I learned what this meant in catechism class, but I've since forgot. I know today is in remembrance of the Last Supper, but whence Maundy?
I know I could LIU, but it's much more interesting hearing y'all's take on it. Bobyb, you about?
The ceremony of washing the feet of poor persons on the day before Good Friday was instituted in commemoration of Christ's washing the apostles' feet at the Last Supper, and of his injunction that his disciples should in like manner wash one another's feet (John xiii. 14). The words ‘A new commandment (mandatum novum) give I unto you, that ye love one another’ (ibid. 34) from the discourse which followed the washing of the apostles' feet, were adopted as the first antiphon sung at the commemorative observance, which hence acquired the name of mandatum. (Hence OHG. mandât, in Otfrid's paraphrase of John xiii. 11-14.) In later use, perh. owing to the currency of dies mandati (lit. ‘day of the commandment’) as a name for the day before Good Friday, mandatum frequently denoted the Last Supper itself.]
Wow, tsuwm. That's pretty impressive.
This is probably completely unrelated but this whole thread has reminded me of something. This college is the home of the famous book of Kells and the title page of that book contains the illuminated letters Chi and Rho which symbolise Christ. Since Christ washed the disciples feet on Holy (Maunday) Thursday does that mean that he was the first ChiRhopodist? [only half-joking emoticon]
Oh Ru, that is rich! i nearly fell of my chair laughing.
Rubrick, Sweetheart, c'mere a minute--I have something for you...
(Oh! I hit Check spelling by mistake, and my friend Enigma wants Rubrick to be rubs--gee, I think I could handle that!)
