Foot washing -Huh?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Latetotheparty
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Latetotheparty

Guest
I’ve been asked to get my feet washed next Thursday. This was a bolt from the blue and I accepted as I couldn’t think of an excuse. So what actually happens? Where should I look whilst he is touching my foot? Is it both feet or one foot? Does he wash it with soap? What about sock fluff? Will he or the Deacon do it? When do I take off my shoe?

This is obviously a time to pin my suffering to the Cross and stop obsessing with my vanity but… I’ve got myself in a tizz already and booked a pedicure.

Thoughts, please?
 
Just read that there is kissing involved.
There surely isn’t kissing of the feet involved. How could someone who has dedicated his life to God kiss my (who has failed miserably at Easter, this year) feet.

It makes me feel funny.
 
That is the whole point. The action mimics Jesus washing the feet of his apostles.
It is an example of “servant leadership”.
 
Last edited:
John 13:8 - Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you will have no place with me.’
 
Latetotheparty said:
Just read that there is kissing involved.
There surely isn’t kissing of the feet involved. How could someone who has dedicated his life to God kiss my (who has failed miserably at Easter, this year) feet.
Click to expand...
That’s kind of the point. Christ himself washed the feet of mortal people, who were sinners like you. And Jesus was obviously incomparably more holy than your priest, who while I’m sure he’s a good man, is also a sinner like you.
 
If you are not comfortable, simply call the office and decline. It does not make one “Judas” to be uncomfortable.

Every priest/parish tends to have a different way of doing this. The average is one foot, simply warm water and dried with a towel. Some priests will kiss the foot, most don’t.

There will be a coordinator who tells you what to do.
 
I was privileged to have my feet washed twice on Holy Thursday, two years in a row, in the parish where I was living at the time. We were given full instructions ahead of time, including what kind of sandals to wear. If they haven’t told you already, ask. And on the day, make sure you arrive well ahead of time!
 
Last edited:
For maximum authenticity, first walk around all day on some dusty dirt roads with just sandals on 👍
 
Last edited:
Yeah…I’m currrently rubbing in foot cream and debating nail polish. My husband hasn’t stopped laughing at me and just suggested purple (that feels slightly wrong but ties in with the season).

OK, I think I’ve got this. It’s very out of my comfort zone but there’s obviously a reason why I was asked.
 
My gnarly old feet with grody toenails are beyond authentic. I won’t let anybody even see them, much less touch them.
 
Last edited:
Latetotheparty said:
My husband hasn’t stopped laughing at me and just suggested purple (that feels slightly wrong but ties in with the season).
Click to expand...
LOL!

Tell your husband that the liturgical color for the Holy Thursday “Mass of the Lord’s Supper” is red, so he might need to rethink his nail polish plans for the day… 😉
 
In my parish everyone who wants to participate in the footwashing is invited. The parish council and clergy do the washing itself. When you come up an usher directs you to the next open person for the washing. In one particular year I was directed to the pastor and and kind of felt like I was going to die. I knew exactly how Peter felt when Jesus wanted to wash his feet. And the pastor so lovingly washed, dried, and kissed my feet that I was in tears. It was a humbling, moving experience.
 
Kissing feet? Has that always been done? It’s hard to see what is going on up front when you are in the pews. I never knew that happened.
 
Yes, a kiss, though without actual contact. It’s something like kissing a bishop’s ring. The priest’s lips approach to within two or three inches from your foot, but no nearer! (In my experience, that is, as I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread.)
 
Last edited:
Just remember, the primary meaning is the ceremony of making a man a Jewish priest – Moses washed the feet of Aaron and his sons.

After that, they would wash their own feet before going into Temple duties – that was what the big basin called the Brass Sea was for.

That is why. All the servant leadership stuff is important, but a side issue.
 
Last year Father asked those of us sitting at the end of the pews by the middle isle to have our feet washed. He made this request about five minutes before Holy Thursday Mass started. When no one volunteered he just counted six on each side from the front row I was the third person on the left side. He washed our feet right at our Pew.
 
I’ve witnessed this on several occasions at my church, but I don’t recall kissing ever being involved. I’ve always seen the one foot approach, which strikes me as a bit odd even when it’s symbolic, because no one would normally just wash one foot!
 
Last edited:
Nameless said:
I’ve witnessed this on several occasions at my church, but I don’t recall kissing ever being involved. I’ve always seen the one foot approach, which strikes me as a bit odd even when it’s symbolic, because no one would normally just wash one foot!
Click to expand...
It depends on the priest. I think of all those we’ve had over the last 21 years only one kissed the foot.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top