As the Christian calendar turns toward the solemnity of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday emerges as a day rich with meaning, ritual, and reflection in the Anglican tradition. Observed on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, it marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum—the three-day journey through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. For Anglicans, Maundy Thursday is a poignant blend of celebration and sorrow, drawing the faithful into the Upper Room where Jesus shared his Last Supper with his disciples. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Book of Common Prayer (BCP) 2019 provides a liturgical framework that beautifully captures the essence of this day, emphasizing themes of love, service, and sacrifice. Learn more below.
The Meaning of “Maundy”
The term “Maundy” derives from the Latin “mandatum”, meaning “commandment.” It refers to Jesus’ words in John 13:34, spoken during the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (ESV). This commandment to love is the heartbeat of Maundy Thursday, and the ACNA BCP 2019 reflects this focus in its prayers and readings, calling the faithful to embody Christ’s self-giving love.
In the Anglican tradition, Maundy Thursday is not merely a historical remembrance but a participatory event. The liturgy invites worshippers to step into the narrative of Christ’s final hours with his disciples, contemplating both the institution of the Lord’s Supper and the radical humility of the foot-washing. These twin pillars—Eucharist and service—shape the day’s observance and resonate deeply within the ACNA’s liturgical expression.
The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday in the ACNA BCP 2019
The ACNA BCP 2019 provides a specific rite for Maundy Thursday (pp. 560-5634), nestled within the broader Holy Week services. The service begins with a Collect that sets the tone: “Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior…” (BCP 2019, p. 561. This prayer underscores the centrality of the Eucharist, framing it as both a gift and a call to gratitude.
The appointed readings further enrich the liturgy. The Old Testament lesson, often Exodus 12:1-14, recounts the Passover, linking Christ’s sacrifice to the liberation of Israel. The Epistle, typically 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, offers Paul’s account of the Last Supper, emphasizing its perpetual remembrance “until he comes.” The Gospel reading from John 13:1-17, 31b-35 narrates the foot-washing and Jesus’ new commandment, grounding the day in humility and love. Together, these scriptures weave a tapestry of redemption that the ACNA liturgy invites worshippers to inhabit.
The Foot-Washing: A Sign of Servanthood
One of the most distinctive features of Maundy Thursday in the Anglican tradition is the optional rite of foot-washing, or “pedilavium”. The ACNA BCP 2019 includes this as part of the liturgy (p. 561), noting that “the Celebrant may wash the feet of representatives of the congregation.” This act recalls Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, an astonishing display of humility from the one they called Lord. As John 13:14-15 records, Jesus instructs them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you.”
In many Anglican parishes, this ritual is not merely symbolic but participatory. Clergy wash the feet of congregants, and sometimes congregants wash one another’s feet, embodying the servant-leadership Christ modeled. While not mandatory, the foot-washing serves as a tactile reminder of the call to humility and mutual care—a countercultural witness in a world often obsessed with power and status.
The Institution of the Eucharist
At the heart of Maundy Thursday lies the institution of the Holy Eucharist, which Anglicans celebrate as a sacred mystery. The ACNA BCP 2019 highlights this in its Eucharistic Prayer, where the words of institution—”This is my Body… This is my Blood”—echo Christ’s own. For Anglicans, the Eucharist is not just a memorial but a means of grace, a participation in Christ’s ongoing presence. The BCP’s language reflects a balance of reverence and accessibility, inviting all baptized believers to the table in “thankful remembrance.”
This focus on the Eucharist ties Maundy Thursday to the broader Anglican identity, where Word and Sacrament are inseparable. The day’s liturgy bridges the Last Supper with every subsequent celebration of Holy Communion, reminding the faithful that they are united with Christ and one another across time.
The Stripping of the Altar
As Maundy Thursday draws to a close, the tone shifts from celebration to somber anticipation. The ACNA BCP 2019 includes a rubric for the stripping of the altar, a stark ritual where vestments, candles, and decorations are removed, leaving the sanctuary bare. Psalm 22 or another penitential psalm may be recited, its haunting words—”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—foreshadowing the crucifixion to come.
This act symbolizes Christ’s abandonment and the stripping away of his dignity in his Passion. It is a visceral transition into Good Friday, leaving worshippers in a space of quiet reflection. In some parishes, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for Good Friday’s liturgy, carried in procession to an Altar of Repose, where the faithful may keep watch, recalling Jesus’ night in Gethsemane.
A Call to Love and Service
Maundy Thursday in the Anglican tradition, as expressed in the ACNA BCP 2019, is a multifaceted observance. It is a celebration of the Eucharist’s institution, a call to humble service, and a prelude to the sorrow of the cross. The day challenges Anglicans to live out the “mandatum”—to love as Christ loved, even to the point of laying down one’s life for others. It invites believers to enter the story of salvation not as spectators but as participants, washing feet, breaking bread, and preparing their hearts for the Paschal mystery.
Conclusion
Maundy Thursday unfolds as a sacred drama, drawing the faithful into the Upper Room, the garden, and ultimately the foot of the cross. It is a day to marvel at Christ’s love, to kneel in service, and to await the silence of Good Friday with bated breath. In this, Maundy Thursday is not just a ritual but a way of life—a commandment to love that echoes through the ages.
Last Updated: 03/25/2025 by Charlie Vensel
What Is Maundy Thursday?
The Meaning of “Maundy”
The term “Maundy” derives from the Latin “mandatum”, meaning “commandment.” It refers to Jesus’ words in John 13:34, spoken during the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (ESV). This commandment to love is the heartbeat of Maundy Thursday, and the ACNA BCP 2019 reflects this focus in its prayers and readings, calling the faithful to embody Christ’s self-giving love.
In the Anglican tradition, Maundy Thursday is not merely a historical remembrance but a participatory event. The liturgy invites worshippers to step into the narrative of Christ’s final hours with his disciples, contemplating both the institution of the Lord’s Supper and the radical humility of the foot-washing. These twin pillars—Eucharist and service—shape the day’s observance and resonate deeply within the ACNA’s liturgical expression.
The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday in the ACNA BCP 2019
The ACNA BCP 2019 provides a specific rite for Maundy Thursday (pp. 560-5634), nestled within the broader Holy Week services. The service begins with a Collect that sets the tone: “Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior…” (BCP 2019, p. 561. This prayer underscores the centrality of the Eucharist, framing it as both a gift and a call to gratitude.
The appointed readings further enrich the liturgy. The Old Testament lesson, often Exodus 12:1-14, recounts the Passover, linking Christ’s sacrifice to the liberation of Israel. The Epistle, typically 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, offers Paul’s account of the Last Supper, emphasizing its perpetual remembrance “until he comes.” The Gospel reading from John 13:1-17, 31b-35 narrates the foot-washing and Jesus’ new commandment, grounding the day in humility and love. Together, these scriptures weave a tapestry of redemption that the ACNA liturgy invites worshippers to inhabit.
The Foot-Washing: A Sign of Servanthood
One of the most distinctive features of Maundy Thursday in the Anglican tradition is the optional rite of foot-washing, or “pedilavium”. The ACNA BCP 2019 includes this as part of the liturgy (p. 561), noting that “the Celebrant may wash the feet of representatives of the congregation.” This act recalls Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, an astonishing display of humility from the one they called Lord. As John 13:14-15 records, Jesus instructs them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you.”
In many Anglican parishes, this ritual is not merely symbolic but participatory. Clergy wash the feet of congregants, and sometimes congregants wash one another’s feet, embodying the servant-leadership Christ modeled. While not mandatory, the foot-washing serves as a tactile reminder of the call to humility and mutual care—a countercultural witness in a world often obsessed with power and status.
The Institution of the Eucharist
At the heart of Maundy Thursday lies the institution of the Holy Eucharist, which Anglicans celebrate as a sacred mystery. The ACNA BCP 2019 highlights this in its Eucharistic Prayer, where the words of institution—”This is my Body… This is my Blood”—echo Christ’s own. For Anglicans, the Eucharist is not just a memorial but a means of grace, a participation in Christ’s ongoing presence. The BCP’s language reflects a balance of reverence and accessibility, inviting all baptized believers to the table in “thankful remembrance.”
This focus on the Eucharist ties Maundy Thursday to the broader Anglican identity, where Word and Sacrament are inseparable. The day’s liturgy bridges the Last Supper with every subsequent celebration of Holy Communion, reminding the faithful that they are united with Christ and one another across time.
The Stripping of the Altar
As Maundy Thursday draws to a close, the tone shifts from celebration to somber anticipation. The ACNA BCP 2019 includes a rubric for the stripping of the altar, a stark ritual where vestments, candles, and decorations are removed, leaving the sanctuary bare. Psalm 22 or another penitential psalm may be recited, its haunting words—”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—foreshadowing the crucifixion to come.
This act symbolizes Christ’s abandonment and the stripping away of his dignity in his Passion. It is a visceral transition into Good Friday, leaving worshippers in a space of quiet reflection. In some parishes, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for Good Friday’s liturgy, carried in procession to an Altar of Repose, where the faithful may keep watch, recalling Jesus’ night in Gethsemane.
A Call to Love and Service
Maundy Thursday in the Anglican tradition, as expressed in the ACNA BCP 2019, is a multifaceted observance. It is a celebration of the Eucharist’s institution, a call to humble service, and a prelude to the sorrow of the cross. The day challenges Anglicans to live out the “mandatum”—to love as Christ loved, even to the point of laying down one’s life for others. It invites believers to enter the story of salvation not as spectators but as participants, washing feet, breaking bread, and preparing their hearts for the Paschal mystery.
Conclusion
Maundy Thursday unfolds as a sacred drama, drawing the faithful into the Upper Room, the garden, and ultimately the foot of the cross. It is a day to marvel at Christ’s love, to kneel in service, and to await the silence of Good Friday with bated breath. In this, Maundy Thursday is not just a ritual but a way of life—a commandment to love that echoes through the ages.
Category: Anglicanism Tags: Anglicanism 101, BCP, Book of Common Prayer, Communion, Eucharist, Foot-Washing, Holy Week, Lent, Maundy Thursday