Thursday of the Lord’s Supper:

A Server’s Guide

Introduction:

The Mass of the Thursday of the Lord’s Supper is the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum; the most solemn time of the Church’s year. This Mass, more than any other, recalls the actions of Jesus in his final hours with his disciples, when he washes their feet as a model of service and institutes the Blessed Sacrament, as both a memorial of him and to leave them with a spiritual sustenance.

The Mass has four parts:

The Liturgy of the Word

This part of the mass is very similar to a Sunday Mass. The first reading gives us the scriptural basis for Jesus to have gathered with his disciples that night – the origins of the Jewish Festival of Passover. The second reading gives us an account by St Paul of the memorial which Jesus left us, whilst the Gospel is St John’s* account of that important night.

*it is worth noting that there is much discussion over whether this gospel was written by St John himself, or by a community who followed him. Either way this Gospel shows a deeper consideration of Jesus’ actions that the other, synoptic, Gospels.

The Washing of Feet

In this part of the liturgy the priest re-enacts Jesus’ washing of his disciples feet at the last supper. This would have been a job traditionally assigned to servants, as peoples’ feet would have been very dusty – roads were little more than packed dirt and nearly everyone wore sandals. In doing this Jesus gave us a model of service which every Christian should try to emulate.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

This part of the Mass is almost identical to a ‘normal’ mass. However the memorial of the Holy Mass takes on an added significance on the night that we recall the very first Eucharistic Celebration.

The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament

This unusual part of the mass represents Jesus’ going out with his disciples, knowing that he will soon be taken and killed. The period of adoration that is traditional at the Altar of Repose is symbolic of us wanting to be with Jesus in those difficult hours in the Garden of Gethsemene.

Contents:

Part One: The Liturgy of the Word

Part Two: The Washing of Feet

Part Three: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Part Four: The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament

After Mass

Glossary

Notes:

This booklet has been prepared for those of all ages serving at the Mass of the Thursday of The Lord’s Supper.

It is hoped that it will be of particular use to the server acting as MC during the Mass, but all servers will be able to find their respective roles.

The booklet assumes that those reading it have some experience serving at regular masses, but also includes a glossary of terms a server should be familiar with.

Part One: The Liturgy of the Word

With the exception of the Gloria, the beginning of Mass and Liturgy of the Word are as a normal Sunday Mass; that is:

Entrance Procession Sign of the Cross and Greeting Penitential Act Kyrie Gloria First Reading Responsorial Psalm Second Reading Gospel Acclamation and Gospel Homily

At the Gloria the altar bells and church bells are rung continuously; they will not be rung again until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil.

Part Two: The Washing of Feet

The Washing of Feet will vary from parish to parish, but will always involve a number of men having their feet washed by the priest celebrant. The role of the altar servers here is to ensure that appropriate preparations have been made. Particularly:

Do chairs need to be brought for those having their feet washed? Is there a bowl and jug of warmed water available? Are there enough small towels for drying feet? Will the priest remove his chasuble? Where will it be put? Does the priest need help moving the bowl/jug/towels from person to person?

After the Washing of Feet the priest directs the Universal Prayer.

The creed is not said.

Part Three: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds as normal, except that the altar bells are not rung during the Eucharistic Prayer or Communion Rite. A thurible may be used as normal.

It is usual for the priest celebrant to use the Roman Canon (the First Eucharistic Prayer) and there is a special form for part of this prayer in the Proper for the Mass. If a server prepares the altar missal then this should be marked ready for the priest to use.

After communion, the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved in the tabernacle, but left on the altar in a ciborium.

Part Four: The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament

As soon as they have finished their private prayers after receiving communion the thurifer and boat-bearer should collect the thurible and boat.

Excepting the thurifer, boat-bearer and missal-bearer, all servers should remain kneeling for the Prayer after Communion.

After the Prayer after Communion, the priest will put incense into the thurible and kneel before the Blessed Sacrament to incense it.

A server will then place a white humeral veil around the kneeling priest’s shoulders.

The priest then collects the ciborium.

As the priest collects the ciborium the servers and any other clergy form a procession. The procession should be arranged:

Crucifer Two acolytes with lighted candles Any remaining servers (who should also carry lighted candles) Any other clergy Thurifer Priest with the Blessed Sacrament

The crucifer leads the procession along an arranged route to the Altar of Repose. There all kneel and the priest places the ciborium in a tabernacle on the altar, leaving the door open. He then kneels in front of the altar, puts incense into the thurible and incenses the Blessed Sacrament again.

The final two verses of the Pange Lingua are sung (the Tantum Ergo).

The priest may then close the door to the tabernacle, or leave it open if adoration is to continue into the night.

After a period of adoration in silence the procession stands, genuflects and continues on to the sacristy.

After Mass:

After Mass, the sanctuary, and particularly the altar should be stripped so as to appear as bare as possible.

Any sanctuary lamps should be put out and any veils removed from the tabernacle.

The altar cloths should be removed and stored in the sacristy.

Any crosses should be removed from the church or, if this is not possible, veiled in a similar way to the statues which have remained veiled for passiontide.

As examples to the congregation even after Mass, servers should be mindful that there is no need to genuflect towards a now empty tabernacle, but the high altar should be bowed to as normal, even when bare. Also, wherever the Blessed Sacrament has been placed should now be reverenced with a genuflection.

Adoration may continue through the night, but at midnight any candles on the altar of reposed should be extinguished. Adoration must end before dawn of Good Friday.

Glossary:

Term Meaning

Acolyte(s)Originally one of the minor orders of the Church, and still an instituted ministry. However this booklet uses the common usage of the word to

describe a server who carries a candle.

Ambo The place(s) in the church at which readings (including the gospel) are read and homilies preached.

Altar Bell(s) The small bell(s) rung by a server at different parts of the mass.Altar Candles The candles placed onto or immediately beside the altar.Aspergillum The device used by a member of the clergy to sprinkle holy water.Aspersorium The small bucket-like object sometimes used with an aspergillum.

Baptismal Font The large container for holy water at which people are baptised.

Boat The small container for incense to be used with the thurible. It should always contain a small spoon.

Boat-bearer The server who carries the boat.

Book In this booklet this term is used to describe any book containing a text which is reverenced with incense before using.

Cantor(s) A lay person who sings or leads the singing of different parts of the mass (such as the psalms and the Litany of the Saints).

[The] Chair The seat used by the priest celebrant.Clergy Any ordained men - bishops, priests and deacons.

Collect Commonly known as the 'opening prayer'. Comes immediately after the Gloria, or the Kyrie if there is no Gloria.

CommunionIn this booklet this term is used to describe the part of mass during which the congregation come to the sanctuary to receive the Body (and Blood)

of Christ.

Congregation In this booklet this term is used to describe everyone except the clergy and servers.

Crucifer The server who carries the processional cross.Deacon Any man ordained to the diaconate.

Easter Proclamation The solemn hymn of praise recounting the mysteries of Easter.

Elevation(s)The points in the mass at which the priest celebrant raises the

consecrated Body and Blood of Christ above his head for all to see. The altar bell(s) are rung at both points.

EpiclesisThe point in the mass at which the priest invokes the holy spirit to come

upon the gifts. Notable by his outstretched hands over the gifts. The altar bell(s) are rung at this point.

Exsultet Another name for the Easter Proclamation, taken from the first word of the hymn in Latin.

Gifts The bread and wine brought to the sanctuary at the offertory.

Gospel Acclamation Comes immediately before the gospel. It is omitted at the Easter Vigil as the psalm before the gospel fulfils the same role of acclamation.

Incense GrainsThe five tiny pieces of incense, usually contained in metal pins, which are placed into the paschal candle. Not to be confused with the incense in the

boat.

Lavabo Towel The towel used by the priest to dry his hands after washing them during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Lector(s)Originally one of the minor orders of the Church, and still an instituted ministry. However this booklet uses the common usage of the word to

describe a lay reader.

Litany of the Saints A responsorial prayer which asks God and all those in heaven to intercede for us.

Missal The large book containing the prayers to be used at each mass throughout the year.

Missal-bearer The server who carries the missal.

Oil of Catechumens An oil used to anoint a person about to be baptised, to strengthen them in the struggle against sin.

Oil of ChrismAn oil used, among other things, to anoint a child who has just been

baptised or a person who is being confirmed. It is symbolic of our covenants (agreements) with God.

Paschal Candle A symbol of the eternal presence of Christ as light of the world. Prepared for the year at the Easter Vigil.

Priest Any man ordained to the presbyterate.Priest Celebrant The priest who is leading the mass.

Sacristy The rooms in which the priests and servers vest and prepare for mass.

Sanctuary The holiest part of a church. It contains the altar and usually the tabernacle.

Server(s) Any lay person who assists the clergy at mass.Solemn Blessing A specified blessing from the missal to be given at certain masses.

Stylus A sharp implement used to carve into the wax of the paschal candle.Thurible A container on a chain used to burn incense at various liturgies.Thurifer The server who carries the thurible.

Universal Prayer Commonly known as the 'bidding prayers'. Comes immediately before the offertory.