Tomorrow night will be my first time at a Holy Thursday Mass. For the Catholic Church this Mass celebrates the institution of the Eucharist and the institution of the Priesthood and the institution of the Mass itself. Wow, that's amazing! I'm not sure exactly what to expect but there should be some washing of feet by the priests, I believe.
During the last supper, Christ blessed the bread and wine with the very words used by Catholic and Orthodox priests today. In telling his disciples to "Do this in remembrance of Me", he instituted the mass and made them the first priests.
After Mass, there will be adoration from 8pm until midnight. This is our opportunity to watch with our Lord for one hour in remembrance of his disciples who fell asleep during his suffering in the Garden of Gesthemane.
I am learning slowly in life that suffering is a sweet gift Jesus gives us in order to be closer to Him. I actually look forward to uniting my tiny sufferings with him on the cross these next few days.
O you souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross of the Lord.
-St. Paul of the Cross
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