Maundy Thursday

This evening after sunset we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the night that Jesus gave us his Body and Blood in the mass. On this night he also washed his disciple's feet, gave a new commandment of love and then was betrayed by his friend Judas.

Just before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed in agony to his Father. His friends fell asleep and left him alone. He asked in vain why they could not have watched with him even one hour.

And so at the end of mass we will take Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament to a garden altar in the Lady Chapel, to begin a watch of silent prayer until 10pm. At the end of the Watch we will take him away, just as the soldiers came to arrest him on that first Maundy Thursday.

Please stay for a while in the darkness to pray on this Holy Night as the church is slowly stripped of its decorations to symbolise the stripping of Christ's body before his execution.

I look forward to seeing you at 8pm tonight.