Bring Your Own Bell/Genl Washing of Feet

[Tired]

Two tidbits from the latest copy of my parish’s bulletin:

"Easter Vigil,Saturday,April 15 at 8 pm.
If you can come to either or both of these special liturties,please bring a bell to ring during the singing of the Gloria.We have been fasting from this lovely sung prayer of praise and now, to enhance our prayer,we will joyfully ring bells at its return.Your presence is valuable -hope you can come and help celebrate."

"Holy Thursday APRIL 13 7 pm Mass of the Lord ’s Supper
Again on Holy Thursday,we will be washing feet at the Mass of the Lord ’s Supper. Everyone is invited to participate in this humble act of service - to wash each others feet.Christ washed feet and told us to go and do the same."

I think I am going to be ill.

 

[HappyCatholic01]

Just start washing your feet during the Gloria, and ring a cowbell during the washing of the feet.

That will be the last time either happen, I bet

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Tired:

Two tidbits from the latest copy of my parish’s bulletin:

"Easter Vigil,Saturday,April 15 at 8 pm.
*If you can come to either or both of these special liturties,please bring a bell to ring during the singing of the Gloria.*We have been fasting from this lovely sung prayer of praise and now, to enhance our prayer,we will joyfully ring bells at its return.Your presence is valuable -hope you can come and help celebrate."

This is an old tradition that dates back to at least the 15th century. What about this upsets you?

"Holy Thursday APRIL 13 7 pm Mass of the Lord ’s Supper
*Again on Holy Thursday,we will be washing feet at the Mass of the Lord ’s Supper. Everyone is invited to participate in this humble act of service - to wash each others feet.*Christ washed feet and told us to go and do the same."

I think I am going to be ill.

This is a violation of the directives for this Mass which specify that only 12 men are to have their feet washed. But, sadly, it is a common occurrence here in the United States.

Deacon Ed

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Tired:

Two tidbits from the latest copy of my parish’s bulletin:

"Easter Vigil,Saturday,April 15 at 8 pm.
*If you can come to either or both of these special liturties,please bring a bell to ring during the singing of the Gloria.*We have been fasting from this lovely sung prayer of praise and now, to enhance our prayer,we will joyfully ring bells at its return.Your presence is valuable -hope you can come and help celebrate."

"Holy Thursday APRIL 13 7 pm Mass of the Lord ’s Supper
*Again on Holy Thursday,we will be washing feet at the Mass of the Lord ’s Supper. Everyone is invited to participate in this humble act of service - to wash each others feet.*Christ washed feet and told us to go and do the same."

I think I am going to be ill.

I take it you are not in the diocese of Charlotte!

 

[FrCorey]

Deacon Ed:

This is an old tradition that dates back to at least the 15th century. What about this upsets you?

This is a violation of the directives for this Mass which specify that only 12 men are to have their feet washed. But, sadly, it is a common occurrence here in the United States.

Deacon Ed

also when this practice started, people didn’t have thier feet stewing in cheap shoes and socks all day.

 

[slewi]

Can someone point out to me where it is written only 12 MEN are supposed to have their feet washed? I know of at least one woman, an RCIA class participant, that they have invited to have her feet washed.

S

 

[Tired]

Deacon Ed:

This is an old tradition that dates back to at least the 15th century. What about this upsets you?

Deacon Ed

Oh? I’m something of a ecclesial-use bell historian and campanologist and while it’s traditional to sound tower bells during the singing of the Gloria, I have never heard of the faithful bringing their own handbells to ring…

 

[mtr01]

slewi:

Can someone point out to me where it is written only 12 MEN are supposed to have their feet washed? I know of at least one woman, an RCIA class participant, that they have invited to have her feet washed.

S

From “Paschales Solemnitatis” issued by the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (1988):

1. The washing of the feet of chosen men which, according to tradition, is performed on this day, represents the service and charity of Christ, who came "not to be served, but to serve.[58] This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained.

(emphasis mine)
Paschales Solemnitatis

Granted, I believe that the tradition of men only can be abrogated if there are valid pastoral concerns, but approval would have to come from the Vatican.

 

[Elzee]

Tired:

Oh? I’m something of a ecclesial-use bell historian and campanologist and while it’s traditional to sound tower bells during the singing of the Gloria, I have never heard of the faithful bringing their own handbells to ring…

I hope our parish doesn’t hear about this because I can thnk of several people who would jump at the idea. I love the sound of our tower bell ringing for the first time since Lent while we sing the Gloria at the Easter Vigil! Gives me goosebumps! It’s just loud enough inside the Church where you can hear it ringing triumphantly as a backdrop to the congregation singing (we’re one of those rare Catholic congregations that sing!) I can’t imagine hand-held bells having this same heavenly sound. Just my opinion though.

 

[frommi]

Elzee:

I hope our parish doesn’t hear about this because I can thnk of several people who would jump at the idea. I love the sound of our tower bell ringing for the first time since Lent while we sing the Gloria at the Easter Vigil! Gives me goosebumps! It’s just loud enough inside the Church where you can hear it ringing triumphantly as a backdrop to the congregation singing (we’re one of those rare Catholic congregations that sing!) I can’t imagine hand-held bells having this same heavenly sound. Just my opinion though.

Actually…the bells are supposed to be rung during the Holy Thursday Gloria…then they go silent until the vigil. You might be silencing them too early.

And there is no restriction on the number of people who get their feet washed.

 

[Brendan]

frommi:

And there is no restriction on the number of people who get their feet washed.

Frommi is correct, the rubics do not specify a particular number, only a particular gender.

 

[mtr01]

Brendan:

Frommi is correct, the rubics do not specify a particular number, only a particular gender.

Not explicitly, but the tradition the should be maintained and have its proper significance explained is that the men chosen represent the 12 Apostles, hence there should be 12 in the ceremony.

 

[contemplative]

HappyCatholic01:

Just start washing your feet during the Gloria, and ring a cowbell during the washing of the feet.

That will be the last time either happen, I bet

 

[frommi]

mtr01:

Not explicitly, but the tradition the should be maintained and have its proper significance explained is that the men chosen represent the 12 Apostles, hence there should be 12 in the ceremony.

Sorry, but as nice as that thought might be, with the rubricism that goes on around here…thats a no sale.

 

[mtr01]

frommi:

Sorry, but as nice as that thought might be, with the rubricism that goes on around here…thats a no sale.

That’s not “a thought” that’s the tradition as taught by the Magesterium.

http://www.strosedelima.org/images/popefeet.jpg

 

[frommi]

mtr01:

That’s not “a thought” that’s the tradition as taught by the Magesterium.

The statement made is that its noble to maintain ‘12’, but its not necessary.

Liturgical rubrics are not part of the ‘teaching authority of the church’

 

[Sam88]

I was somewhat surprised by both parts of this post. Regarding foot-washing, in one parish I formerly attended, it was a practice to have a separate service on Holy Wednesday, which did not include a mass but incorporated washing of the feet of all participants. This practice does not violate any tradition, and seems to me to be appropriate for those who would like the entire community to be involved in foot-washing.

Regarding the bells, I’m not enthusiastic about everyone bringing their own bells, but it is certainly not an abuse. If my pastor directed that it be permitted, I would hold my tongue. (Although I hope he doesn’t). Time to practice obedience and patience.

 

[Tired]

Sam88:

I was somewhat surprised by both parts of this post. Regarding foot-washing, in one parish I formerly attended, it was a practice to have a separate service on Holy Wednesday, which did not include a mass but incorporated washing of the feet of all participants. This practice does not violate any tradition, and seems to me to be appropriate for those who would like the entire community to be involved in foot-washing.

Regarding the bells, I’m not enthusiastic about everyone bringing their own bells, but it is certainly not an abuse. If my pastor directed that it be permitted, I would hold my tongue. (Although I hope he doesn’t). Time to practice obedience and patience.

I don’t know if it’s a liturgical abuse (it’s likely a liturgical delict), but no matter how you slice it, it’s far from orthodox.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

HappyCatholic01:

Just start washing your feet during the Gloria, and ring a cowbell during the washing of the feet.

That will be the last time either happen, I bet

:clapping: :dancing:

 

[mtr01]

frommi:

The statement made is that its noble to maintain ‘12’, but its not necessary.

That’s why I said it “should be” twelve in my post. Given the significance and meaning of the event which the ceremony represents, what possible reason would justify a number other than twelve (except for cases where limited space would necessitate fewer)?

frommi:

Liturgical rubrics are not part of the ‘teaching authority of the church’

I disagree…and so does Pope Pius XII:

1. Indeed, though we are sorely grieved to note, on the one hand, that there are places where the spirit, understanding or practice of the sacred liturgy is defective, or all but inexistent, We observe with considerable anxiety and some misgiving, that elsewhere certain enthusiasts, over-eager in their search for novelty, are straying beyond the path of sound doctrine and prudence. Not seldom, in fact, they interlard their plans and hopes for a revival of the sacred liturgy with principles which compromise this holiest of causes in theory or practice, and sometimes even taint it with errors touching Catholic faith and ascetical doctrine.
2. Yet the integrity of faith and morals ought to be the special criterion of this sacred science, which must conform exactly to what the Church out of the abundance of her wisdom teaches and prescribes. It is, consequently, Our prerogative to commend and approve whatever is done properly, and to check or censure any aberration from the path of truth and rectitude.

Mediator Dei