Holy Thursday is special in Jerusalem …In the early morning and during the celebration, the Chrism Mass and the Washing of the Feet take place here.
During the first morning of Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper initiated the Easter Triduum in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
The celebration was presided over by the the Apostolic Administrator, Mons. Pierbattista Pizzaballa and was concelebrated by over 200 priests.
In the homily, the archbishop spoke about the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood, as well as the commandment of brotherly love.
Here – he said – where you can see communion within the divisions, the joy of the tomb blossoms and grows.
“In this place where the Paschal Mystery took place, we are called to seek, to find and to recognize the One who is the reason, not an excuse for our presence, our actions and celebration.”
The Mass that takes place here in Jerusalem is, for historical circumstances, exceptional, as it combines what in the rest of the world takes place in two celebrations.
Mons. Pizzaballa followed then the tradition and washed the feet of twelve young seminarians of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The priests renewed their promises. Later, the blessing of the oils of the catechumens and the sick and the blessing of the chrism took place. The Mass ended with the procession and the deposition of the Blessed Sacrament.