Church Begins at Home: Holy Thursday

Holy Week Observances at Home

With Christians around the world, we observe Holy Thursday at home. Holy Thursday is the beginning of the Easter Triduum - a liturgy that extends across three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday). This page provides a pattern for commemorating Holy Thursday as an individual or a household.

Celebrate with Pope Francis | 12pm

Pope Francis will celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican at 6pm Rome time (12 noon Atlanta time). There are several ways to tune in:

Cable/Satellite - Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)

YouTube - Find the "Vatican Media Live" feed on the Vatican News - English channel on your device or smart TV.

Evening Prayer (Vespers) on Holy Thursday | 7pm

Fr. Desmond Drummer will privately celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. While at home or at work, you are invited to pray Evening Prayer to mark Holy Thursday. In normal circumstances, Evening Prayer on Holy Thursday is prayed by those who are unable to attend the Evening Mass of the Lord Supper. As demonstration of spiritual solidarity, we will pray Evening Prayer at 7pm on Holy Thursday.

Evening Prayer can be prayed as an individual or a group. If you are celebrating Evening Prayer as a group, ensure that everyone accesses this link on their own device or can comfortably share a screen.

If evening prayer is prayed in a group, the leader will read what is in regular font while the others assembled will read what is in bold.

Introduction

God, + come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Hymn

"You Are The Living Word" by Fred Hammond

Psalmody

Antiphon 1:

Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth, has made us a royal people to serve his God and Father.

Psalm 72:2-11

O God, give your judgment to the king,

to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgment.

May the mountains bring forth peace for the people

and the hills, justice.

May he defend the poor of the people

and save the children of the needy

and crush the oppressor.

He shall endure like the sun and the moon

from age to age.

He shall descend like rain on the meadow,

like raindrops on the earth.

In his days justice shall flourish

and peace till the moon fails.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the Great River to earth’s bounds.

Before him his enemies shall fall,

his foes lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts

shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon 1:

Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth, has made us a royal people to serve his God and Father.

Antiphon 2:

The Lord will be the champion of the helpless; he will free the poor from the grip of the powerful.

Psalm 72:12-19

For he shall save the poor when they cry

and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor.

From oppression he will rescue their lives,

to him their blood is dear.

Long may he live,

may the gold of Sheba be given him.

They shall pray for him without ceasing

and bless him all the day.

May corn be abundant in the land

to the peaks of the mountains.

May its fruit rustle like Lebanon;

may men flourish in the cities

like grass on the earth.

May his name be blessed for ever

and endure like the sun.

Every tribe shall be blessed in him,

all nations bless his name.

Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,

who alone works wonders,

ever blessed his glorious name.

Let his glory fill the earth.

Amen! Amen!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon 2:

The Lord will be the champion of the helpless; he will free the poor from the grip of the powerful.

Antiphon 3:

The saints won their victory over death through the blood of the Lamb and the truth to which they bore witness.

Canticle: Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a

We praise you, the Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was.

You have assumed your great power,

you have begun your reign.

The nations have raged in anger,

but then came your day of wrath

and the moment to judge the dead:

the time to reward your servants the prophets

and the holy ones who revere you,

the great and the small alike.

Now have salvation and power come,

the reign of our God and the authority

of his Anointed One.

For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,

who night and day accused them before God.

They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

love for life did not deter them from death.

So rejoice, you heavens,

and you that dwell therein!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon 3:

The saints won their victory over death through the blood of the Lamb and the truth to which they bore witness.

Reading

Hebrews 13:12-15

Jesus died outside the gate, to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us go out to him outside the camp bearing the insult which he bore. For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking one which is to come. Through him let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which acknowledge his name.

Antiphon (Response):

For our sake Christ was obedient, accepting even death.

Gospel Canticle

Antiphon:

While they were at supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples.

Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s Canticle (featuring ValLimar Jansen, arranged by Leon C. Roberts)

Individuals and households can use this track to participate in the responsive singing of Mary’s Canticle.

Response: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness;

all ages to come shall call me blessed.

R: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

God who is mighty has done great things for me,

holy is his name;

R: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm;

he has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.

R: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

He has deposed the mighty from their thrones

and raised the lowly to high places.

The hungry he has given every good thing,

while the rich he has sent empty away.

R: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

He has upheld Israel his servant,

ever mindful of his mercy;

Even as he promised our fathers,

promised Abraham and his descendants forever.

R: My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:

While they were at supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples.

Intercessions

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior entrusted to his Church the memorial of his death and resurrection, to be celebrated for ever. Let us adore him, and say: