Maundy Thursday

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Liturgical Living into Servant Ministry

THE TRIDUUM

• These three days (Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Holy Saturday) are part of the Easter cycle.
• Triduum: tres + dies = “three days” (Latin)
• Passion Sunday does not take the place of the Triduum.
• Triduum is necessary to Easter, and has a flow of continuity across the three liturgies
• Sometimes, the Wednesday prior to the Triduum is introduced with Tenebrae (see BOS, pp. 64-81) which mirrors monastic prayer leading up to these holy days through the recitation of psalms and the increasing darkness across hours of prayer.

MAUNDY THURSDAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER

LITURGICAL THEMES

• Liturgy invites us in to the narrative of the Last Supper: Jesus as Host; Jesus as Servant; Jesus as Love
• Gathering begins “as is typical” for the Liturgy of the Word
• Footwashing: a disruption into the liturgy, inviting us to see Jesus as Servant
• How are we invited to serve?
• How are we invited to receive?
• How do we approach Holy Eucharist having been disrupted in this way?
• Holy Eucharist celebrated in the context of the Last Supper and Jesus’ proclamation of what we know as the Institution Narrative
• Stripping of the Altar: events are set in motion; betrayal is immanent; this is the pivot point between Lent and Easter.
• [option] Reserving Sacrament and Keeping Vigil

“MAUNDY”

• Old French mandé, from Latin mandatum "commandment"
• r/t modern word, “mandate”
• Etymology references the opening words of the Latin mass propers: Mandatum novum do vobis "A new commandment I give unto you" (see John 13:34-35)
• “The Maundy” were traditionally acts of kindness toward the poor and outcast (liturgical practices of alms and caregiving are of medieval origin; mid-20^th Century liturgical renewal brought footwashing into common liturgical practice)
• Every aspect of this service should invite us into this new commandment: love one another, as I have loved you

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PREPARING TO SERVE

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• This service has a lot of moving parts
• This service is tactile and embodied
• This service has a lot of local custom/tradition (i.e. no “rubric”)
• Para-liturgical activities (“agape meals” etc.)
• Foot washing
• Special alms/collections
• Stripping of the altar
• Reserved Sacrament
• The BCP offers only a few specific rubrics (pp.274-275)
• This liturgy can be deeply prayerful and/or highly performative

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TRAPS TO AVOID

• Blurring Jewish Passover tradition with Christian practice
• Performative re-enactments
• Emotional detachment (this liturgy is a roller-coaster; you will feel it)
• Failing to recognize that discomfort and awkwardness are real and holy
• Focusing on the practical over the spiritual
• Don’t forget to receive (as well as serve) with an open heart

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DIACONAL PRESENCE ON MAUNDY THURSDAY

• Be an icon of servant ministry
• Have everything at hand so that spiritual needs, not practical ones, are the focus
• Invite people to share in the heart of servant ministry
• Break down social conventions to allow the power of Jesus’ love to permeate
• Be additionally attentive to the Prayers of the People (emphasis on the themes of the day, and the new commandment)
• Proclaim the Gospel; Set the Table; Serve and dismiss the people into the new commandment of Love
• Note: this is true even if the dismissal is silent!

SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR DEACONS

FOOTWASHING:

• Have a basin and pitchers ¾ full of water ready several hours before the service to get to room temperature: you can add warm water to each pitcher just before the service (water should not be cold!).
• Have more towels at the ready than you think you will need.
• Give people written and verbal instructions; a great diaconal role is to model both receiving and serving with love, then to be an encouraging and prayerful presence.
• There are anthems (BCP 274-275) typically said or sung during the footwashing. It doesn’t have to be somber but it should be loving.
• Consider having each footwashing exchange end with a hug, handshake or other passing of the peace
• Don’t forget the choir!

STRIPPING THE ALTAR:

• If the altar is stripped, the blessing & dismissal are omitted.
• There may be silence or Psalm 22 may be read
• Remove your liturgical vestments first. This may be harder than you realize.
• This is not a race; this is an act of contrition on a night of betrayal.
• Focus on reverently removing that which relates most to your liturgical role, esp. the Gospel book.
• Be sober, but don’t stifle your emotions; this is emotional labor performed with love.
• Apart from any set aside reserved sacrament for Good Friday, consumption or proper disposition of all consecrated wine/host/bread is customary (Deacons often supervise this)

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RESERVING SACRAMENT

• The sacrament is only reserved if the Good Friday Liturgy is to include Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (there is never “Eucharist” on Good Friday)
• Prepare a separate flagon of wine and sufficient host (usually in a covered ciborium or box) for use on Good Friday; these are consecrated along with the bread and wine for the Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist but remain on the altar (covered) until after the post-communion prayer.
• Reserved Sacrament for Good Friday are removed to a location (a chapel or set aside space for prayer) called an altar or garden of repose. This is often the Deacon’s role.
• This happens before the Stripping of the Altar. It may occur in silence or Hymn 329 (“Now my tongue the mystery telling”) may be sung.
• After the sacrament is placed, return for the stripping of the altar.

KEEPING WATCH/VIGIL

• If the sacrament is reserved and it is the parish’s custom to keep vigil, this often begins with the Deacon reading the account of Jesus’ praying and agony in the garden (Matthew 26:30-46)
• Clergy and laity may all have roles in the vigil watch. Having prayers of the world available, whether the watch is in person or virtual, might be a beautiful diaconal gift to this aspect of the liturgy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING

• Book of Common Prayer (1979) pp. 274-275
• Dennis Michno, A Priest’s Handbook: The Ceremonies of the Church, 3^rd Edition (pp. 184-189)
• J. Neil Alexander, Celebrating Liturgical Time: Days, Weeks and Seasons. (pp. 107-120)
• Book of Occasional Services (2018), pp. 82-85
• Mitchell & Meyers, Praying Shapes Believing (2016 revised edition), pp. 76-78
• Ormand Plater, Deacons in the Liturgy (2^nd Ed, 2009). Chapter 5, “Seasonal Liturgies”
• Patrick Malloy, Celebrating the Eucharist (2007), pp. 77-81