Maundy Thursday

When I was a kid, they used to call Holy Thursday "Maundy" Thursday.  What was that about?

The word "maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum from which we get our English word "mandate". It means command. On Holy Thursday, Jesus gave his two greatest commands. The first mandate was when he instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper he said "DO THIS in remembrance of me" The second manadate was the example he gave of treating his fellow man with love in humility when he washed their feet, something only the lowest servant would do. But he, as Lord and master was doing this and telling his disciples to go do likewise.