We publish, to help your prayer and reflection, on this day which commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood, some extracts from the work of the Cardinal of Milan Ildefonso Shuster ( A. I. SCHUSTER, The Book of the Sacraments. Historical and liturgical notes on the Roman Missal – III. The New Testament).
HOLY THURSDAY
Lateran station
The Basilica of the Savior where the Supreme Pontiffs established their ordinary residence since the 5th century, today claims the honor of the solemn rites with which the Church begins the Easter solemnity on this very day. Another time there were three masses, one in the morning for the reconciliation of public penitents, the other for the consecration of the sacred oils intended for the anointing of the sick and for Baptism, the third finally at dusk for the commemoration of the Lord's Supper and Easter Communion. It is therefore understandable why the station instead of being celebrated in San Pietro, which was then outside the urban enclosure, was held more comfortably in the Lateran.
Today the ritual is less complex, and the discipline of public penance having fallen into disuse, the holy oils are consecrated in the same mass as the Easter Communion.
The mass according to the teaching of the Apostle, it is a true sacrifice commemorating that of Calvary, that is, of the death of the Lord. We must therefore take part in it with deep faith and gratitude, just as we want to understand the effects of redemption. Participating in it by burning the victim belongs to the sacrificial rite. Among ancient peoples, this final banquet meant the intimate relationship between the sacrificed victim and the devotees, in which name it was offered to the deity. The victim replaces the donor, and so, this eats from the victim to incorporate himself with it which legally represents him.
Moreover, the sacrificial banquet has a sacred character, and symbolizes the reconciliation of Divinity with man, so much so that they both sit amicably at the table together.
In the Holy Mass the priest must necessarily participate in the sacred victim through sacramental Communion. For the simple faithful it is enough to associate through spiritual Communion; but it is in the spirit and fervent desires of the Church that they too, being able to, are part of the Sacrifice, actually receiving Holy Communion “in memory of the death of the Lord”.
After the mass, the sacred Eucharistic species reserved for tomorrow's service are transported to an altar prepared for this purpose..
In the Middle Ages the Pope, the divine sacrifice finished, he went to the basilica of San Lorenzo, later call Holy of Holies, where he placed the penula he washed the feet of twelve subdeacons; meanwhile the cardinals, the deacons and the school they sang vespers.
This was followed by large distributions of money to the high and low urban clergy, as he used then in all solemnities; after which, as it was already evening, they all went to dine in the basilica or triclinium of Pope Theodore, which stood not far from the oratory of San Silvestro.
Forgiveness to penitents, the chrism of the Paraclete on the foreheads of the baptized, the oil of consolation on the limbs of the dying, the divine Eucharist in the hearts of all the faithful; how many ineffable mysteries of mercy on this day of Jesus' Supper, in which He he pours out almost the fullness of his Heart, e, despite having always loved us, he loved in the end, that is, he loved us madly, up to the cross, until death!
source – http://www.oratoriosantambrogiombc.it/2019/04/18/giovedi-santo/
