Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: A Sacred Beginning to the Triduum

The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday marks a profound moment in the Church’s liturgical life. As the final liturgy of Lent and the first of the Paschal Triduum—the “Great Three Days”—this Mass both rejoices in the institution of the Holy Eucharist and mourns Jesus’ imminent Passion.

Structurally, this liturgy most closely resembles a typical Mass, but with two unique and powerful distinctions: the Mandatum and the conclusion.

The Mandatum (Washing of Feet)
At the heart of this liturgy is the Mandatum, where the priest washes the feet of members of the congregation, imitating Christ’s act of humble service at the Last Supper (John 13:4). Once limited to twelve men symbolizing the Apostles, Pope Francis has since broadened the practice to include women and children, highlighting the inclusive call to serve one another in charity.

The Solemn Conclusion
After Communion, the liturgy takes a somber turn. The Blessed Sacrament is not returned to the tabernacle but processed reverently to an altar of repose—a separate, prepared space where the faithful are invited to keep vigil with Christ, echoing the disciples’ time with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. The traditional closing rites are omitted; there is no final blessing or dismissal, signifying that the Triduum is one continuous liturgy carried through Good Friday and into the Easter Vigil.

Accompanied by the ancient hymn Pange lingua gloriosi, this Eucharistic procession invites the faithful into deeper reflection and adoration, marking the beginning of the most sacred days of the Church year.