Maundy Thursday
On the night before
his death Jesus had a final meal with his friends. This meal was one of the festival meals
for Passover. Before the meal Jesus did something which surprised his friends. He washed
the feet of every person, a task which was normally done by a servant. By doing this he
wanted to show his followers that they should love one another in humble ways.
Later in the meal which is known to Christians as 'The Last Supper', Jesus passed round bread and
wine. He said the bread was his body broken for them and the wine was his blood
shed for them. He was telling them that he was going to die and that when they
share bread and wine they should remember him. Christians share bread and wine
at their church services all year round, but it is even more special on Maundy
Thursday. Jesus also told his friends that they should love one another. It was
later on this night that Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
As a way of showing love for others, there was a custom in England before 1689 for the king or
queen to wash the feet of the poor in Westminster Abbey every Maundy Thursday.
They also gave them gifts of food and clothing. In Queen Victoria's time men
received clothing, shoes and stockings and women 35 shillings.
Today our Queen does not wash feet or give clothing. Instead she gives out something called
Maundy money, which is specially made for the occasion. In 2008 this is given to
82 male and
82
female pensioners, because she is 82
years old this year. The coins are given in special
white and red leather purses. The white purse contains silver Maundy coins matching the
Queen's age in pence - 82p, while
the red purse contains ordinary money. The service
takes place at a different cathedral or abbey each year and people are chosen to receive
the money because of good work they have done in their community.
Read about Good Friday.