Mass of the Last Supper

This service recalls the moment when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, Holy communion, often known as the mass, by using the ancient Jewish Passover meal.  This moment became known as the Last Supper.  Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it and shared it with his disciples.   He commanded his followers to ‘do this in remembrance’ of him – as Christians across the world do, Sunday by Sunday and day by day.  Before the Last Supper meal, Christ knelt and washed the feet of the disciples and during the mass the priest re-enacts this, washing the feet of members of the congregation.

After the mass, the church is stripped of all decoration, ornaments and hangings, except for the Altar of Repose, on which is placed, in a tabernacle, the consecrated bread left over from the mass of the Last Supper which will remain until it is used on Good Friday, and which we use as a focus for our Watch of Prayer.