On Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, according to the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Luke 22:14–20).
According to the Bible, on the evening of Maundy Thursday Jesus entered the garden of Gethsemane to pray for strength from his Father. But the Apostle Judas, who had betrayed his Master, led the enemies of Jesus – the Jewish priests of the Temple, the Sadducees and Roman soldiers – to arrest Him.
In the Catholic Church the three-day period that marks the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, begins with the Evening Mass on Maundy Thursday, reaches its climax at the Easter Vigil and ends with vespers on Easter Sunday. This period is called the Easter Triduum or three holy days of Easter (Triduum sacrum).
