During Holy Thursday, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led the Mass of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the importance of service and love. He highlighted Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet as an example of humility. The ceremony called for Catholics to reject the pursuit of economic gain and embrace the values exemplified by Christ. The Vatican's Holy Thursday ceremony is a significant event in the Catholic Church, urging believers to serve others.
9 days ago
The Holy Thursday Mass at the Vatican, led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, centered on the call to reject a world driven by profit and power, and instead embrace the "power of service" exemplified by Jesus Christ 1 2. The liturgy emphasized humility, love, and the importance of becoming "Eucharistic people" 4.
Cardinal Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, delivered a homily reflecting on Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet 1 2. He drew parallels between the Jewish Passover and the Last Supper, highlighting that both occurred amidst hardship and injustice 1 4. He lamented that contemporary society mirrors ancient patterns of betrayal, prioritizing cost-benefit relationships and lacking compassion 1 2.
A central part of the Holy Thursday Mass was the traditional washing of feet ceremony 1 2. Cardinal Gambetti knelt and washed the feet of laypeople who work in or frequent St. Peter's Basilica, symbolizing Jesus' humility and service to others 1 2. This act underscored the call to imitate Christ's radical love and service, even towards those who might betray us 1.
The Mass in Coena Domini opened the Triduum, with Cardinal Gambetti inviting the faithful to reflect on the Eucharist 1 4. He called on the Church to become "Eucharistic people," broken and shared like Christ, emphasizing presence over perfection 4. The liturgy concluded with a procession accompanying the Blessed Sacrament to a chapel for adoration, accompanied by the historic Cappella Giulia choir 1 2.
Catholic social teaching emphasizes the dignity of the human person and the importance of the common good . The economy should serve people, not the other way around, respecting the dignity of work and protecting the rights of workers . This includes just wages, decent working conditions, and the right to organize and bargain collectively . The Church also advocates for economic freedom and private property, but with the understanding that these rights have a social function and must be exercised with responsibility towards the common good .
The news article highlights Cardinal Gambetti's emphasis on rejecting a world driven by profit and power, and instead embracing service, humility, and love, which aligns strongly with Catholic social teaching . His homily, reflecting on Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet, underscores the call to imitate Christ's radical love and service, even towards those who might betray us . This act symbolizes the Church's preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, as it prioritizes the needs of those who are often marginalized or overlooked .
The Church's teaching on service and economic justice calls for a society where the economy serves people, not the other way around, and where the dignity of every human person is respected . The news article, particularly Cardinal Gambetti's homily and the washing of feet ritual, exemplifies these principles by emphasizing service, humility, and the preferential option for the poor . By rejecting a profit-driven world and embracing the "power of service," the Church seeks to build a more just and compassionate society where all people can flourish .