April 4, 2012. (Romereports) On
Holy Thursday the Catholic Church remembers
the first Mass ever celebrated: the Last Supper. With it begins Easter Triduum, three days that celebrate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
In the morning
Chrism Mass is celebrated and it's usually presided over in a cathedral by the bishop of each diocese. It's called Chrism because of the oils that are blessed and used throughout the year in the
Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
On the evening of Holy Thursday,
the Eucharist and priesthood are both celebrated. In this ceremony,
a priest washes the feet of several people in remembrance of the act performed by Jesus with the 12 apostles.
After this Mass,
the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a prepared location for the day called
'monument'. In some countries there is a tradition of making turns praying all night to be by the side of Jesus on the eve of his death.
OFL/AE
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