Mandatum novum

- Aurelio Porfiri

Use: Holy Thursday
Required Resources: SATB choir
Language: Latin

There are six antiphons given in the Roman Missal (Sacramentary) for use during the Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday:

1. The Lord Jesus, when he had eaten with his disciples, poured water into a basin and began to wash their feet, saying: This example I leave you.
2. Lord, do you wash my feet?
   Jesus said to him: If I do not wash your feet, you can have no part with me.
   V. So he came to Simon Peter, who said to him: Lord, do you wash my feet?
   V. Now you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand. Lord, do you wash my feet?
3. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then surely you must wash one another's feet.
4. If there is this love among you, all will know that you are my disciples.
   Jesus said to his disciple: If there is this love among you, all will know that you are my disciples.
5. I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, says the Lord.
6. Faith, hope and love, let these endure among you; and the greatest of these is love.

In Mandatum novum we have a Latin setting of Number 5, perhaps the most famous and poetic of these antiphons. The a cappella motet is written in neo-Renaissance style, modal, and with chant incipits to begin each section. It is three pages in length, with a Da Capo, making it five pages total time. While this will not cover the entire rite of Foot Washing, it can be extended with other modal music, particularly psalm verses sung to a Gregorian tone.