Thursday, April 5, 2012

New Mandate


Mandatum novum do vobis, 
ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos.
"I give you a new commandment, 
that you love one another as I love you."




In certain circles, today is known as Maundy Thursday.  By way of Old French (mandé), that archaic English word comes to us from the Latin mandatum, the first of the above words of Christ spoken at the Last Supper, which traditionally are chanted during the ritual washing of feet that is such a moving part of this evening's liturgy.

There's been an aweful lot of talk about “mandates” in the news recently.  

Here is the one by which all others ought to be measured.

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