Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the Christian feast before Easter that
commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Mass of the
Lord’s Supper initiates the Easter Triduum – the three days of Friday, Saturday
and Sunday that commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The
Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper begins, followed by the washing of the feet of
the Apostles, a traditional ritual of the celebration. The service concludes
with a procession taking the Blessed Sacrament to the place of reposition.
As the church is beautifully adorned with
colourful flowers for Maundy Thursday today, 12 parish members will walk in the
church, representing the 12 apostles, followed by the priest, wearing a Golden
cassock. The occasion is a joyous feast as the priest represents Jesus Christ
at the Last Supper. The feet of these twelve people are washed by the priest
wearing a simple robe and humbly kneeing down near each one of them and then
presenting them with a hot cross bun. Maundy Thursday is a celebration of unity
and service, which eventually leads to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus
Christ, his final days of passion in this world. The Eucharistic Celebration
stresses on different aspect of Jesus’s life at this single celebration. He
knew who was the one among the 12 disciples who would betray him yet he shows
no sign of anger. Maundy Thursday celebrates the establishment of the institution
of the Holy Eucharist and Priesthood.
Fr Noel Menezes, Manager of Fr Agnel Music School, Porvorim,
explains, “Traditionally, Maundy Thursday is symbolic of the washing of the
feet of the 12 Apostles. When Pope Francis was selected as the Pope, he invited
women to join for the washing of the feet, which broke traditional barriers and
opened up the ceremony for more parishioners. He also washed the feet of prison
inmates and refugees. Goa too has begun giving parishioners the choice of
selecting the 12 members for the washing of the feet. When I was the parish
priest, I asked the parishioners to select 12 members. Among the 12, were three
members who were always opposing me in meetings. At that moment, I realised
what Jesus must have felt to wash the feet of Judas when he knew Judas would
betray him. He still washed and kissed his feet and he did it with love. His
message was genuine and not contorted.” Priests enact the act of washing of the
feet not only to show the church how it was done but to remind people to forget
their pride and forgive others.
Fr Noel adds, “There are many youngsters who are joining the
Confrarias and Fabricas, which are ministries, and people take an oath when the
ministry is conferred on them. During the Holy Week, there is so much happening
in the church, from dressing the altars, to preparing the statues for
processions, which is usually taken care of by the youth. There is a lot of
goodness that comes from our youngsters.”
Johann Conceicao is part of the youth of St Francis Xavier
Church, Pirna and was selected as one of the 12 members for the washing of the
feet. This year, his younger sister, Anna Maria, has been selected. “It is one
of the most important rituals and it shows the humbleness of Jesus Christ. I
have been observing the ritual for so many years and I was happy to be selected
at a young age,” says Johann.
Maundy
Thursday is a feast as it is a joyous celebration. In the Old Testament, it was
celebrated as the Passover festival in memory of the crossing of the Red Sea.
The blood of a sacrifice marked the doors of the people to purely save them
from sins but in the New Testament, Jesus became the new Lamb and sacrificed
Himself. This was the first occasion when bread turned to flesh and wine turned
to blood of Jesus Christ. It is a joyous occasion as he gave us the blessed
sacrament of the Eucharist.
