April 2nd - Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is a moveable feast.  The date is determined by lunar calendar. It has several different names:

• Holy Thursday
• Covenant Thursday
• Shere Thursday
• Thursday of Mysteries

Maundy is taken from the Latin word mandatum and translates roughly as washing of the feet.  The feast day commemorates Christ's last supper or passover.  It is also the commemoration of the creation of the Eucharist.


John 13:3-11

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered, "unless I was you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"  Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only wash their feet; their whole body is clean.  And you are clean, though not every one of you."

During the Middle Ages the day was celebrated with a Tenebrae service at midnight.  Churches were lit by a single candle stand called a hearse.  The hearse held 15 candles in a point /\.  Verses from Psalms, Lamentations and Jeremiah would be chanted and after each a candle would be extinguished until only the top candle remained representing Christ's light in the world. This candle was moved beneath the altar making the church nearly completely dark.  At this point the priests would create a loud noise which represented the earthquake that occurred after the crucifixion. Then the candle was brought out again signifying Christ's resurrection.