At an April 1 Holy Thursday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory commemorated Christ's institution of the Eucharist by calling the sacrament “new for all eternity, the banquet of all His (Jesus’s) love.”
“Whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated, the work of our redemption is accomplished,” Cardinal Gregory said.
Because of social distancing restrictions still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at the cathedral was limited and the liturgy was livestreamed. About 500 people followed the Mass via the Internet, some from as far away as Italy and South Africa.
The readings for the Mass included the story of the Passover in which the Israelites were brought out of bondage in Egypt, Jesus's institution of the Eucharist, and Jesus washing the feet of His apostles.
Traditionally, the cardinal at the Holy Thursday Mass would wash the feet of 12 members of the congregation in memory of Jesus's act of love and service. However, due to the strict social distancing measures that are in effect, the foot washing at the Holy Thursday Mass this year was changed to include only four people.
During the April 1 Holy Thursday Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, Cardinal Gregory washed the feet of four people, including two women. (CS photos/Andrew Biraj)
Last year, just after the onset of the pandemic, Cardinal Gregory celebrated his first Holy Thursday liturgy as archbishop of Washington in a relatively empty cathedral with no foot washing.
During the Mass this year, prayers were offered “for the sick and dying, especially all those suffering from the coronavirus,” and “for all who have died, that they may awaken and arise in the light of Christ.”
In recreating Christ’s washing the feet of His disciples, Cardinal Gregory said he was demonstrating that followers of Jesus are called to serve one another.
Cardinal Gregory preaches his homily at the April 1 Holy Thursday Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)
The cardinal said the washing of the feet during the Holy Thursday Mass is a sign of “renewing our pledge to care for one another in the most sacred and humble tradition of being willing to bend down and wash the feet of our friends and neighbors, our classmates and coworkers, our fellow Catholics, perfect strangers and those whose faith traditions may differ from our own.”
Cardinal Gregory also prayed that the faithful would welcome Christ into their lives and “know Him in the breaking of the bread and in service to our neighbor.”
Holy Thursday marks the end of Lent and begins the sacred Triduum, the holiest three days in the Church calendar. Together with Good Friday and Easter, the three days recall Jesus’s Last Supper, His suffering and death on the cross, and His resurrection.
“With the Church throughout the world we enter now these three sacred days, the Triduum – the Lord’s Paschal suffering and triumph,” Cardinal Gregory noted.
Cardinal Gregory elevates the Eucharist during the consecration at the April 1 Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)
Since the days are counted as the Jews count their days – from sundown to sundown – the Triduum began at dusk on Holy Thursday, includes Good Friday (April 2) and will conclude at dusk on Easter Sunday (April 4).
The Mass concluded with adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The faithful were invited to remain with the Blessed Sacrament in silent veneration prior to the cathedral closing for the evening.
After adoration, the Most Blessed Sacrament was transferred to a side altar where it will remain until Holy Communion is distributed at the Good Friday liturgy. The cathedral’s main altar was stripped in preparation for tomorrow’s solemn Good Friday liturgy.
A woman prays during the April 1 Holy Thursday Mass at Washington's Catholic cathedral. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)
With the conclusion of the Holy Thursday Mass, no Masses will be celebrated until the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 3. A liturgical service will commemorate Good Friday.
A livestream of a reflection on the Lord’s Passion, “The Seven Last Words of Christ” will begin at noon at on Good Friday April 2 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, followed by Cardinal Gregory’s livestreamed Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord at 1 p.m. That liturgy can be streamed at https://youtu.be/laPe5pz99vg
On Holy Saturday April 3, Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a livestreamed Easter Vigil at St. Matthew’s Cathedral at 8 p.m. It will be available online at https://youtu.be/MM7y1qO-G5Y
Then on Easter Sunday April 4, the cardinal will celebrate a livestreamed Mass at the cathedral at 9 a.m. It can be followed online at https://youtu.be/fH2c92c42d8
Later on Easter Sunday, Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a noon Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception that will be televised on the Eternal Word Television Network and livestreamed on the basilica’s YouTube channel that can be linked through the National Shrine’s website at www.nationalshrine.org.
