April 2, 2026
Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Gospel: John 13:1-15

Today is Holy Thursday. In accordance with the Church’s tradition, in the evening, priests return to their parishes to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper for the faithful entrusted to their care, imitating the Good Shepherd, Christ, by washing the feet of the parishioners.
The Gospel reading for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is taken from St. John’s account of Jesus’ dialogue with His disciples and His washing of their feet during the Paschal supper. I would like to offer some reflections here.
When we first read this passage, it can be hard to accept. In our eyes, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Most High Son of God. Yet today, He washes the feet of His own disciples. What great love! The Creator washing the feet of the creature! Even more astonishing is Peter’s response: “You will never wash my feet!”

The merciful Lord Jesus, before His passion, left His disciples at the Last Supper not only with His Body and Blood—as He said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me… This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in memory of me”—but also with the commandment of love. As He said, “I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” This is the command Jesus gives to all of us: to love one another.
On this first day of the Triduum Sacrum, let us unite in prayer to God:

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, God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica