Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 13: Thousands of devotees observed Maundy Thursday, one of the most important days of the Holy Week marking the culmination of the Lenten season, in churches across the diocese on April 13.
The Eucharistic Mass was offered by Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza at Rosario Cathedral in the evening.
As per the ritual, the bishop and the priests washed the feet of the disciples, denoting humility. The ritual is based on the practice of Jesus Christ washing the apostles' feet.
In his homily, the bishop said “Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to show how humble he was. He was born as a humble child and he maintained his humility till the end. He showed us that King of people should not just command, but needs to be humble. This is the best example of how much simple a Master can be. This is a new sacrament of love. We are the disciples of Jesus. Hence we need to emulate him by doing what he did. Pride will take us nowhere, but humility and love will.”
Maundy Thursday signifies the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The day is followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday denoting Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Fr J B Crasta, Fr Paul Sebastian D'Souza, Fr Vincent D'Souza and Fr Rocky Fernandes were present among priests.
Perpetual Last Supper
By John B Monteiro
The 40-day Lenten season for Christians, started on March 1 this year, is moving towards its end with Easter Sunday on April 16, the end of Holy week which started with Palm Sunday on April 9. Three more significant events left of the Holy Week are Maundy Thursday (April 13), Good Friday (April 14) and Easter.
Last Supper takes place on Maundy Thursday. It is known for the institution of Holy Eucharist (Christa-Prasad) and the priesthood of the church. When the time came for observing the Passover, the annual feast of the Jews, the disciples went to Jesus to ask where they should prepare for him to eat the Passover. He told them, “Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘the Teacher says, where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us”. Accordingly, the disciples prepared the Passover.
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take; this is my body”. And he took a cup (of wine), and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank of it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many”. He added, “Do this in remembrance of me” The Holy Eucharist celebrated daily by the priest, wherein bread and wine are believed to be transformed into the body and blood of Christ, is based on this action and command at the Last Supper.
A second aspect of Maundy Thursday is the washing of feet of the disciples by Jesus – an outstanding instance of leading by example. At the Last Supper, Jesus rose, laid aside his outer garments and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and wiped them with the towel.
When Jesus finished washing the feet of his disciples, put on his garments and resumed his place, he said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you”.