Paschal Triduum - Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

• In many Protestant denominations, the Triduum begins with an evening worship service on Maundy Thursday.
• In the Roman Catholic Church, in the Mass of the Lord's Supper, during the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, all church bells may be rung and the organ played; afterwards, bells and organ are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil.
• After the homily of the Mass a ritual washing of the feet is envisaged.
• The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose.
• Eucharistic adoration is encouraged after this, but if continued after midnight should be done without outward solemnity.
• The liturgical colour for the Mass vestments and other ornaments is white in the Roman Catholic Church. In the Lutheran Church, the liturgical colour for Maundy Thursday is white or scarlet. In the Reformed tradition, white or gold may be used.
• All altars, except the altar of repose, are then stripped.