Understanding the Day
Season
Passiontide
Week
Week 2 of Passiontide
Rank
Weekday
Holy Thursday (Feria V in Cena Domini) falls within Passiontide, the final days of Lent when the Church focuses on Christ’s suffering and the events leading to his death and resurrection. As a “Greater Privileged Feria,” this weekday celebration has a higher liturgical importance than ordinary weekdays: the Mass and liturgy are treated with greater solemnity, and specific rites mark the day’s unique character. Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus gave the Eucharist and washed his disciples’ feet, initiating the priesthood and the sacrament of Holy Communion. There is no octave or vigil attached in this entry, but the day is closely linked to the unfolding of the Paschal Triduum (the three-day Paschal celebration culminating in Easter).
Daily Prayer
The Introit for this day has not yet been generated.
Weekly Prayer
Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.
Weekly Formation
Beatitude 5
The Beatitudes
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
The merciful recognize another’s misery and act to relieve needs of body or soul. Their mercy imitates God’s compassion and disposes them to receive mercy from Him, without making mercy contrary to truth or justice.
Saint & Feast
Principal celebrationCalendar title
Holy Thursday
A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.
Customs & Fasting
Traditional fast
Traditional Lenten fast.
Today in Church History
No Church history reflection has been prepared for this date yet.
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
At the heart of Christian faith is Christ’s unique sacrifice: the Paschal sacrifice that brings definitive redemption and restores us to communion with God. Jesus freely offered his life in love and obedience to the Father, fulfilling the mission of the suffering Servant, atoning for our sins, and making many righteous. His sacrifice is the source of eternal salvation, for he died for all and loved us “to the end.” As we reflect together, we can remember that salvation begins with God’s loving initiative, revealed in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Jesus also calls his disciples to take up their cross and follow him, inviting them to share, in the way known to God, in the mystery of his Paschal sacrifice.
These paragraphs invite us to marvel at the deep communion Jesus gives his disciples. From the beginning, he shared his life, mission, joy, and sufferings with them, and he promised to remain with them by sending the Holy Spirit. Through Baptism and the Eucharist, believers are united with Christ in a hidden and real way and are drawn into communion with him and with one another as members of his Body, the Church. In this one Body, Christ is the head, and the many members retain their different gifts and functions for the welfare of the Church. United in Christ, we are called to share one another’s sufferings and joys with charity, remembering that all who are baptized into Christ are one in him.
In the Catechism, we learn that Christ is the head of the Church, his Body, and that he is preeminent in her. He unites his members with his Passover, calling them to strive to resemble him until Christ is formed in them, sharing in his sufferings so as to share in his glory. Christ also provides gifts and assistance within the Church so that we may help one another on the way of salvation. Together, Christ and the Church are called the “whole Christ,” united as head and members while remaining distinct in a personal relationship. The Church is presented as Christ’s bride, loved by him, joined to him in an everlasting covenant, and continually cared for by him.