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tion being over, there followed a more friendly repast
during which, by a conventional sign, our Lord made
known the traitor to Saint John. Then came the washing
of the feet of the disciples by which our divine Saviour
would give to all His followers a lesson of humility and
of charity ; at the same time He thus directly prepared
His apostles for the receiving of the Blessed Eucharist.
Then, it was that our Lord in the cenacle, offered FOR
THE FIRST TIME the SACRIFICE OF THE NEW LAW which
was to be followed so closely by His immolation on Cal
vary. Then also His apostles received from Him their
first holy Communion by which they participated in the
celebration of the divine Sacrifice. Having made an act
of thanksgiving, Jesus with the eleven apostles went
out, Judas having already withdrawn to consummate
his treacherous crime.
In the garden of Gethsemani whither our Lord was
wont to retire with His apostles to pray, on this evening
He suffered His BITTER AGONY, after which He was
taken prisoner. His Agony was the supreme struggle
which He willed to undergo before delivering Himself
into the hands of His enemies and consummating His
Sacrifice on the Cross. As though it were a chalice filled
with a bitter draught, all the sufferings, the humilia
tions, the cruel tortures of His Passion and death were
offered to Him. He was seized with so unspeakable a
fear, that His sweat became drops of blood, but consoled
by His prayer and the presence of an angel, He accepted
the chalice. Judas might now come with his band of
soldiers. After gently reproaching the traitor, and for
bidding the soldiers to molest His disciples, Jesus allowed
Himself to be bound, giving to the prince of darkness
full power over His divine Person.
He was led to the house of Annas where He submitted