# Holy Thursday Reflections and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
*2020-04-08*

> Bill reflects on the Last Supper reading from John 13, prays the Chaplet and litany of Divine Mercy, and invites listeners to join Holy Thursday worship.

## The Call to Wash One Another’s Feet

We begin with the Gospel of John 13:13‑15, where Jesus says, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” I imagine my own resistance to that love—pride, fear, selfishness—and ask the Lord to help me let go of those obstacles so I may be washed clean and become a channel of His mercy.

## Preparing for Prayer

Before we pray, I bless a vial of holy water that a friend brought from Italy. I thank the Lord for this gift and for the many blessings He has poured out on us, especially in these trying times.

## The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles’ Creed

We recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, grounding our hearts in the core of the Catholic faith before entering into the Divine Mercy prayers.

## Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, repeating the invocations: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” The repeated petitions help us enter into the mystery of Christ’s love poured out on the cross.

## Litany and Closing Prayer of Divine Mercy

The litany affirms that Divine Mercy is the fountain of life, the source of miracles, and the hope of all sinners. We conclude with a prayer asking God to increase His mercy in us, that we may trust wholly in His holy will.

## Invitation to Holy Thursday Worship

I encourage listeners to seek a virtual or local Holy Thursday Mass to join the celebration of the Last Supper. Though I could not locate a specific livestream for my parish, I know many dioceses, such as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, are offering online worship.

*May we let Christ wash our feet, so we can become instruments of His boundless mercy.*