Maundy Thursday in Australia

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday in the Holy Week. It is the Thursday before the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was the day when the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples happened. The observance of Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is part of the different events that happen during the Holy Week and the entire Lenten Season.

How Maundy Thursday is Observed in Australia

Australia, being a country with a huge Christian community, observes Maundy Thursday. In Catholic Churches, events that commemorate on what happened on the Thursday of the Holy Week are arranged. The events that tell the stories of Jesus Christ before his death include the Last Supper of Jesus. It is also at the Last Supper where Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples. The Last Supper was the last meal of Jesus Christ with his disciples before he was arrested, courtesy of an unfaithful disciple named Judas. The highlight of the Last Supper is the holy consecration of the bread and the wine, which is also highly regarded during Maundy Thursday. Catholic Churches also schedule night vigils, prayers, and public confession during Maundy Thursday. There are churches that serve communal meals after the services.

Maundy Thursday in Australia is not considered a public holiday. Therefore, business and public offices, government departments, schools, and commercial establishments are open on Maundy Thursday. However, business owners who are strongly devoted to the Holy Week opt to not open on this holy day as a sign of high respect on Maundy Thursday. They see Maundy Thursday, or the entire Lenten Season, as the best time to reflect, pray, and ask for forgiveness of sins.

For non-Christians in Australia, Maundy Thursday is just like a normal day. Since the schedule in the workplace and in schools is not affected by this Lenten event, non-Christians proceed to their respective works for the day. But since Easter Sunday calls for celebration for everyone, non-Christians usually start planning for the big Sunday event during Maundy Thursday. For Easter Sunday celebration, they would search for resorts where they would check-in their families, or fine restaurants where they would partake sumptuous foods.

The Relevance of the Word “Maundy”

The event can be plainly called Holy Thursday, but it is more fitting to use the term Maundy because of the very relevant meaning of the word. The term Maundy came from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment in English translation. After Jesus Christ has washed the feet of his disciples, he instructed them with a new commandment. His commandment is found in the Bible’s New Testament,  and that is to “love one another as I have loved you.”