The Sacred Paschal Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil is the central liturgical celebration of the Roman Catholic Church. Each day has unique and beautiful liturgies, but they are actually one continuous liturgical celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The liturgy of Thursday of the Lord’s Supper begins like a regular Mass: We gather and we listen to God’s Word. But after the homily, the Gospel comes alive with the Washing of the Feet. The Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist but instead of the usual dismissal after Communion, we pray the ancient and very moving rite of the Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The first reading from Exodus is the story of the first Passover and how the meal is to be celebrated as a commemoration of God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. Notice what the Lord says to Moses and Aaron at the end of his instruction for the Passover:
This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.
Catholics believe the “perpetual institution” of the Passover is fulfilled in the holy Eucharist that was first celebrated by Jesus at his last Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he died. 1 Corinthians 11, proclaimed as today’s Second Reading, is the first Scriptural account of the Last Supper, pre-dating the gospel accounts by several years. We pray those words of institution at the Eucharistic Prayer of every Mass, so they are very familiar to us.
It is interesting to note that of the four gospels, only John does not have an account of the institution of the Eucharist. Evidently, the institution narrative was already well known to John’s community and celebrated regularly by them. Instead, the evangelist showcases the Lord’s teaching on how a disciple puts the Eucharist into action. To the utter shock and amazement of the apostles, Jesus washes their feet!
Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you also should do.
So once again, Jesus teaches us that our faith is more than an intellectual assent or an individual piety. The Eucharist calls us to love and serve the Lord in the way we love and serve one other.
Holy Thursday Entrance Antiphon We Should Glory in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #85
Because the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil comprise one continuous liturgical celebration, there is only one Entrance Antiphon that opens the entire Triduum: the stirring Galatians 6:14 which begins the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Entrance Chant We Should Glory (Bob Hurd and Ken Canedo)
from We Should Glory
This is a gospel-style setting of the official antiphon text by Bob Hurd and me from our recent collection of the same name. You will find the sheet music in the link above. The people can sing the text from the Holy Thursday page in any OCP missal.
Responsorial Psalm Our Blessing Cup Is a Communion with the Blood of Christ (Chris Muglia)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 152
Tonight’s Responsorial Psalm from Psalm 116 is unique because the Response is not from the psalm text but from the New Testament, namely 1 Corinthians 10:16.
Gospel Acclamation Praise and Honor: Mass of Restoration (Josh Blakesley and Leland G. “Grae” McCullough, IV)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 154
Tonight’s Acclamation Verse is based on Jesus’ teaching after the Washing of the Feet.
Washing of the Feet As I Have Done for You (Dan Schutte)
Breaking Bread #150
Dan Schutte’s Holy Thursday anthem has become a tradition in many parishes where the various choirs come together at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Spirit & Song #259; Breaking Bread #354
Bob Hurd’s paraphrase of the text of the prescribed Offertory Chant is the most familiar and accessible for many communities. In addition to the Latin and English text, the verses are also available in Spanish and Vietnamese.
Holy Thursday Communion Antiphon This Is the Body that Will Be Given Up for You (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #86
This text from tonight’s Second Reading from 1 Corinthians 11 is ideally sung several times so the community might interiorize this divine teaching.
Communion Chant Bread of Angels (Curtis Stephan)
Breaking Bread #376
Curtis Stephan’s beautiful song is contemporary, but it hearkens back to traditional text and themes from Cesar Franck’s classic “Panis Angelicus.”
Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament Adoration (Traditional; arr. Matt Maher)
Spirit & Song #117; Never Too Young #236
“Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi” is the traditional chant to sing during the Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Matt Maher’s setting of the final verses of that chant is an option for communities who lean toward contemporary music. The melody is based on the classic benediction hymn.
Depart in Silence
There is no final Sending song because this liturgy continues on Good Friday. Instead, our community is encouraged to spend time in prayer with our Eucharistic Lord at the chapel or altar of reposition.
Liturgy Blog is a weekly liturgy planning resource for musicians, liturgists, homilists, youth groups, faith sharing groups, and all who look to the liturgical readings for inspiration and nourishment. Join Ken Canedo as he breaks open the Scripture and suggests tracks from the Spirit & Song contemporary repertoire.
If you want to use songs that are not in any of the books you have, you can license the songs through ONE LICENSE. Paying for the usage of songs will ensure the Church will have quality songs for years to come.