The propers for Holy Week are rich in grace. There is a full set of propers (lessons, Introit, Gradual, etc.) for every day in Holy Week. They lead us to the cross and empty tomb in repentance and faith. Three of tonight’s propers for Maundy Thursday will guide our meditation this evening. The gradual, known in Latin as Christus Factus est (Christ was made obedient), traces the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Our Epistle gives us the words instituting the Sacrament. And our Gospel lesson describes Jesus’ servitude on the night He was betrayed. A rich portrait of the life and work of Christ, the One who was made obedient unto death, even death on the cross.

[Christ] delivered his sermons to the multitude for everybody as the apostles later did, so that every person heard them, believers and unbelievers; whoever caught it, caught it. We must do the same. But we are not to cast the Sacrament among the people in a crowd, as the pope has done. When I preach […]

THURSDAY IN HOLY WEEK The commonest name for this day, Maundy Thursday, is derived from dies mandati, the Day of the Commandment, referring not only to the words of the Holy Gospel, “You also ought to wash one another’s feet,” but also to verse 34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love […]

The Post-Tridentine Roman Lectionary has the Transfiguration account on the Second Sunday in Lent. Fred Lindemann, “The Sermon and the Propers” The determined effort of the evil spirit to possess and to defeat the struggle of faith is here visualized. But we see also a faith that will not take “No” or rebuff a delay. […]

Bread of Angels:  Sermon on the Propers for Maundy Thursday (after St. Thomas Aquinas) Thus Angels’ Bread is made the Bread of man today. The Living Bread from Heaven with figures dost away. O wondrous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may upon their Master feed.  If Martin Luther is the most prolific author in […]