The Triduum: Holy Thursday

by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

Thursday
On Thursday night, (“Holy Thursday”) Jesus ate with his friends. Now, you should know that same night, long ago, God freed his people from the chains of Pharaoh.	Bread and wine Jesus gave to them: “Here is my body, “And here is my blood. “It will make you free. “When you do this,” he said, “remember me.”

They went to a garden, after the meal, and Jesus knelt and prayed:	“Father, my Father, “help me. “Help me, I'm afraid.”

Then Judas came, and soldiers too, who put him in chains,	and took him alone to Pontius Pilate who sat on a throne.

“He's dangerous!” “He must die!” they cried.	And Pilate, for no reason, replied: “He must be crucified!”

Then they whipped him, and pushed him to a place called Calvary.	He fell sometimes, carrying the cross, cut from a heavy tree. next day of Holy Week: Good Friday

Illustrations: detail of fresco, c. 1100, in the Church of S. Angelo in Formis, Italy; detail of paining by Duccio di Buoninsegna, c. 1308; altar painting by Meister Bertram von Minden, c. 1390; altar painting by Hans Multscher, 1437

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