What Is Maundy Thursday? A Day of Love, Service, and Sacred Memory

As Easter draws near, many Christians around the world pause on the Thursday before to observe a holy and deeply moving day: Maundy Thursday. It’s a day rich in history, ritual, and spiritual reflection. But where does the name come from? And how do different Christian traditions mark this solemn occasion?

Let’s explore the meaning of Maundy Thursday—and end with a reminder of the simple beauty at its heart.

The Curious Name: What Does "Maundy" Mean?

The term Maundy comes from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning “commandment.” It refers to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, when He told his disciples:

“A new commandment I give you: that you love one another, as I have loved you.”
—John 13:34

This commandment to love is at the center of Maundy Thursday. It’s the night Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, shared his final meal with them, and prepared to face betrayal, suffering, and ultimately, the cross.

Who Uses the Term?

While Maundy Thursday is most commonly used in Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions (particularly Lutheran and Methodist churches), Eastern Orthodox Christians refer to it more simply as Holy Thursday or Great and Holy Thursday.

The terminology might vary, but the sacred meaning is shared: this is the day the Church remembers the Last Supper, Jesus’ example of humility, and his call to love through service.

How Catholics Celebrate Maundy Thursday

In the Roman Catholic tradition, Maundy Thursday is marked by several unique and beautiful rituals:

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in the evening, commemorating the institution of the Eucharist.
A priest (often the bishop or pope in larger settings) washes the feet of 12 people, mirroring Jesus’ act of service to his disciples.
The tabernacle is emptied, and the Eucharist is moved to a place of repose for adoration—a quiet vigil of companionship with Christ in his agony.
The altar is stripped bare, symbolizing the abandonment Jesus would soon face.

How Orthodox Christians Observe It

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Holy Thursday is deeply solemn and majestic:

A Vesperal Divine Liturgy is celebrated, combining the evening prayers with the Eucharist.
The focus is also on the institution of Holy Communion, along with the washing of the disciples’ feet, often re-enacted by bishops in cathedral churches.
In some monasteries, all-night vigils may follow, in prayerful remembrance of Christ’s arrest and trials.

Orthodox liturgy often feels like stepping into timeless mystery—chanted, incense-filled, and rich with scripture.

Protestant Celebrations: A Focus on Communion and Community

Many Protestant churches also observe Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, though practices vary:

Some hold a simple communion service, often more reflective than celebratory, to honor the Last Supper.
Others host Tenebrae services—marked by the gradual extinguishing of candles to symbolize the encroaching darkness of Good Friday.
In many Protestant traditions, foot washing is optional but gaining popularity, especially in communities emphasizing justice, humility, and service.

The unifying thread? A shared desire to reflect deeply on Jesus’ final acts of love.

A Gentle Ending: The Kindness in Our Knees

What’s striking about Maundy Thursday isn’t just its theology—it’s the tenderness in its posture. It’s Jesus on his knees, towel around his waist, looking up into the eyes of his friends. It’s the Son of God, holding dusty feet in his hands and saying, in essence, “This is love.”

In a world that so often chases power and prestige, Maundy Thursday invites us back to something much simpler: service, humility, and human connection.

Whether you observe it with incense and chant, bread and grape juice, or a whispered prayer at bedtime, the spirit of the day remains: Love one another. Wash each other’s feet. Remember.

And maybe tonight, that begins with a phone call to someone you miss. A warm plate of food offered to someone in need. Or just the courage to forgive.

Because love, in its most powerful form, always kneels.

For other posts about Maundy Thursday, click HERE.

Sula (parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, now a pilgrimage site) shares a typical Maundy Thursday at Mission SJB, along with pictures, in her book, Easter at the Mission.

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter
(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)
Check out recent issues.

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?

Check out information on how to submit a proposal.

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.