Holy Thursday

1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 26


For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Paul reminds us in this 2nd reading from today's liturgy what it is we do every time we celebrate the Mass or Divine Liturgy. We remember Jesus' death & resurrection. But, it is much more than this. We also partake in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. No, it is not a new sacrafice, but our entering into that sacrifice of 2000 yrs ago in a bloodless way. We offer up to the Father what the Son did for us to set us free. Jesus became our Passover lamb. In this He fulfilled what Passover proclaimed for many centuries.

The Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus gave to us. It enables us to not only look back to what He did 2000 yrs ago, but also to look forward to what lies ahead in eternity. It feeds us & nourishes us spiritually that we might live for Jesus. Jesus promised us life through this great sacrament.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote 1 of the most beautiful hims there is celebrating this sacrament, Pange Lingua (Sing My Tongue) . (An English translation follows)

Pange lingua gloriosi
Corporis mysterium,
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium
Fructus ventris generosi,
Rex effudit gentium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intacta Virgine
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine,
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.

In supremae nocte cenae
Recum bens cum fratribus,
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suis manibus

Verbum caro, panem verum
Verbo carnem efficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi merum,
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.


Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory,
Of his flesh the mystery sing;
Of the blood, all price exceeding;
Shed by our immortal King:
Destined, for the world's redemption,
From a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin
Born for us on earth below,
He as man with man conversing,
Stay'd, the seeds of truth to sow,
Then He closed in solemn order
Wondrously His life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,
Seated with His chosen band,
He the Paschal victim eating,
First fulfils the Law's command;
Then, as Food to His Apostles
Gives Himself with His own hand.

Word made Flesh, the bread of nature
By His Word to Flesh He turns;
Wine into His Blood He changes:
What though sense no change discerns?
Only be the heart in earnest,
Faith her lesson quickly learns.

Therefore we, before It bending,
This great sacrament adore;
Types and shadows have their ending
In the new rite evermore:
Faith, our outward sense amending,
Maketh good defects before.

Honor, laud, and praise addressing
To the Father and the Son,
Might ascribe we, virtue, blessing,
And eternal benison:
Holy Ghost, from both progressing,
Equal laud to Thee be done.