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Holy Thursday Through the Eyes of a Catholic Visionary

Today is Holy Thursday, also known colloquially as “Maundy Thursday,” which begins the Easter Triduum. What does “Maundy” mean? It’s a derivative of the language used in the “new commandment” given by Christ as he washed the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper. “Maundy” comes from “Mandatum” in the expression, “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”).

You might also recognize an English word that finds its origin in “mandatum” – mandate. That’s a word with more than one meaning. As a noun, it means, “an official order or commission to do something” ; but as a verb, it signifies “giving (someone) authority to act in a certain way”. And considering that Christ was speaking to the apostles, His bishops, on the very night he initiated the Catholic priesthood, we can safely take it to mean both things – an order given, and an authority handed on to do the same.

Christ not only taught the apostles to serve, as He Himself served, but also instructed them that night for the first time on the nature of the sacred priesthood and the celebration of the Eucharist.

Praise the Lord

Read the Whole Article at https://onepeterfive.com/