Maundy Thursday as a Day of Remembrance (also) of the Betrayal

II. Liturgy of the Hours

Abstract

Maundy Thursday is not only the commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper (coena domini). It includes "the betrayal of Judas and the arrest of Jesus, as well as the denial by Peter, the accusation before the Sanhedrin and the delivery to the Gentiles, to Pilate" (Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Thursday Mass, 5 April 2012, St John Lateran Basilica). This study looks at Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, in the liturgy of Holy Thursday. His portrait is presented on the basis of liturgical texts. For this purpose, the most important textual witnesses of the Eucharistic celebration of this feast in the history of the liturgy (e.g. the Judas Preface) as well as the relevant Judas Responsories for the Matins of the same day (Officium tenebrarum) from the Breviarium Romanum are examined and evaluated in more detail.