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FEAST OF THE DAY

Holy Thursday is the traditional day for the celebration of the Mass of
Chrism. At this Mass, the three different oils used for various
Sacraments are blessed or consecrated for use throughout the
following year. These oils are used in the sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy. The oils not used
during the previous year are to be disposed of by burning. The Mass
of Chrism is also used by the Church as a time for the priests of a
diocese to come together with their bishop as a public sign of unity
and communion.

Today, Lent ends and the Easter Triduum begins with the evening
Mass of the Lord's Supper. The celebration of Holy Thursday serves
to remind us of historical action of Jesus instituting both the
priesthood and the Eucharist while celebrating the Paschal Feast.
On this night he fulfilled all the promises made by God in the Old
Covenant and instituted the New Convent by making a sacrifice of
his own Body and Blood in the non-bloody form of a meal. We are
reminded of this aspect of the ceremony through the narrative read
from the First Book of Corinthians.

The Mass of the Lord's Supper helps remind the faithful of Jesus'
historical institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood, and it also
reminds us that we are all called to service. This is explicitly pointed
out by the washing of feet done by the priest after the homily at this
Mass. This action echoes Jesus washing the feet his Apostles and
reminds us that we are here to serve others and that we should
always work to be humble in the sight of the Lord.

In order to remember the celebration of the Lord's Passion tomorrow,
Mass will not be celebrated, therefore a sufficient amount of bread is
consecrated today for distribution tomorrow. After Communion, the
remaining consecrated hosts are carried in a procession to the
tabernacle, and it is encouraged that the faithful adore the Blessed
Sacrament through the night. After Mass, in order to show the
solemnity of coming events, the altar is stripped of its cloths, and
crosses are covered with red or purple cloth. Holy water is also
removed form all fonts, it will be replaced by the new water blessed
at the Easter Vigil.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

In this dark vale of tears, I wish solely to feed upon this secret
manna, this delicious substance. -St. Cajetan

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TODAY IN HISTORY

858 Pope Benedict III dies
1492 Christopher Columbus signs contract with Spain to find the Indies

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TODAY'S TIDBIT

God our Father, we are gathered here to share in the supper which
your only Son left to his Church to reveal his love. He gave it to us
when he was about to die and commanded us to celebrate it as the
new and eternal sacrifice. We pray that in this Eucharist we may find
the fullness of love and life. -Taken from the Opening Prayer for
Mass of the Lord's Supper in the Sacramentary

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INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all ordained ministers of the Church.

I just wanted to let everyone know, I saw Archbishop Rigali at Mass this evening and he is remarkably well for a man who had major surgery 17 days ago. He's a little thin and did not stand much (he gave the homily from his chair and did not say the consecration), but he looked and sounded good.

Thanks for all the prayers.