‘Follow Christ’s example’
A Catholic prelate called on the faithful Maundy Thursday to follow Christ’s example of perfect humility and servanthood when He, who was called master and teacher by His followers humbled Himself and washed the feet of His disciples.
In a message, Fr. Nong Realuyo of the Diocese of Legaspi, urged the Catholic faithful to reflect on the Passion of Christ, do a self-examination, and to experience death within ourselves in order to be ready for our spiritual rebirth on Easter Sunday.
“Do not just be spectators this Holy Week. Be one with Christ and strive not to go back to your old ways after this solemn observance.”
Church services today will include a re-enactment of the Washing of the Feet (Pedilavium) in which a priest will wash the feet of 12 people in commemoration of Jesus’s perfect display of humility and servant hood at the start of the Last Supper. Other traditional observances on Maundy Thursday include the Visita Iglesia, a visit to seven churches as a pilgrimage or 14 churches to pray the Way of the Cross with one station in each church, and a visit to the adoration chapel during the hours of adoration from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight after the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church begins its observance of the Paschal Triduum today, a three-day tradition that begins tonight and ends, as it reaches its high point, with the evening prayer at the Easter Vigil on the evening of Black Saturday. Church altars will be stripped while images will be veiled as a more somber attitude prevails. Confession services will be extended to allow more individuals to go to confession.
Maundyâ comes from the Latin word “mandatum” which means command and has reference to the commandment that Jesus taught His apostles during the Last Supper. He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
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