.

When Jesus washed the feet of Judas, it was in the most loving and
affecting manner; he bent his sacred face even on to the feet of the
traitor; and in a low voice bade him now at least enter into himself,
for that he had been a faithless traitor for the last year. Judas
appeared to be anxious to pay no heed whatever to his words, and spoke
to John, upon which Peter became angry, and exclaimed: 'Judas, the Master
speaks to thee!' Then Judas made our Lord some vague, evasive reply, such
as, 'Heaven forbid, Lord!' The others had not remarked that Jesus was
speaking to Judas, for this words were uttered in a low voice, in order
not to be heard by them, and besides, they were engaged in putting on
their shoes. Nothing in the whole course of the Passion grieved Jesus
so deeply as the treason of Judas.

Jesus finally washed the feet of John and James.

He then spoke again on the subject of humility, telling them that he
that was the greatest among them was to be as their servant, and that
henceforth they were to wash one another's feet. Then he put on his
garments, and the Apostles let down their clothes, which they had
girded up before eating the Paschal Lamb.

MEDITATION VIII.

Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

By command of our Lord, the major-domo had again laid out the table,
which he had raised a little; then, having placed it once more in the
middle of the room, he stood one urn filled with wine, and another with
water underneath it. Peter and John went into the part of the room near
the hearth, to get the chalice which they had brought from Seraphia's
house, and which was still wrapped up in its covering. They carried it
between them as if they had been carrying a tabernacle, and placed it
on the table before Jesus. An oval plate stood there, with three fine
white azymous loaves, placed on a piece of linen, by the side of the
half loaf which Jesus had set aside during the Paschal meal, also a jar
containing wine and water, and three boxes, one filled with thick oil,
a second with liquid oil, and the third empty.

In earlier times, it had been the practice for all at table to eat
of the same loaf and drink of the same cup at the end of the meal,
thereby to express their friendship and brotherly love, and to welcome
and bid farewell to each other. I think Scripture must contain
something upon this subject.

On the day of the Last Supper, Jesus raised this custom (which had
hitherto been no more than