Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Maundy Thursday?

I had a church member ask me, "Where does the term Maundy Thursday come from?"

Now we as a church don't have a Maundy Thursday Service, although my first church we had one which I though was good.

The term "Maundy Thursday" originated in English Protestant churches. Wikipedia gives this explanation of the word "Maundy"

The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" (A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. The phrase is used as the antiphon sung during the "Mandatum" ceremony of the washing of the feet, which may be held during Mass or at another time as a separate event, during which a priest or bishop (representing Christ) ceremonially washes the feet of others, typically 12 persons chosen as a cross-section of the community.

I hope this helps!

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