Holy Thursday Covenant Thursday Great and Holy Thursday Thursday of Mysteries Shere from the word shere (meaning "clean" or "bright") or Sheer Thursday
It is the fifth day ofHoly Week, preceded byHoly Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) and followed byGood Friday.[2] "Maundy" comes from the Latin wordmandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment."[3] The date of the day will vary according to whether theGregorian calendar or theJulian calendar is used. Eastern churches generally use the Julian system.
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 theCatholic Church in England and Wales.[5]
TheBook of Common Prayer of theChurch of England, which is the mother Church of theAnglican Communion, uses the name "Maundy Thursday" for this observance.[6] The corresponding publication of theUSEpiscopal 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 forAscension Day.[6][8][9]
TheRoman Rite of theCatholic Church uses the name "Holy Thursday" in its modern English-language liturgical books.[5] The Latin books use the nameFeria quinta in Cena Domini ("Thursday of the Supper of the Lord"; themedieval spellingCœna was used in place ofCena in documents predating the 1955 decreeMaxima redemptionis), along with Maundy Thursday as the English name, as given inThe Saint Andrew Daily Missal.[10] Thepersonal ordinariates in the Catholic Church, which have an Anglican patrimony, retain the traditional English term "Maundy Thursday", however.[11] An article in the 1911Catholic Encyclopedia used the term "Maundy Thursday",[12] and some Catholic writers use the same term either primarily,[13] or alternatively.[14]
"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 asShere Thursday (also spelledSheer Thursday), from the wordshere (meaning "clean" or "bright").[42] This name might refer to the act of cleaning, or to the fact that churches would switchliturgical colors from the dark tones ofLent, 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 Danishskærtorsdag, Swedishskärtorsdag, Norwegianskjærtorsdag, Faroeseskírhósdagur andskírisdagur, Icelandicskírdagur, and Finnishkiirastorstai.
The day is often called "Easter Thursday" in Australia.[45][46]
Maundy is the name of the Christian rite of footwashing,[47] which traditionally occurs during Maundy Thursday church services.[47]
The English wordmaundy in the name for the day is derived throughMiddle English andOld Frenchmandé, from theLatinmandatum (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 inchapter 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 theantiphon sung in theRoman 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 theRoman Missal had been revised to allow women to participate as part of the 12 in the Mandatum. Previously, only males partook of the rite.[48]
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 Latinmendicare, and Frenchmendier, to beg.[49]
A source from the Shepherd of the Springs, Lutheran Church likewise states that, if the name was derived from the Latinmandatum, we would call the day Mandy Thursday, or Mandate Thursday, or even Mandatum Thursday. The term "Maundy" comes from the Latinmendicare, Old Frenchmendier, and Englishmaund, which as a verb means to beg and as a noun refers to a small basket held out by maunders as they maunded.[50] Other sources reject this etymology.[51]
In theUnited Kingdom, theRoyal Maundy service involves theMonarch offering "alms" to deserving senior citizens – one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age.[54] These coins, known asMaundy money or Royal Maundy, are distributed in red and white purses, and is a custom dating back toKing 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 outMaundy coins,[55] 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 inNorthern Ireland atArmagh Cathedral. Until the death of KingJames II, theMonarch would also wash the feet of the selected poor people. There is an old sketch, done from life, of QueenElizabeth I washing people's feet on Maundy Thursday.[citation needed]
With Maundy Thursday commemorating theLast Supper, Christian denominations who observe this day universally celebrate thesacrament ofHoly Communion, which they teach was instituted by Jesus on this night.[61] In the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and in certain Anglican congregations, theMass of the Lord's Supper begins as usual, but theGloria is accompanied by the ringing ofchurch bells, which are then silent until theEaster Vigil.[62][63] After the homily the washing of feet may be performed. TheBlessed Sacrament remains exposed, at least in the Catholic Mass, until the service concludes with aprocession taking it to theplace 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, theRoman Missal of the Catholic Church envisages this being done ceremonially, to the accompaniment ofPsalms 21–22,[64][65] a practice which continues in the Lutheran churches and Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholicchurchmanship.[66] In otherChristian denominations, such as the Methodist Churches, the stripping of the altar and other items on thechancel also occurs, as a preparation for the somberGood Friday service.[67] The stripping of the altar represents "the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion."[66]
The Chrism Mass is a religious service held in Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism.[68][69]
Maundy Thursday is notable for being the day on which the Chrism Mass is celebrated in eachdiocese. Usually held in the diocesancathedral, it is generally held on the morning of Maundy Thursday, but may in some dioceses take place on another day during Holy Week.[70] The Mass is a celebration of the institution of the priesthood.[68][71]
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.[72][73] The Mass takes its name from the blessing of theholy oils used in the sacraments throughout the year, which are then given to priests to take back to their parishes.[74]
The service is a 1967 restoration of the rite recorded in the early 200s by the historianHippolytus 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 ritePope 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."[75]
The oil of the catechumens and chrism are used on the upcomingHoly Saturday at theEaster Vigil, for thebaptism andconfirmation 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.[72]
With respect to Anglicanism, the 1979Book 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.[69]
In the Roman Catholic Church, plenaryindulgence is obtained in the following cases:[77]
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 hymnTantum ergo.
If it is adored the solemnly reserved Blessed Sacrament for a half hour.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of ThyMystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss likeJudas. But like theThief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in ThyKingdom.[78]
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 thehangings andvestments 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 theTwelve 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:
In Greek practice, theMystery ofUnction is performed onGreat Wednesday as preparation for the reception of Holy Communion on Great Thursday and Pascha, a custom that originated when Greece was underOttoman 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 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]
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (Armenian Apostolic Church) washing the feet of children during the Washing of Feet ceremonyBlessing ChrismPesaha appam (unleavened bread) and Pesaha milk made during Maundy Thursday bySaint Thomas Christians ofKerala,India.
If statues and crucifixes have been covered duringPassiontide (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 popularGerman nameGründonnerstag means either "mourning Thursday" or "green Thursday".[79]
In theCzech Republic andSlovakia the day is calledZelený čtvrtek orZelený 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 thechurch bells untilHoly Saturday, here called "White Saturday", because "they have flown toRome" (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 inLuxembourg: 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.[80]
InMalta, Holy Thursday is known asĦamis ix-Xirka (Communion Thursday) and the tradition ofvisiting seven churches (see below) is calledis-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)).[81]
InSweden 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.
InBulgaria Maundy Thursday is calledVeliki Chetvurtuk (Great Thursday), and is traditionally the day when people color their Easter eggs and perform other household chores geared toward preparing forRazpeti Petuk (Crucifixion Friday),Velika Subota (Great Saturday) andVelikden (Easter Day).
InKerala the day is called asPesaha (പെസഹ), aMalayalam word derived from the Aramaic or Syriac word "Peshai" meaningPassover . Maundy Thursday and following Good Friday are observed as statewide public holiday declared by theGovernment of Kerala, given the high number ofSyrian Christians in the state.[82] The tradition of consumingPesaha appam orIndariyappam is customary after special longerHoly Qurbana, which are conducted on the or at midnight till morning in churches ofSaint 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 callPesaha 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.[83] 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 commemoratingJesus washing the feet of his disciples symbolizing humbleness.
In thePhilippines, the day is officially known asHuwebes Santo (phonetic transliteration of Jueves Santo in Spanish, Holy Thursday) or "Maundy Thursday". Most businesses are closed during theEaster 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.
The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating inRome.[87] and occurs among the faithful in countries around the world.
InIndia, the custom is to visit fourteen churches, one perStation 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, customarilyfasting for the duration of the rite. It is also undertaken by parish devotional groups.
In thePhilippines the tradition is calledVisita Iglesia (Spanish, "church visit") – people visit churches to pray, usually reciting theStations of the Cross. It is a chiefly urban custom, as churches are located closer to each other incities, and supposedly because it originates in visiting the seven churches ofIntramuros that stood until the 1945Bombing of Manila.[88]The original purpose of the ritual was to venerate theBlessed Sacrament in theAltar of Repose on Maundy Thursday night, but since no prayers were prescribed (apart from those for thePope), the Stations of the Cross were recited.
InSingapore, the visiting of churches occurs shortly after the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. Prayers at each church consist of seven repetitions of theLord's Prayer,Ave Maria, and theGloria 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 traditionalkueh ko chee. Observant Catholics have a 'Last Supper' meal in anticipation of the next day's fast.
^Akin, Jimmy (27 March 2013)."10 things you need to know about Holy Thursday".National Catholic Register. Retrieved5 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.
^ab"Calendar". Suydam Street Reformed Church. Archived fromthe original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved11 April 2009.
^The Presbyterian Handbook.Geneva Press. 2006. p. 75.ISBN9780664502881. Retrieved1 April 2012.These days (approximately three 24-hour periods) begin on Maundy Thursday evening and conclude on Easter evening. On Maundy Thursday we hear the story of Jesus' last meal with his disciples and his act of service and love in washing their feet.
^Charles Dickens (1889).Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.Sine nomine. Retrieved22 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.'
^"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 fromthe original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved5 March 2008.).
^abPeter C. Bower.The Companion to the Book of Common Worship.Geneva Press.Maundy Thursday (orle mandé; Thursday of theMandatum, 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 termmandatum (maundy), therefore, was applied to the rite of foot-washing on this day.
^Bower, Peter C. (2003).The Companion to the Book of Common Worship.Geneva Press.ISBN9780664502324. Retrieved11 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.
^Windsor, Gwyneth; Hughes, John (1990).Worship and Festivals.Heinemann.ISBN9780435302733. Retrieved11 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 traditionalSeder meal, eaten that evening by the Jews everywhere.
^Stamm, Mark (2015).Devoting Ourselves to the Prayers: A Baptismal Theology for the Church's Intercessory Work. Upper Room Books.ISBN978-0-88177-714-7.
^abElwell, Walter A. (2001).Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Baker Academic. p. 750.ISBN978-0-8010-2075-9.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.
^ab"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.
^abHow 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).
^abJalbert, Jason."Chrism Mass".Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire).
^"Chrism Mass".Cathedral of St. Mary's, Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. 4 April 2017. Archived fromthe original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved13 April 2017.
^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 fromOld High Germangrīnan ("mourn" or "wail", cf. Engl.groan), referring to the passion of Jesus Christ or thepenitents' return to theEucharist on this day in olden times (Küppers, K. (2003).Gründonnerstag. Vol. IV. Munich: DTV.{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help).
^Spicer, Dorothy Gladys (1958).Festivals of Western Europe.
^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.ISBN978-5-7133-1380-7.
