Thursday, April 2nd, 7:30 PM in St. Raphael Church

The first celebration of the Triduum is the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.  This Mass celebrates the last meal Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles and disciples before his death.  (cf. Paul the Apostle recounted in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, as well as the synoptic Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke)
 
After the homily on Holy Thursday, we imitate our master in the washing of feet.  This ritual reminds us that our baptismal commitment means we are to be servants of one another.  In the time of St. Ambrose in Milan, those who were baptized also had their feet washed, because of Jesus’ words to Peter: “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed” (Jn 13:10).  Many scholars have seen a baptismal reference in those words.
 
Per se, the Mass does not end.  There is no dismissal or final blessing.  The evening’s celebration concludes with a “stripping of the altar” in which not only are all decorations removed, the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the tabernacle on the main altar and processed to an altar of repose outside the main body of the church.  The sanctuary candle or paschal candle is extinguished or darkened, and not relit until the Easter Vigil.  Eucharistic Adoration is common after the Holy Thursday Mass and continuing until midnight.  It is reminiscent of waiting with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
 
Also in Roman Catholicism, images of saints may be veiled until the Easter Vigil.  Votive lights before these images are not lit.  Crucifixes that are movable are hidden, while those that are not movable are veiled until the Easter Vigil.