Feet washing mandatory?

[markguitar_1]

I was asked that since we believe that Holy Communion is necessary for salvation this is considered mandatory. So Jesus also washed the disciple’s feet during the institution of the Communion (Eucharist). And he had some instructions for the disciples that would “accompany” this. Jesus says “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (John 13:8) He also says in vs. 14 “If I then, you Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Vs. 15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

See this would get to be the same argument that one could use to say that foot washing of each other is Mandatory before communion. So he is basically asking why Catholics don’t wash each other’s feet every time we celebrate Holy Communion. Thoughts please.

 

[Oreoracle]

The reason they don’t is because it would be inconvenient. They’ll probably say that those verses are symbolic instead of admitting it, though.

 

[fermat]

Christ said that we must eat His body and drink His blood or we would have not life within us. That is why we go to communion. He didn’t say eat, drink and wash your feet.

This is a case of taking Scripture in a context that is convient to prove some point that someone wants to make. A single passage, out of context, does not make doctrine.

 

[upbeatjonm]

I have often wondered the same thing. It seems to be a command to wash feet. I suppose the Church satisfies this requirement during Holy Week. But we don’t just do the Eucharist once during the year, so we put a much higher significance on the command to eat and drink, than we do on washing of the feet. I guess we have to trust in the Tradition that was handed down.

 

[fermat]

I have often wondered the same thing. It seems to be a command to wash feet. I suppose the Church satisfies this requirement during Holy Week. But we don’t just do the Eucharist once during the year, so we put a much higher significance on the command to eat and drink, than we do on washing of the feet. I guess we have to trust in the Tradition that was handed down.

I do know that the only time we are required to receive communion is on Easter Sunday, so there is a correlation between the timing of the washing of the feet and that.

 

[FCEGM]

The washing of the feet of the Apostles was a sign of their incorporation into Christ’s priesthood (which is why the liturgical norm of the Church only permits men (twelve of them) to have their feet washed on Holy Thursday. Christ’s priesthood is one of service, signified by His humble washing of the feet of His Apostles; it is not a universal command for all Christians to have their feet washed before receiving the Holy Eucharist. It does serve as a reminder, however, that those who would be with Christ must imitate His humility and His care for others.

cuf.org/FileDownloads/washfeet.pdf

 

[Peter_Dawson]

I was asked that since we believe that Holy Communion is necessary for salvation this is considered mandatory. So Jesus also washed the disciple’s feet during the institution of the Communion (Eucharist). And he had some instructions for the disciples that would “accompany” this. Jesus says “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (John 13:8) He also says in vs. 14 “If I then, you Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Vs. 15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

See this would get to be the same argument that one could use to say that foot washing of each other is Mandatory before communion. So he is basically asking why Catholics don’t wash each other’s feet every time we celebrate Holy Communion. Thoughts please.

Hi, friend.

Note well: Everything added by me in this thread is my opinion. Even quotations and cites are my opinion, because my use of the third party material may not be correct.

That being said…

In that Gospel of John Last Supper scene, when Jesus says, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;” Jesus means, “Whoever has been baptized, he has no need, vis-a-vis sin, except to have his sins absolved in confession.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was asked that since we believe that Holy Communion is necessary for salvation this is considered mandatory. So Jesus also washed the disciple’s feet during the institution of the Communion (Eucharist). And he had some instructions for the disciples that would “accompany” this. Jesus says “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (John 13:8) He also says in vs. 14 “If I then, you Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Vs. 15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

See this would get to be the same argument that one could use to say that foot washing of each other is Mandatory before communion. So he is basically asking why Catholics don’t wash each other’s feet every time we celebrate Holy Communion. Thoughts please.

Jesus says “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (John 13:8) I see in this as a reference to Baptism. You cannot benefit from Holy Communion if your are not “washed in the water of Baptism first.”