Holy Thursday

 

We will not be looking at the Chrism Mass. The Chrism mass takes place on Holy Thursday, altough in most places, it takes place earlier. Like in our Diocese it was held on Monday. I wanted to go to the mass, but, someday I will attend. But I don't know much about the service. Plus you did not click on this one to read about the Chrism Mass. This is all about the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. Which, by the way, in the Post Concilliar Liturgy, anyone who attends the mass is not bound to pray Evening Prayer.

The Evening Mass is very similiar to a regular mass. It starts as normal, the procession, the readings, the homily. Than after the Homily they have the Washing of feet, or the Maundy. Maundy comes from the Latin meaning Mandate. This comes from the fact that Christ mandated this to his Apostles. In the pre '54 liturgy, the Maundy took place out of the mass, but was added into the liturgy in the '62 missal.

The Evening Mass continues as normal, with the Canon having a few additions. Holy Thursday is the Institution of the Eucharist, so this mass is very special. 

After this, at the conclusion of mass, a ciborium is brought in procession to an altar of repose for prayer.

The Hosts consecrated at this mass will be used in the service tommorow.

At our parish, the additional hosts are kept in the Sacristy, in a locked cabinet with a candle. The first year I served, we kept them in the Confessional room. And then we would retrieve them on Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. And after the Adoration was over the Ciborium would be movied from the altar of repose to the other hosts.

That's it for today, I don't have much else to say about Holy Thursday!