There is such an abundance of symbolism in the solemn celebration of the events of Maundy Thursday layer upon layer, that one can do no more than hint at it in just a few words. It celebrates Christ’s institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacerdotal Priesthood (as distinct from the "priesthood of all believers") and it commemorates Christ’s never-ending love for His disciples, of whom would desert, betray, or deny Him a few hours after that gathering.

During the morning of Maundy Thursday, a special mass is celebrated in all the cathedral churches of the world. It is participated in by the bishop of the place and as many priests of the diocese as can attend because it is solemn observance of Christ’s institution of the priesthood at the Last Supper. At this "Chrism Mass" the bishop also blesses the Oil of Chrism used for baptism, confirmation, ordination of priests, and anointing of the sick or dying.

The "Last Supper Mass" marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the sacred "Triduum" (three days) of the Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter Vigil. For many centuries, the Last Supper of Jesus has inspired great works of art and literature such as Leonardo da Vinci’s ever popular (and much imitated) Last Supper in the 16th century, Joey Velasco’s Last Supper which featured street children, and a reminiscence called Holy Thursday, by the French novelist Francois Mauriac, written in the 1930s.

In His Last Supper, a celebration of Passover, Jesus became the self-offered Passover Victim: "Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’ And He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’" (Luke 22:19-20).

But there was something very significant which Jesus did before the Last Supper. In His desire to show both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service and the need for cleansing, Jesus decided to first strip His outer garments and wash the feet of His apostles before partaking His last supper with them (Jn 13:4-5). It is this cleansing on the past of Jesus which gave this day of the Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday.

Jesus, who broke the bread of the Eucharist, also washed the feet of His disciples. If the Eucharist is the place where the Lord washes our feet, daily life is the place where we ought to wash the feet of others. We must follow His example both at the altar of the Eucharist and at the altar of life.