The first part of the Triduum three-part liturgy (Church). The sacred service recalls the institution of the Last Supper and the call to love our neighbor as ourselves, then as we recall the Lord’s arrest we strip the altar and the church of all ornamentation. There is no celebration as our Lord is taken from us, we leave in continuation of the liturgy in our hours and minutes only to return on Good Friday to see our Lord nailed to the cross.
The Readings are: