杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis presided over the Mass of the Lord鈥檚 Supper on Holy Thursday in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica. He recalled how Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles and invited the faithful to allow the Lord to love and serve them.

The 杏MAP导航 thanked God for the ministry of so many unnamed priests, several of whom have sacrificed their lives 鈥� especially those who have died recently while serving the sick in hospitals and clinics amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The liturgy known as in coena Domini, takes place on the first day of the Easter Triduum and commemorates the institution of the Eucharist.

In unscripted remarks during the homily, the 杏MAP导航 recalled three key words for Holy Thursday: Eucharist, Service, Anointment.

'Allow the Lord to serve you'

杏MAP导航 Francis reminded Christians that only by allowing the Lord to love us will we be saved. Jesus Himself says: 鈥淚f we don't eat His body and we don't drink His blood, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航.

鈥淚t is difficult to understand that we need to allow the Lord to serve us,鈥� continued 杏MAP导航 Francis. He then reflected on St. John鈥檚 Gospel which describes the exchange between Jesus and Peter who told the Lord: 鈥淵ou will never wash my feet鈥�. Jesus answered: 鈥淯nless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me鈥�.

鈥淵ou must ask the Lord to allow you to grow,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢o forgive you.鈥�

Giving thanks for the priesthood

杏MAP导航 Francis then gave thanks for the priesthood.

鈥淚 want to be near to priests,鈥� he said, 鈥渁ll of them: from the newly ordained all the way up to the bishops and to the 杏MAP导航.鈥�

鈥淵ou have been anointed to confer the Eucharist, you have been anointed to serve,鈥� he added.

Noting he had not been possible to celebrate the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, the 杏MAP导航 said he hoped it could be celebrated before Pentecost.

Referring to the liturgy of the Lord鈥檚 Supper, he said, 鈥淚 can't allow this Mass to pass by without mentioning the priesthood and all the priests who offer their lives for the Lord.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled that in these dramatic days marked by the coronavirus pandemic, many priests have died here in Italy while caring for the sick, together with doctors and nurses in the hospitals.

鈥淭hey are our 鈥榥ext-door-neighbour鈥� saints,鈥� who have given their lives to serve the Lord and the faithful, he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis then turned his thoughts to the many parish priests and prison chaplains who take the Gospel into small towns and into prisons, and to the scores of anonymous priests in mission territories, many of whom die and are buried far from the eyes of the world.

鈥淣o one knows their names,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淭hey are good priests and I carry them in my heart.鈥�

He also spoke of the many priests who have suffered calumny and insult, 鈥渨ho cannot walk the streets鈥� because of the shame brought about by the discovery of some of the awful things some priests have done.

鈥淭oday you are all with me at the altar,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be hard-headed like Peter: allow the Lord to wash your feet, learn to forgive the other.  Just as you have forgiven, you will be forgiven. Never be afraid to forgive.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily giving thanks to God for the grace of the priesthood: 鈥淚 thank God for you, priests. Jesus loves you. I ask only that you allow your feet to be washed.鈥�

Contrary to tradition that normally sees the 杏MAP导航 celebrate Holy Thursday Mass outside the Vatican, this year鈥檚 ceremony took place at the Altar of the Chair in an almost empty St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica. The liturgy did not include the washing of the feet, out of respect for directives intended to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Mass was streamed live and Christians across the world were invited to participate.