Last Supper

"This is my body ... this is my blood."

The Liturgical text for these sacred days are a rich source to focus our thoughts and direct our prayer. See below. Additional sources can be found on these links: [... Holy Thursday ...]

THURSDAY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER At the Evening Mass ENTRANCE ANTIPHON          Cf. Gal 6: 14 We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. COLLECT O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. FIRST READING: RESPONSORIAL PSALM: SECOND READING: VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL: GOSPEL: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Psalms 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you. John 13:34 John 13:1-15 The Washing of Feet Meanwhile some of the following antiphons or other appropriate chants are sung. ANTIPHON 1           Cf. Jn 13: 4,5,15 After the Lord had risen from supper, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples: he left them this example. ANTIPHON 2           Cf. Jn 13: 12,13,15 The Lord Jesus, after eating supper with his disciples, washed their feet and said to them: Do you know what I, your Lord and Master, have done for you? I have given you an example, that you should do likewise. ANTIPHON 3           Jn 13: 6,7,8 Lord, are you to wash my feet? Jesus said to him in answer: If I do not wash your feet, you will have no share with me. V. So he came to Simon Peter and Peter said to him: - Lord. V. What I am doing, you do not know for now, but later you will come to know. - Lord. ANTIPHON 4           Cf. Jn 13: 14 If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, how much more should you wash each other's feet? ANTIPHON 5           Jn 13: 35 This is how all will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another. V. Jesus said to his disciples: - This is how. ANTIPHON 6           Jn 13: 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you, says the Lord. ANTIPHON 7           1 Cor 13:13 Let faith, hope and charity, these three, remain among you, but the greatest of these is charity. V. Now faith, hope and charity, these three, remain; but the greatest of these is charity. - Let. The Liturgy of the Eucharist Meanwhile the following, or another appropriate chant, is sung.<BR> Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. By the love of Christ we have been brought together: V. let us find in him our gladness and our pleasure; V. may we love him and revere him, God the living, V. and in love respect each other with sincere hearts. Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. So when we are gathered all together, V. let us strive to keep our minds free of division; V. may there be an end to malice, strife and quarrels, V. and let Christ our God be dwelling here among us. Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. May your face thus be our vision, bright in glory, V. Christ our God, with all the blessed Saints in heaven: V. such delight is pure and faultless, joy unbounded, V. which endures through countless ages world without end. Amen. PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord. PREFACE: V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up to the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For he is the true and eternal Priest, who instituted the pattern of an everlasting sacrifice and was the first to offer himself as the saving Victim, commanding us to make this offering as his memorial. As we eat his flesh that was sacrificed for us, we are made strong, and, as we drink his Blood that was poured out for us, we are washed clean. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . . PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Grant, almighty God, that, just as we are renewed by the Supper of your Son in this present age, so we may enjoy his banquet for all eternity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament