Foot Washing Question

[ChurchTorch]

And others will point to this article from the USCCB allowing both men and women.

usccb.org/liturgy/q%26a/general/feet.shtml

I’m just saying.

Peace

Tim

Excellent reference, thanks. It appears those having their feet washed need not necessarily be males. I personally prefer the 12 males as it points to the Apostles but I wouldn’t claim to know more than the Church on this matter.

 

[corsair]

Here is a link to a story that illustrates the sad state our church is now in.
catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5878

 

[The_Reginator]

Last year, I went to my first Holy Thursday Mass after a very long absence. I was surprised when the Pastor invited the entire congregration to come up to the sanctuary (in several lines) and wash each others feat. Man, woman, child.

It was rather odd and I did not participate…

Our priest also invited everyone to participate in having their feet washed and/or washing someone else’s.
I did not watch.
Another year I saw a number of children going up – they had a whale of a time.

Hold on a sec, I just found my post re last year’s fiasco:

Re: Holy Thursday - Foot Washing Ritual

It was party time in our parish this year.
Young children running up to take part in the spectacle, men and women washing each other’s feet.
I had to do a lot of heavy praying during this just to keep a proper perspective on the Mass.

 

[Orogeny]

Unfortunately it does not include any request to the Holy See or any response granting permission from the Holy See. It simply states that it does not follow the rubric and has become a customary practice, even though it does not follow the rubric in the Sacramentary? It does not carry any weight.

My personal opinion is that only priests should have their feet washed. After all, that was what happened during the last supper.

That being said, I do accept MY bishop’s authority to allow women to have their feet washed. Since he does allow it, it does carry all the weight it needs. I consider my bishop, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, to be orthodox and to understand what he is or isn’t allowed to change.

Peace

Tim

 

[puzzleannie]

just to make the point is it fair to bombard OP, a candidate who has simply been asked by her priest to participate, with church rules and regs, as if this is somehow her fault if something is being done improperly.

I plan to participate as instructed to do so (out of obedience to my priest) and to reflect on it’s meaning rather than the mechanics; however, I do appreciate the discussion here because it’s important for us newbies to understand what is, or is not correct. So many of us wouldn’t know if it weren’t for you all!

this is a beautiful attitude for entering into the Triduum, one all of us here should learn from you

Welcome Home!

 

[jpjd]

Well, this is after-the-fact, being that today is Good Friday, but I participated in the foot washing, and here is how we do it in our parish.

At the proper time, the servers bring out 4 long benches and place them in the sanctuary by the top step. The participants are called forward to have a seat on the benches. Father instructs us to remove one shoe/sock. He begins at one end and the participant raises his foot over a basin that was placed on the step under his foot. Father kneels on the next step down and takes a large pitcher of warm water and pours it over the person’s foot. The server gives Father a white hand towel that Father uses to dry the person’s foot. Father gives the used towel to another server, and moves to the next participant. The deacon and another server provide Father with a fresh pitcher and basin about every three washings. And so it goes down the line. Father says nothing and the participants say nothing during this time. After the last person’s foot is washed and socks/shoes are back on, the participants return to their pews and the servers remove the benches.

It’s really a beautiful ritual in which the priest demonstrates his love and service to the faithful.

 

[wisdomseeker]

That would be acceptable as long as they are all male Candidates, they need not do anything.

I dont know why the issue of education of the Faith to priests is not addressed. how long more can we take these non sense at Mass.

yesterday at Mass the priest invited women and girls for the washing of the feet. there was one man and one boy among them. there were 8 priests in the Sanctuary but this priest decided taht he would wash the feet of the laity instead of each other. there was one boy near by with a small camera filming the event and one women with a cellular phone taking pictures from the pew. the music was torturous too. i almost walked away. but suddenly i realized these priests dont know the Faith, how can they give something they dont have. the Catholic Faith is completely alien to people now and days.

how long more can we sit idle and see our Faith and Tradition dissapearing from teh Church. no one seem to care about what is going on at Mass. only few do. but are silent.
how can we campaign to educate our priests in teh Catholic Faith?

 

[benedictgal]

And others will point to this article from the USCCB allowing both men and women.

usccb.org/liturgy/q%26a/general/feet.shtml

I’m just saying.

Peace

Tim

Actually, the USCCB statement dates back to 1987; Paschale Solemnitatis, which was issued by the Holy See in 1988, specifically states men. Even the Roman Missal states that it should be men.

There will be some who will cite what happened in Boston as an example. However, this permission was limited only to Boston and not to the whole country.

Thus, the ritual calls for the washing of the feet of 12 men.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Here is a link to a story that illustrates the sad state our church is now in.
catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5878

how weird. the bishop speaks the Truth and someone else comes along and apologizes for the Bishop. saying that the priests dont have to obey. how sad.

 

[benedictgal]

Excellent reference, thanks. It appears those having their feet washed need not necessarily be males. I personally prefer the 12 males as it points to the Apostles but I wouldn’t claim to know more than the Church on this matter.

Not necessariy, ChurchTorch. The statement by theUSCCB came one year before the promulgation of Paschale Solemnitatis. PS specifically states that men should be taking part in this ritual. The Roman MIssal also indicates this. When the new GIRM was promulgated, it changed nothing.

 

[Orogeny]

Not necessariy, ChurchTorch. The statement by theUSCCB came one year before the promulgation of Paschale Solemnitatis. PS specifically states that men should be taking part in this ritual. The Roman MIssal also indicates this. When the new GIRM was promulgated, it changed nothing.

The bottom of the page from the USCCB states “This is the latest statement of this Secretariat on the question. No subsequent legislation or instructions have necessitated a modification in the statement.” Apparently, the USCCB does not consider the later version of PS a reason to change their statement.

Additionally, my bishop uses the same document from the USCCB to allow the washing of the feet of women as well as men. I have no doubt that he understands what he is and isn’t allow to change and he clearly is allowing women to have their feet washed. If you have a problem with that, you should discuss it with him. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. He is my leader and I will follow him.

Peace

Tim

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The bottom of the page from the USCCB states “This is the latest statement of this Secretariat on the question. No subsequent legislation or instructions have necessitated a modification in the statement.” Apparently, the USCCB does not consider the later version of PS a reason to change their statement.

Additionally, my bishop uses the same document from the USCCB to allow the washing of the feet of women as well as men. I have no doubt that he understands what he is and isn’t allow to change and he clearly is allowing women to have their feet washed. If you have a problem with that, you should discuss it with him. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. He is my leader and I will follow him.

Peace

Tim

But the document does not say it is allowed, it only states the fact that it is done in some places, that it is opposed to the Rubrics of the Sacramentary! It dosn’t “grant permission”. A Bishops Conference does not have the authority to grant permission (much less an individual Bishop) to ignore the Rubrics of the Sacramentary.

 

[Orogeny]

But the document does not say it is allowed, it only states the fact that it is done in some places, that it is opposed to the Rubrics of the Sacramentary! It dosn’t “grant permission”. A Bishops Conference does not have the authority to grant permission (much less an individual Bishop) to ignore the Rubrics of the Sacramentary.

Perhaps you should inform the Cardinal of that. I’m quite sure he must be confused so surely he will appreciate a lesson on how he should do his job.

Peace

Tim

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Perhaps you should inform the Cardinal of that. I’m quite sure he must be confused so surely he will appreciate a lesson on how he should do his job.

Peace

Tim

I’m sure that there is probably a letter or two on it’s way to Rome from people in his diocese. I wouldn’t write a letter unless I witnessed it myself anyway.

 

[Orogeny]

I’m sure that there is probably a letter or two on it’s way to Rome from people in his diocese.

No doubt. Want to put odds on whether women have their feet washed next year?

Peace

Tim

 

[kage_ar]

And even recently, she served as an acolyte at a funeral Mass (for a v pro-life lady).

Lord, Have Mercy!

Mimi

Note, a woman cannot be installed as an Acolyte.

Do you mean she was a lay-reader or altar server of some sort?

 

[Mimi]

Note, a woman cannot be installed as an Acolyte.

Do you mean she was a lay-reader or altar server of some sort?

Yes, I meant she was serving Mass. Sorry if I used the wrong term.

Is this matter serious enough to write the diocese? This is certainly not the first thing that has been noticed, not by a long shot.

Blessed Easter!
Mimi

 

[kage_ar]

Yes, I meant she was serving Mass. Sorry if I used the wrong term.

Is this matter serious enough to write the diocese? This is certainly not the first thing that has been noticed, not by a long shot.

Blessed Easter!
Mimi

The use of female Altar Servers is a pastoral decision. If the woman is a known “dissident” or committs public sin, then, speak to the Pastor. If she continues to promote abortion and continues to serve on the Altar, write the Bishop - but, be respectful and factual in your letter.

"Mrs Mary Slaughter is president of the Abortion Rights Club of Somewhere, USA.

She is currently serving as an Altar Server at Saint such and thus."

Just the facts.

 

[karennascargo3]

What is the difference between an alter server and an Acolyte?

 

[kage_ar]

What is the difference between an alter server and an Acolyte?

Acolyte is a minor order, one is installed to that office by the Bishop.

Those on the way to the Priesthood are installed first as a Lector, next as an Acolyte, next as a Deacon then finally ordained as a Priest.