Holy Thursday

No fixed feast day in the calendar

Holy Thursday: the back of the card, with its short story, lesson and a QR code that opens it in the Catholic Information app. The full text is below.

Flip the card and scan the QR code on the back to open it in the app

Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and institutes the Eucharist and the Priesthood

What is this day?

Holy Thursday is the Thursday just before Easter. That evening, the Church celebrates the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which opens the Easter Triduum, the three holiest days of the year. The Church remembers three gifts the Lord gave at his last meal: the Eucharist, the Priesthood, and the commandment to love by serving. During this week, the bishop also celebrates the Chrism Mass with his priests.

The story

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come; “he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13:1). During the meal, he got up, took off his outer garment, tied a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin and washed his disciples’ feet (cf. Jn 13:4-5). In those days, washing guests’ feet was a servant’s job.

When it was Peter’s turn, he said: “You will never wash my feet.” (Jn 13:8). The Lord answered that if he did not wash him, Peter would have no share with him. Hearing this, Peter asked the Lord to wash his hands and his head as well (cf. Jn 13:8-9).

When he had finished, the Lord taught: “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” (Jn 13:14). At that same meal, the Lord took bread and a cup of wine and gave them to his disciples as his Body and Blood (cf. Lk 22:19-20). The card “The Last Supper” tells more about this moment.

Why does the Church celebrate this day?

Because that night the Lord left us himself and the example of service. At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, after the homily, the priest may wash the feet of some of the faithful as the Lord did. At the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to a separate altar, and the faithful stay to adore the Eucharist, keeping watch with the Lord as he asked his disciples to keep watch with him (cf. Mt 26:38).

A lesson for you

Do small things to serve others: clear the table, wash the dishes, help a friend, without waiting for anyone to praise you.
Thank God for the Eucharist and pray for priests.
On the evening of Holy Thursday, go to church with your family to spend some time in adoration.

Identifying marks

Jesus kneeling, with a white towel tied around his waist: the Master and Lord does the work of a servant; true love bends down to serve.
Water poured from a jug over Saint Peter’s feet into a stone basin: the Lord washes his disciples clean; he wants our souls to be clean so that we belong to him.
Saint Peter sitting on a stool, both hands raised in amazement: it is hard for us to understand a God so humble, but we must let him serve us first.
A long table with bread and a cup, the apostles sitting around it: this is the Last Supper, where the Lord instituted the Eucharist.

The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.