Anonymous artis, Lintel of the Washing of the Apostles’ Feet by Christ, Parochial church at Puy-de-Dôme (France)
Today we celebrate the redemptive presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus’ Eucharistic presence is the renewal of His presence in the Upper Room and on the cross, offering Himself for us. Do this in memory of me, he said. This evening we begin a three day remembrance of all that Jesus Christ did for us. The Mass, the cross, the empty tomb.
The Blood of the Covenant. We have been talking a bit on the concept of covenant. We heard about the covenant the Lord made with Noah, the covenant of the rainbow, the covenant that reminds us that God will never give up on his people. We heard about the covenant God made with Abraham, the covenant of faith, and we were reminded that if we put our faith in God he will care for us even if our lives are full of turmoil. We heard about the covenant made with Moses, the covenant of the ten commandments. The Covenant of Sinai was a call to holiness, a call to be separate from a world that looks towards satisfying itself instead of living for God and for others. It was called the holiness code because to be holy means to be set aside for the Lord. Moses then took the blood of sacrificed lambs and sprinkled it on the people, and said, «See this is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.» This was the first blood of the covenant. Two weeks ago we heard about another covenant. This was the prophesy of Jeremiah, the prophecy that there would be a new covenant which would be written in the hearts of the people. This evening, we celebrate the blood of the new covenant. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we celebrate the one action of Jesus dying and rising for us, sealing us with the Blood of the Covenant.
When we receive communion, we accept the new covenant written in our hearts. The Blood of the New Covenant is far deeper, infinitely more profound than any of the previous covenants. Within our hearts we celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ. We consecrate ourselves to making the presence of Christ real in the world. Each time we receive communion, we proclaim our commitment to the Blood of the New Covenant. The gift of the Eucharist necessitates the ministry of select individuals who have been called to make God present for his community. The Lord told his disciples to do this in memory of me. Bishops and priests proclaim the living memory of Jesus Christ every time they act in the person of the Lord and celebrate the Eucharist. Deacons make the Lord present in their service as well as their proclamation of the Word. Therefore, this evening’s liturgy celebrates not only the gift of the Eucharist but also gift of the sacrament of Holy Orders. These are the days of a living memory. We can never forget what Jesus did for us. As we kneel tonight before the Most Holy Sacrament, we remember. We are the people of the Blood of the New Covenant written in our hearts, keeping alive the mystery of the Lord’s presence in the world. We remember. We remember, and the Lord is present • AE
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
Ave verum corpus is a short Eucharistic chant that has been set to music by many composers. It dates to the 13th century, first recorded in a central Italian Franciscan manuscript (Chicago, Newberry Library, 24). A Reichenau manuscript of the 14th century attributes it to Pope Innocent III. During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the Eucharist during the consecration at Mass. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer is a meditation on Jesus’s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and ties it to the redemptive meaning of suffering in the life of all believers •
Jueves Santo de la Cena del Señor (2024)
Juan del Castillo, Alegoría de la Eucaristía (1612), óleo sobre tela, Universidad de Sevilla (España)
La Misa de la Cena del Señor que celebramos en la tarde del Jueves Santo no difiere de la eucaristía de los demás días del año, pero tiene un valor ejemplar. Cada vez que la Iglesia celebra la Eucaristía y los otros sacramentos, de los que es fuente, se renueva para nosotros, hoy y por obra del Espíritu, la obra de Dios, que Cristo realizó de una vez para siempre. Lo que Jesús hizo un día es siempre actual y nuevo, aunque se repita indefinidamente. En cada celebración litúrgica, especialmente en cada eucaristía, sucede para nosotros el hic et nunc, el aquí y ahora, la salvación que Dios realiza desde el principio. Cristo está realmente presente. Actúa por medio de signos eficaces y por el poder del Espíritu. La noche del Jueves Santo marca el inicio del triduo pascual y un maravilloso vistazo a la vida del Señor: sus palabras, sus signos, su enseñanza, su consuelo, su esperanza, su oración… todo condensado en una misma celebración. Son muchos los elementos que se hacen presentes en cada uno de los días, en cada una de las celebraciones. En la noche del Jueves Santo recordamos la institución de la eucaristía, el mandato del amor fraterno y la institución del ministerio sacerdotal. Pero no debemos perder la perspectiva de la entrega en la cruz, la muerte de Cristo y el triunfo de la vida en su resurrección que celebramos los otros días, y completan el sentido del día de hoy. El Jueves Santo sabe a testamento. Nos trae gestos y palabras de Jesús que llevan a lo esencial, a una invitación a hacer memoria de lo vivido, pero, sobre todo, a vivir cada día haciendo memoria, realizando cada cristiano la entrega que Jesús hizo por nosotros • AE
De rodillas, Señor, ante el Sagrario
De rodillas, Señor ante el sagrario,
que guarda cuanto queda de amor y de unidad.
Venimos con las flores de un deseo,
para que nos las cambies en frutos de verdad.
Cristo en todas las almas, y en el mundo la paz.
Cristo en todas las almas, y en el mundo la paz.
Como ciervos sedientos que van hacia la fuente,
vamos hacia tu encuentro, sabiendo que vendrás;
porque el que la busca es porque ya en la frente
lleva un beso de paz, lleva un beso de paz.
Como estás, mi Señor, en la custodia
igual que la palmera que alegra el arenal,
queremos que en el centro de la vida
reine sobre las cosas tu ardiente caridad.
Cristo en todas las almas, y en el mundo la paz.
Cristo en todas las almas, y en el mundo la paz.
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 