Why Do We Wash Feet on Maundy Thursday?
On Maundy Thursday, the Church kneels. Priests wash parishioners’ feet, and in some communities parishioners wash one another’s. The gesture is not symbolic theater; it is a reenactment of the moment in John 13 when Jesus rises from supper, ties a towel around His waist, and takes the posture of a servant. In a world where feet were dusty and status was everything, He reverses the hierarchy. He kneels before His friends.
The early Church understood this act as three things at once:
- Humility embodied — the Lord takes the lowest place.
- Preparation for communion — a cleansing before receiving His Body and Blood.
- A command to imitate — “I have given you an example,” He says, not a suggestion.
That command is the heart of the day.
What “Maundy” Means
“Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the antiphon sung during the foot washing: Mandatum novum do vobis — “A new commandment I give you.” The name points not to the Last Supper meal itself, but to the command that flows from it: love one another in a way that costs you something.
Holy Thursday remembers the institution of the Eucharist.
Maundy Thursday remembers the command that makes the Eucharist possible.
Where the Term Is Used
Different Christian traditions name the day differently:
- Anglican Communion — “Maundy Thursday” is the standard term in the Church of England and the Episcopal Church.
- Roman Catholic Church — “Holy Thursday” is the official modern term, though “Maundy Thursday” appears in older Catholic usage and in Anglican-use communities.
- Methodist and other Protestant traditions — both names appear, depending on the hymnal or worship book.
- Europe — other names include Gründonnerstag (“Green Thursday”) in German and “Clean Thursday” in older English traditions.
In the U.S., Catholics tend to say Holy Thursday; Anglicans and many Protestants say Maundy Thursday.
The Deeper Thread
Foot washing is not about hygiene. It is about hierarchy undone. It is about the God who kneels. It is about the command that love must be enacted, not admired. And it is about the uncomfortable truth that the Church is most like Christ when it is on its knees, serving someone who did not earn it.
The Walk to the Altar of Repose
After Communion, the liturgy shifts. The priest places the remaining consecrated hosts — the Eucharist that will be received on Good Friday — into a ciborium and begins the procession to the Altar of Repose. In our parish, that altar is not in the main church at all, but in the small chapel tucked into the rose garden. The movement from one space to another makes the moment feel even more like Gethsemane — leaving the familiar room of the Last Supper and stepping into the night.
The people rise and follow behind, and the chant begins:
Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
Sung again and again, it becomes a kind of breath prayer. The repetition slows the steps, softens the voices, and gathers everyone into a single plea. The walk itself becomes prayer — a quiet procession through the darkened church, out the doors, and along the path toward the garden.
When the Eucharist is placed in the tabernacle of the little chapel, the chant fades. Silence takes over. Some kneel. Some sit. Some remain only a few minutes; others stay long into the night. The main church is stripped bare, but here the candles burn steadily. This is the Church keeping watch with Christ in the garden — not with speeches or ceremony, but with presence.
It is one of the most tender moments of the Triduum: the night when the Church follows Him into the darkness, singing His name.
post inspired by Easter at the Mission by Sula, parish cat at Old Mission.
Description
Discover Easter Through the Eyes of a Church Cat!
Join Sula, the now-famous church cat, on a fascinating journey through the meaning and traditions of Easter in her fifth book! With her signature mix of history, Catholic dogma, and humor, Sula explores questions like:
🐾 What is Easter, and why is it called the Paschal Mystery?
🐾 Why do Catholics observe Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week?
🐾 What are the traditions behind Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday?
🐾 How do these events lead to the Easter Vigil and Easter Morning?
Beautifully illustrated by Uliana Yanovich, this engaging book is filled with people-cat pictures, making it a delightful read for cat lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about Easter’s deeper meaning.
🐱📖 Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or just learning about Easter, let Sula be your guide through the traditions, symbols, and spiritual significance of this sacred season!
🔹 Perfect for readers of all ages
🔹 A must-have for Easter book collections
🔹 A fun and insightful gift for cat lovers & faith seekers
Keywords: Easter book for Catholics, What is Easter?, Catholic Easter traditions, Lent and Holy Week explained, Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Why is it called the Paschal Mystery?, Easter books for cat lovers, Sula the Church Cat books, history of Easter in Catholicism
5-Star Review on Readers' Favorite by Rebecca Winer
Easter at the Mission: A Cat's Observation of the Paschal Mystery by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is told in the voice of the cat who lives at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista in California. This is the fifth book about the Mission written by Sula. She roams the chapel, the grounds, the cemetery, and the mission gift shop. Sula is fed and loved by many who come to the Mission and are frequently greeted by her. Sula calls God 'the Boss.' This book concentrates on what Catholics believe about the time from Ash Wednesday through Resurrection Sunday. The Stations of the Cross are explained. The structure of the Mass changes during the time from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday.
My favorite part of Easter at the Mission by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is the humor. I learned some things about history, such as St. Francis trying to peacefully end the Crusades. I found it interesting that for Ash Wednesday the ashes are made by burning the past year’s Palm Sunday branches. I appreciated that people can learn how Easter and Lent are determined on the calendar, which explains why Easter is on a different day each year. The pictures of Sula roaming around the Mission help us understand that it is a real cat, not just a fictional one. I have learned things about the Catholic faith. I especially liked the part where the cat explains to readers about the Stations of the Cross. I think this book would be great for Protestants to read to better understand what Catholics believe.
To listen to the trailer for Easter at the Mission, click HERE.
Listen to the story on KSBW television about Sula HERE.
Watch Sula at home at Old Mission SJB HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Read an interview: Mudpie Interviews Sula
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