However, this document was written in 1987. Paschale Solemnitatis, the document I quoted from that comes from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the authoritative office of the Holy See that regulates these matters, was written in 1988. To my knowledge, nothing in that document has been abrogated. It still carries the force of law.
I understand everything you say, and agree…but how this was passed down to me by priests, is that we are all called to serve one another, lay or clergy. The washing of the feet wasn’t only symbolic for the priesthood. That is clearly not presented that way in the Bible, for one thing. We as Catholics can interpret it that way, but I don’t think that Jesus’ washing of His Apostles’ feet were only to show that priests would be serving their flocks. It is a symbol for us all, to serve one another. He demonstarted this however, through His Apostles, who yes, were going to be serving the Church, as ordained priests. There seems to be a dual message, though. It has always been presented that way, in homilies, etc during masses throughout the year, when this is brought up. I only began attending very ‘liberal’ parishes down in Florida…and now, I’m back to a traditional one. But, the parish we attended back in PA, spoke of this, and they seemed to be a very conservative parish. I don’t imagine if this did NOT have a dual meaning, that anyone other than men would ever be permitted to have their feet washed, optional service or not.
Yes, but the document is still up on the web site, and says at the bottom “This is the latest statement of this Secretariat on the question. No subsequent legislation or instructions have necessitated a modification in the statement.”
Thank you for this explanation, it’s beautiful.
But, again, we need to look at the context. While there are layered meanings to the washing of the feet, Jesus places this within the confines of the Last Supper. As I noted in some posts, the Aaronic priests had to purify themselves before offering the sacrifice. Jesus, because He is all pure, did not need this purification ritual. The Apostles, on the other hand, did. And, since they were going to be charged with perpetuating this sacrificial offering of the True Paschal Lamb (Do this in memory of me), they needed to be purified.I understand this, I do.
Not everything we do, should have to explained or completely understood, but Jesus’ washing of the feet was at a certain place and time–if women were present, do you suppose He would exclude them? I believe we all know that Jesus was only present with the 12 Apostles, during the Last Supper…and thus, that is why the Church has only men involved in the present day washing of feet.
If it were a grave offense, why would the Pope allow bishops of local dioceses to ‘permit’ women to have their feet washed.
I don’t want my feet washed, let me say that,
We are dealing with 2 different Latin words being translated “men”.
Abuse of the Liturgy is grave matter. The Church has repeatedly spoken on this matter so your pastor most likely has full knowledge (and you definitely do now). Add in full consent of the will and you have mortal sin.
But, the latest statement is 22 years old. Whatever statements made by the Secretariat are, I believe, overridden by official documents from the Holy See. Furthermore, this is the Secretariat’s interpretation of the ritual and it predates Paschale Solemnitatis, which came out a year later because there were many complaints about confusion with the various rituals associated with Holy Week, including the washing of the feet.
Do you see what you have said. He remember the Last Supper on Holy Thursday.We don’t see female priests…no dual meanings.
We don’t see female deacons…no dual meanings.
If women and children are permitted to have their feet washed, how can we say that there is only one meaning behind what Jesus did, by washing of His Apostles’ feet?
You have no right to tell that poster she is sinning by viewing the washing of feet at her parish.
Self righteousness and indignation is also sinful.The actions of that night were to serve as a teachable moment, not only for the Apostles carrying on the priesthood …and for them to serve those in the Church, but also for us to serve one another in humility. I have never heard it mentioned in priests’ homilies through the years, that the washing of the Apostles feet had only to do with Jesus preparing His Apostles for the priesthood. It has always been ‘taught’ that the washing of the feet was to serve us as an example of utter humility Jesus had for us all. Dual meaning.
You have no right to tell that poster she is sinning by viewing the washing of feet at her parish.
If a parish allows for women’s feet to be washed, it sounds like from others here that the Pope is permitting local dioceses to open that up as a showing of humility, if this is the intent. Same as female altar servers…if this is such a grave offense, why does the Pope allow local dioceses to choose this, if they will? Or is a bishop in mortal sin, in your opinion?
Perhaps it would be best to re-read what Paschale Solemnitatis has to say:
Remember what Jesus also told Peter when Peter asked him to wash the rest of him as well his feet. He said that those who have bathed do not need to be bathed again, although not all are pure. He was referring here to Judas. Thus, Judas, even though his feet had been washed, did not have that purity of heart.
A statement is found on this matter on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.htm. Paragraphs 4 and 5 state:
Jesus didn’t wash ‘lay’ men’s feet, is my point.Perhaps you may want to reread the thread. I did not tell that poster he/she was sinning. That poster told us that he/she was sinning. The poster, after being informed that the Catholic Church says that the action is wrong, publicly stated that he/she disagrees with the Catholic Church.You have no right to tell that poster she is sinning by viewing the washing of feet at her parish.
The Catholic Church herself says that to praise a sin is to cooperate in that same sin.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, quoting Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concillium, says:
Straw man argument.
For whatever reason in 1987 the USCCB released a document seeming to permit something the Holy See said was not permissible. They had no authority to do this.
Perhaps you may want to reread the thread. I did not tell that poster he/she was sinning. That poster told us that he/she was sinning. The poster, after being informed that the Catholic Church says that the action is wrong, publicly stated that he/she disagrees with the Catholic Church.
**
No, the poster did not say that–you assume she/he is sinning. And, if someone doesn’t know something is sinful, then ‘praising’ it wouldn’t seem like that would be sinful.**
Remember this?:
The Catholic Church herself says that to praise a sin is to cooperate in that same sin.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, quoting Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concillium, says:
Nevertheless, the priest must remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.
GIRM 24
No, that’s true. But, if the Arch/Bishop ‘permits’ it, it seems to be permissible, according to that document back in the 80’s.
The parish has no authority to allow it in the first place.
Straw man argument.
Female alter servers are permitted by the Church. If a bishop decides to permit them is his diocese then each individual pastor if free to permit (or not permit) then in his parish. There is no correspondence here to the washing of feet of anyone but men on Holy Thursday Mass.
James
Maybe just impracticality. A priest wouldn’t necessarily have several other priests available. If I remember correctly the Holy Father does wash the feet of priests on Holy Thursday.The only thing is though, why aren’t only male clergy part of the feet washing? I am growing intrigued by this today, and plan to look at early church fathers, and how they went about this ‘ritual,’ and tradition. Because if Apostles were going on to becoming ordained priests…why are lay men used in the washing of the feet? Maybe it should just stop at the priests, however many are serving in mass, to demonstrate this?
There is a distinction to be made here. The poster in the same paragraph as I thank God my parish performs this ceremony without discrimination actually quoted from the Church document that says this isn’t permitted. Here is the whole quote:
The poster was well aware that the Church does not permit this.
Bishops, with the possible exception of the Archbishop of Boston, do not have the authority to permit something the Catholic Church says is not to be done.No, that’s true. But, if the Arch/Bishop ‘permits’ it, it seems to be permissible, according to that document back in the 80’s.
What you see as self righteousness on my part is really not that at all. I saw it as a spiritual work of mercy: admonishing the sinner.
