Maundy Thursday: Altars Stripped

The antiphon is repeated, and then is added the following versiole: f. Christusfactusestpro f. Christ became, for our nobis obediens usque ad sake, obedient unto death, mortem.

After the Pater nosier has been said secretly, the psalm Miserere (page 336) is recited with a suppressed voice. The following prayer oonoludes the Vespers.

Respice, quaesumus, Do- Look down, 0 Lord, we mine, super hanc familiam beseech thee, upon this thy tuam: pro qua Dominus family, for which our Lord noster Jesus Christus non Jesus Christ hesitated not to dubitavit manibus tradi be delivered into the hands nocentium, et crucis subire of wicked men, and to undergo tormentum: the punishment of the cross:

(then the rest in secret :)

Qui tecum vivit et regnat, Who liveth and reigneth in unitate Spiritus sancti, with thee, in the unity of the

Deus, per omnia ssecula Holy Ghost, God, world with- saBculorum. Amen. out end. Amen.

THE STRIPPING OF THE ALTARS

As soon as Vespers are over, the oelebrant returns to the sanctuary, assisted by the deacon and subdeacon. He goes to the altar, and takes off the cloths and ornaments. This ceremony signifies the suspension of the holy Saorifioe. The altar should be left in this denuded state, until the daily offering can be again presented to the divine Majesty ; that is, when the Spouse of the holy Church shall arise from the grave, the Conqueror of death. He is now in the hands of His enemies, the Jews, who are about to strip Him of His garments, just as we strip the altar. fLe is to be exposed naked to the insults of the rabble; and for this reason, the psalm selected to be recited during this mournful ceremony is the twenty-first, wherein the Messias speaks of the Roman soldiers dividing His garments -among them.

Ant. Diviserunt sibi ve- Ant. They parted my gar- 8timenta mea, et super ve- merits among them, and upon stem meam miserunt sortem. my vesture they cast lots.

Psalm 21

0 God, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me: Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.

0 my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me.

But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.

In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped and thou hast delivered them.

They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.

All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.

He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he delighted in him.

For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother.

1 was cast upon thee from the womb: from my mother's

Deus, Deus mens, respice in me: quare me dereliquisti: longe a salute mea verba delictorum meorum.

Deus mens, clamabo per diem, et non exaudies: et nocte, et non ad insipientiam mihi.

Tu autem in sancto habitas: laus Israel.

In te speraverunt patres nostri: speraverunt, etliberasti eos.

Ad te clamaverunt, et salvi facti sunt: in te speraverunt, et non sunt confusi.

Ego autem sum vermis, et non homo: opprobrium hominum, et abjectio plebis.

Omnes videntes me deriserunt me: locuti sunt labiis, et moverunt caput.

Speravit in Domino, eripiat eum : salvum faciat eum, quoniam vult eum.

Quoniam tu es, qui extraxisti me de ventre: spes mea ab uberibus matris mess.

In te projectus sum ex utero; de ventre matris mesa

Dens mens es tu: ne dis- C688eri a me.

Quoniam tribulatio proxima est: quoniam non est qui adjuvet.

Circumdedernnt me vituli multi: tanri pingues obsederunt me.

Apernerunt super me os snnm: sicut leo rapiens et rngiens.

Sicut aqua effusus sum: et dispersa sunt omnia ossa mea.

Factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquescens: in medio ventris mei.

Aruit tamquam testa virtus mea, et lingua mea adhsBsit faucibus meis: et in pulverem mortis deduxisti me.

Quoniam circumdedernnt me canes multi: concilium malignantium obsedit me.

Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos: dinumeraverunt omnia ossa mea.

Ipsi vero consideraverunt et inspexerunt me: diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem.

Tu autem, Domine, ne elongaveris auxilium tuum a me: ad defensionem meam conspice.

Eme a framea, Dens, animam meam: et de manu canis unicam meam.

Salva me ex pre leonis; womb thou art my God, depart not from me.

For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.

Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.

They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.

I am poured out like water: and all my bones are scattered.

My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaven to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death.

For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me.

They have dug my hands and feet: they have numbered all my bones.

And they have looked and stared upon me: they parted my garments amongst them, and upon my vesture they cast lots.

But thou, 0 Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me: look towards my defence.

Deliver, 0 God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand of the dog.

Save me from the lion's

PASSIONTIDE AND HOLT WEEK et a cornibus unicornium humilitatem meam.

Narrabo nomen tuum fratribus meis : in medio ecclesise laudabo te.

Qui thnetisiDominum, laudate eum: universum semen Jacob, glorificate eum.

Timeat eum omne semen Israel: quoniam non sprevit, neque despexit deprecationem pauperis.

Nec avertit faciem suam a me: et cum clamarem ad eum, exaudivit me.

Apud te laus mea in ecclesia magna : vota mea reddam in conspectu timentium eum.

Edent pauperes, et saturabuntur, et laudabunt Dominum qui requirunt eum: vivent corda eorum in saBculum sesculi.

Reminiscentur et convertentur ad Dominum: universi fines terra.

Et adorabunt in conspectu ejus: universal familiae gentium.

Quoniam Domini est regnum: et ipse dominabitur gentium.

Manducaverunt, et adoraverunt omnes pingues terras: in conspectu ejus cadent omnes, qui descendunt in terrain.

Et anima mea illi vivet: et semen meum serviet ipsi.

Annuntiabitur Domino mouth: and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him.

Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man.

Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me.

With thee is my praise in the great church: I will pay vows in the sight of them that fear him.

The poor shall eat and shall be filled, and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.

All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord.

And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he shall have dominion over the nations.

All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.

And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.

There shall be d^kred to generatio ventura: et annun- the Lord a generation to come: tdabunt co3li jnstitiam ejus, and the heavens shall show populo qui nascetur, quern forth his justice to a people fecit Dominus. that shall be born, which the

Lord hath made.

Ant. Diviserunt sibi ve- Ant. They parted my gar- stdmenta mea, et super ve- ments among them, and upon stem meam miseruDt sortem. my vesture they cast lots.

After having stripped the high altar, the oelebrant takes off the cloths from the other altars that are in the ohuroh. An air of desolation pervades the temple of God. The very tabernaole has lost its divine Guest. The oiborium (in which the blessed Sacrament is reserved for Viatioum) has been taken to the place where reposes the chalioe containing the Body of our Lord. The Majesty of our God has withdrawn to that mysterious sanctuary, into which we enter not but with silence and compunction.

It was the custom, in some churches, for the priest to wash the altars, in the afternoon, with wine and water, which he sprinkled upon them with a branoh of hyssop. This ceremony, which has now ceased to be observed in almost every ohurch excepting Saint Peter's in Eome, was intended as a homage offered to our blessed Lord, in return for the humility wherewith He deigned to wash the feet of His disciples. We find it so explained by St. Isidore of Seville, and St. Eligius, bishop of Noyon.

THE WASHING OF THE FEET

After having, on this day, washed the feet of His disciples, Jesus said to them: 4 Know ye what I have done to you P Tou call Me Master and Lord: and you say well, for so I am. If then I, being your

1 De ecclesiastic** OJJiciis, lib. I. cap. xxviii. * gomily yiii. De ccena Domini,

Lord and Master, have washed your feet ; you, also, ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also/1 Although the meaning of these words is that, after the example of our divine Master, we should practise works of fraternal charity towards our neighbour, yet the literal imitation of this our Saviour's act has always been observed in the Church.

At the commencement, it was almost a daily practice. St. Paul, when mentioning the qualities which should adorn the Christian widow, includes that of washing the feet of the saints, that is, of the faithful. We find this act of humble charity practised in the ages of persecution, and even later. The Acts of the saints of the first six centuries, and the homilies and writings of the holy fathers, are filled with allusions to it. Afterwards, charity jjrew cold, and this particular way of exercising it was oonfined, almost exclusively, to monasteries. Still, from time to time it was practised elsewhere. We occasionally find kings and queens setting this example of humility. The holy king Robert of France, and, later, Saint Louis, used frequently to wash the feet of the poor. The holy queen St. Margaret of Sootland, and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, did the same. The Churoh, with that spirit which makes her treasure up every recommendation of her divine Lord, has introduced this act of humility into her liturgy, and it is to-day that she puts the great lesson before her children. In every church of any importance, the prelate, or superior, honours our Saviour's condescension, by the ceremony called the washing of the feet. The bishops throughout the world follow the example set them by the sovereign Pontiff, who performs this ceremony in the Vatioan. Yea, there are still to be found

1 St. John xiii. 12-15. * \ Ti*n. v. 10, kings and queens who, on this day, wash the feet of the poor, and give them abundant alms.

The twelve apostles are represented by the twelve poor who, according to the most general praotioe, are chosen for this ceremony. The Pope, however, washes the feet of thirteen priests of as many different ooun tries ; and this is the reason of the ceremonial requiring this number for cathedral churohes. But, why thirteen P Some have interpreted it thus: that it represented the full number of the apostolio oollege, which is thirteen ; for St. Mathias was elected in Judas's plaoe, and our Lord Himself, after His Ascension, called St. Paul to be an apostle. Other authors, however, and among them the learned Pope Benediot XIV, assert that the reason of this number being ohosen was the miracle related in the life of St. Gregory the Great. This holy Pope used, every day, to wash the feet of twelve poor men, whom he afterwards invited to his own table. One day, a thirteenth was present: it was an angel, whom God had sent, that He might thereby testify how dear to Him was the oharity of His servant.

The ceremony of the washing of the feet is also oalled the Mandatutn, from the first word of the first antiphon. After the deacon has chanted the Gospel of the Mass of Maundy Thursday (page 378), the celebrant takes off the cope, girds himself with a towel, and, kneeling down, begins to wash the feet of those who have been chosen. He kisses the right foot of each one after having washed it. Meanwhile, the choir sings the following antiphons:

Ant. Mandatum novum Ant. I vobis: ut diligatis invi- mandment: cem sicut dilexi vos, dicit Dominus. f. Beati imma- give you a new corndo that ye love one another, as I have loved you, says our Lord. f. Blessed

1 De Fesiit D. N.J. 0. lib. I. cap. vi. no. 57.

PASSIONTIDE AND HOLY WEEK culati in via: 0 qui ambulant in lege Domini. Mandatum.

Ant. Postquam surrexit Dominus a coena, misit aquam in pelvim, et co3pit lavare pedes discipulorum suorum: hoc exemplum reliquit eis. f . Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis: ° in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus. Postquam.

Ant. Dominus Jesus, postquam coanavit cum discipulis suis, lavit pedes eorum, et ait illis: Scitis quid f ecerim vobis ego Dominus et Magister? Exemplum dedi vobis, ut et vos ita faciatis. t\ Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam; ° avertisti captivitatem Jacob. Dominus.

Ant. Domine, tu mihi lavas pedes! Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei: Si non lavero tibi pedes, non habebis partem mecum. "f. Venit ergo ad Simonem Petrum, * et dixit ei Petrus: Domine. f. Quod ego facio tu nescis modo: scies autem postea. Domine.

Ant. Si ego Dominus et Magister vester lavi vobis pedes: quanto magis debetis alter alterius lavare pedes 1 1t. Audite haec, omnes gentes: ° auribus percipite qui habitatis orbem. Si ego. are the immaculate in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. I give, &c.

Ant. After our Lord was risen from supper, he put water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of his disciples; to whom he gave this example. t\ Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised: in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. After, &c.

Ant. Our Lord Jesus, after he had supped with his disciples, washed their feet, and said to them: Know you what I your Lord and Master have done to you? I have given you an example, that ye also may do the same. f. Thou hast blessed, 0 Lord, thy land; thou hast delivered Jacob from captivity. Our Lord, &c.

Ant. Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered, and said to him: If I do not wash thy feet, thou shalt have no part with me. T . He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him: Lord, &c. f. What I do thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know it afterwards. Lord, &c.

Ant. If I your Lord and Master have washed your feet: how much more ought you to wash the feet of one another? f. Hear these things, all ye nations: hearken to them all ye that inhabit the world. If I, &c.

Ant. In hoc cognoscent omnes quia discipnli mei estis, si dilectionem habueritis ad invicem. f. Dixit Jesus discipulis suis. In hoc.

Ant. Maneant in vobis fides, spes, charitas, tria haec: major autem horum est charitas. f. Nunc autem manent fides, spes, charitas, tria hsBc: ° major horum est charitas. Maneant.

Ant. Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas atque indivisa unitas: confitebimur ei, quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam. ~t. Benedicamus Patrem et Filium, ° cum sancto Spiritu. f. Quam dilecta tabernacula tua, Domine virtutum! ° concupiscit et deficit anima mea in atria Domini. Benedicta.

Ant. In this all shall know that ye are my disciples, if ye have a love for one another. f. Said J esus to his disciples. In this, &c.

Ant. Let these three, faith, hope, and charity, remain in you: but the greatest of them is charity, f. But now remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of them is charity. Let, &c.

Ant. Blessed be the holy Trinity and undivided Unity: we will praise him because he has shown us his mercy. t. Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Ghost. How lovely are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts: my soul desires and longs after the house of the Lord. Blessed, &c.

After these antiphons, the choir sings the following canticle. It is a fervent exhortation to fraternal oharity, of which the washing of the feet is a symbol.

CANTICLE

Ubi charitas, et amor, Deus ibi est. f. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.

"f . Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur. f. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. f. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Ubi charitas, et amor, Deus ibi est.

Where charity and love are, there is God. f . The love of Christ hath gathered us together. f. Let us rejoice in him, and be glad. f. Let us fear and love the living God. f. And let us love one the other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, there is God.

400 passionuda and hoia* wkk* f. Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur,

% Ne nos mente dividamur caveamus. f. Cessent jurgia maligna, ces8ent lites, f. Et in medio nostri sit Christus Dens.

Ubi charitas et amor, Deus ibi est. t. Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,

It. Glorianter, vultum tuum, Christe Deus. f. Gaudium, quod est immensum atque probum, f. Saecula per infinita sseculorum. Amen. f. When, therefore, we are gathered together, f. Let us take heed we be not divided in mind. f. Let wicked quarrels and contentions be at an end. f . And let Christ our God dwell among us.

Where charity and love are, there is God. f . Let us, also, with the blessed see t . Thy face in glory, 0 Christ our God!

f. There to possess an immense and happy joy. f. For endless ages. Amen.

The celebrant, having resumed his cope, oonoludes the ceremony with the following prayers:

Pater noster.

Our Father.

The rest of the Lord's Prayer is said in silenoe, as far as the last two petitions. f. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

. Sed libera nos a malo. Tu mandasti mandata tua, Domine. ty. Custodiri nimis. f. Tu lavasti pedes discipulorum tuorum.

Bp. Opera manuum tuarum ne despicias. f. Domine, exaudi oratiooem meam. ty. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. f. And lead us not into temptation.

But deliver us from evil. t. Thou hast commanded, 0 Lord. ty. That thy precepts be exactly observed. f. Thou hast washed the feet of thy disciples. ty. Despise not the work of thy hands. t . O Lord hear my prayer. ty. And let my cry come unto thee.