that throughout our lives we may follow the example of his humility, and find strength in the sacrament of his Body and Blood, given to sustain us through this life and to prepare us for the world to come. We ask this through your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Years A, B, and C
First Reading Exodus 12: 1-14
Psalm 116: 12-14, 17
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11: 23-29

After the Second Reading, but before the Gospel is read, the Priest shall stand and begin the Washing of Feet. When circumstances do not permit the washing of feet to take place, the following portion of the Liturgy may be omitted.

Priest: Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ: On the night before his death, the evangelist John tells us:

"Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."

By washing their feet, Jesus teaches us that strength and growth in the life of the Kingdom of God come not by power, authority, or even miracle, but through lowly service. We all need to remember his example, but none stand more in need of this reminder than those whom the Lord has called to the ordained ministry. Therefore, I invite you who share in the royal priesthood of Christ, to come forward, that I may recall whose servant I am by following the example of my Master. But come remembering his admonition that what will be done for you is also to be done by you to others, for "a servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater that the one who sent him."

During the Washing of Feet, hymns may be sung. When the Washing is concluded, hymns may serve as the Gospel Acclamation, or the Lenten Acclimation may be sung. The people shall stand for the Gospel.

Gospel Reading
Year A Matthew 26: 26-29
Year B Mark 14: 22-25
Year C Luke 22: 14-23

In any year John 13: 1-35 may be substituted for the above Gospel readings when the Washing of Feet is not conducted.

A homily is preached and the Nicene Creed is omitted.

The Liturgy continues to the invitation to Communion. Communion shall be distributed in the normal manner. After the people have received, any excess shall be consumed, and the Tabernacle shall be cleared of the Sacrament (though a small amount may be reserved in the sacristy in case of an emergency during the Triduum). After the Tabernacle is cleared and the Sacrament is consumed, the following prayer is offered in place of the Blessing:
Priest: Almighty God, we have shared in the supper that your Son gave to his Church to proclaim his death until he comes again. May he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The presiding minister shall remove all of his vestments except for his alb. All shall kneel and offer silent prayer for a time.

Rising, the presiding minister and his assistants shall strip the Holy Table, removing the Cross (or covering the Cross if it is mounted on a wall), candlesticks, and all paraments, including the linens.

During the stripping of the Holy Table, Psalm 22 shall be either sung on one note or spoken. The Gloria Patri is omitted, and the following antiphon is used:
They parted my garments among them; upon my vesture they cast lots.

When the Holy Table has been stripped, the presiding minister and his assistants shall leave the Sanctuary by the most direct route. The congregation may choose to remain in silent prayer for a time. Compline is spoken at a later hour.