Washing of Feet

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum, the period which commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

On this day, we celebrate:

• The institution of the Priesthood
  The Washing of the Feet at the Mass of the Last Supper.

• The institution of the Eucharist
  At the Mass of the Last Supper.

• The institution of love as Sacred Service
  At the Washing of the Feet.

The Washing of the Feet

The Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday has at its centre the Rite of the Washing of the Feet in the Gospel of John which stands in place of the Last Supper.

This Rite operates on two levels of meaning:

• On the first level it marks how Jesus came to serve and not be served and so must his disciples;

• On the second level, it is a rite that mirrors the washing of the Jewish priests who entered the Holy of Holies

Our Lord is revealing in this act that the Apostles are being washed and called to be Our Lord’s priests, a Priesthood of the New Covenant and the New Passover as Jesus will be the High Priest, the Victim and the Altar on Good Friday.

It is for these reasons that Fr Bernard will wash the feet of twelve men in imitation of Christ as we commemorate the institution of the Priesthood, the institution of the Eucharist and the call to Sacred Service by Our Lord at the Last Supper.

Please complete the Sign-Up Sheet below to be one of the twelve men
(over 18 years old) for the Washing of the Feet.

Sign-up Sheet - Washing of Feet

When Peter protested that Jesus was about to wash his feet, Christ admonished,
"Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."