Anno Domini 2025, Maunday Thursday (April 17)
Beloved of the Lord:
Today is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of the Great Triduum of Holy Mother, the Church. It is also 17 April, in the year of our Lord 2025. The services are as-follows:
The Thursday of the Lord's Supper, Commonly Called Maundy Thursday (today): 6:30 PM, Mass of the day, with the S. Luke Passion; the Procession to the Altar of Repose; the Stripping of the High Altar; the Maundy (foot-washing); Tenebrae of Good Friday.
Good Friday: 12:10 PM (Noon), Mass of the Catechumens with the S. John Passion; the Solemn Collects; The Veneration of the Cross; The Mass of the Presanctified; silence in the Church until 3:00 PM for prayer and reflection.
The Holy Sabbath of Holy Week, Commonly Called Holy Saturday or Easter Even: 8:00 PM, opening Scriptural readings; the Blessing of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle; The Prophecies (of the Sarum usage); the Blessing of the Baptismal Font; the Mass of Easter Even, being the First Mass of Easter.
The Sunday of the Resurrection, Commonly Called Easter Day: 8:30 AM, the Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer.
10:00 AM, Mass from the Anglican Missal.
Despite the beautiful, sunny skies outside, we begin today the Darkest of Seasons in our Christian year, the holy Triduum, that being the three days prior to the Day of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Today the Altar is stripped, removing all trace of the grace of our Lord from our midst, as the crosses and icons have already been covered. Today, the Clergy, remembering their role as Altar Christus, wash the feet of the assembled laity. Today, we read the Office of Shadows (Tenebrae) as our last act of the day. Reckoning time in the Jewish system, one day ends, and another begins, at sunset, not Midnight, as we conceive of it. Thus, tonight at Sunset begins Good Friday, which is why we will say the Tenebrae for Good Friday. Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday, had we said it, would have been last-night.
Inasmuch as nothing may be Blessed or Consecrated during the holy Triduum, a single Priest's Host is Consecrated on Thursday, for the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday. Only the Priest will Receive on that day, as a reminder that our Lord has died and gone away from us, taking with Him His Grace. On this Darkest of days, we are reminded that we killed Him, the point driven-home by our inability to receive Him, and His salvation.
After the the Liturgy of the day has concluded, the Church is left open, so that anyone who wishes may come and sit silently. This is an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and meditation. The Church is usually closed at Three o'Clock.
Holy Saturday is the culmination of everything that has been said or done throughout Pre Lent, Great Lent, Passiontide, and Holy Week. In simplest form, we are brought out of the Darkness, and into His Light, at every step of the way, in every Ceremony, Rite, and Liturgy of this night. Please join us, this-evening, as we begin the greatest of journeys, the final travel and travails, of the greatest story ever lived. I remain
in His praise,
The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder
Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish