"Why is this night different from any other night?"

Well, first of all, we have a special dinner. We used to have a pretty traditional passover meal, but those take so long and there is always a lot of other things to do, so we have an abbreviated version. There is that funny crackerish unleven bread, wine, some bitter herbs. Mom makes this apple and walnut salad with the wine. But we do indeed eat in and run, just like the Israelites. We don't want to be late for Holy Thursday mass.

In many ways, it's just like any other Catholic Mass. Two Old Testament readings and a psalm, one Gospel reading and a sermon. But it's different. The Gospel reading is the Last Supper. That night in the upper room, Jesus not only gave us the center of our spiritual life but also a directive for the corporal mission of the Church: He washed His disciples' feet. At mass in most parishes, after the homily, the priest, like Jesus, takes off his outer vestments, wraps a towel around his waist and goes out into the congregation to wash feet. Sometimes several other people join him. The catechumens who will receive the Sacraments of initiation often wash feet. This is just as awkward as it was for Peter centuries ago. But that's sort of the point. It's very humbling. And in this way, we are sent out to serve one another. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven will be the servant of all.

The mass continues as usual with the Eucharist, the other, and probably more important event that happened that night. We celebrate the Last Supper at every mass. It's THE center to Catholic life.
The Eucharist is the most perfect form of worship. The word itself means thanksgiving. We also call it communion. We are closest to Christ when we have received him in the Eucharist. He is literally inside us; body soul and divinity. I used to tell my girls club that Christ wanted to be physically and spiritually close to us; as close to us as was physically possible; close to us in the way He was close to Mary, the perfect disciple. He was inside Mary's body for nine months. What an incredible miracle to have God living inside your body. Christ wanted that same closeness with each of us. That is the miracle of the Eucharist. Jesus come to be inside us physically for a few minutes. We are all tabernacles for those moments.
Holy Thursday is the day to celebrate this sacrifice and miracle in a special way.

Twice as many hosts are consecrated, since none will be consecrated tomorrow (and Catholics simply can't function without the Eucharist). We know that with every passing minutes, Jesus draws closer to Calvary. While we are still on our knees giving thanks, the priest puts away the extra hosts and carries them in procession to a specially prepared side alter. This little alter is decked in greenery. It is the garden where Jesus prays. Back at the high alter, the alter clothes are being reverently folded up and put away. Everything is stripped bare. The side alter in green and the tiny candle burning beside it are the only relief. We stay and pray with Him, trying not to fall asleep. The church will stay open late into the night. One by one we stand and reluctantly leave. Tomorrow will be a long and hungry day.