Foot Washing Question

[ljubim]

We skipped it this year… thank God because all previous years it’s been half or more women. WHY oh why do priests feel like rebelling by doing this? We need a crackdown, nonsense like this has been allowed for too long. We’ve seen some bishops take a stand against pro-abortion politicians, hopefully we are re-growing our liturgical backbone now.

 

[markomalley]

It’s not really that simple; after all, Christ gave his body and blood at the Last Supper to men only, but no one doubts that women are to be given Holy Communion.

Actually, it is, in fact, that simple.

There are many of us, the Church included, who would have serious doubts that women should be ministers of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

 

[johns58w]

Last Thursday during the mass I saw that out of the 12 people who got thier feet washed 8 where women. Did something similar happen at your church? dont want to sound sexist or anything…

Not in my parish. It was 12 men only.

I’m very much in question why women got their feet washed. If I were to do a reenactment (movie, play, recital,etc.) of the Jesus washes the disciples feet, I would go to Gospel of John 13: 1-15.which was by the way the Gospel reading of this Holy Thursday and go from there. (In essence read and follow the script).

In my New… St. Joseph Missal I will bring forth page 328:

The Homily should explain the principal mysteries which are commemorated in this Mass: the institution of the eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and Christ’s commandment of brotherly love.

                                          Washing of Feet

Depending on pastoral circumstances, the washing of the feet follows the homily.

The men who have been chosen are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a sutable place. Then the priest (removing his chasuble if necessary) goes to each man. With the help of the ministers, he pours waterover each one’s feet and dries them.

Now the circumstance of lack of men or no men, then this would be a pastoral circumstance to skip the washing of the feet and continue the Mass.

God Bless

 

[mswood]

5 women, including me had their feet washed at my parish on Holy Thursday.

 

[turtleoompa]

Every year our priests wash the first communion kids on Holy Thursday. We had 4 priests wash 20 kids. I know it should be men, but what an experience for the kids!

 

[gh4]

I go to a very tiny parish, our priest washed the feet of the 7 or 8 men who were in the church for Holy Thursday. There were about 20 women in the church as well, but we only expected Father to wash the feet of men and that’s just what he did.

 

[Another_Mary]

Everyone came forward to get their feet washed, women included.

Fortunately there were 12 of us. Beforehand Deacon had suggested that some might have to have their feet washed twice so that we could make the 12.

Obviously, a small church.

 

[benedictgal]

The rubrics clearly state “men”. No one, on his own authority, can change them. Why do you think that the Holy See keeps sending out instruction after instruction on these matters? The GIRM is quite clear about what a bishop/archbishop can and cannot do. Changing the rubrics is not one of them.

 

[CatholicZ09]

There were no women at my church. I have heard that only men are supposed to have their feet washed, why is this? Is there a thread explaining it?
Thanks!

This is what the official church document Paschales Solemnitatis states on this matter:

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.

There is nothing there that states that women should have their feet washed.

 

[Orogeny]

So you’ve seen an official document from your bishop stating his official position for your diocese?

The dioscean web site references, in fact uses the actual text, from the USCCB in allowing for women to be included in the foot washing.

archgh.org/Worship/faqs.htm

Here are some photos from the Holy Thursday Mass showing the Cardinal washing the feet of parishioners. Please note the gender of the person the Cardinal is serving.

tweetphoto.com/16733901

Peace

Tim

 

[Orogeny]

The rubrics clearly state “men”. No one, on his own authority, can change them. Why do you think that the Holy See keeps sending out instruction after instruction on these matters? The GIRM is quite clear about what a bishop/archbishop can and cannot do. Changing the rubrics is not one of them.

My response to you is the same as my response to Br. Rich - if you truly believe that Cardinal DiNardo has a poorer understanding of what he can or can’t do than you do, you need to contact him. I’m sure he would appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

Peace

Tim

 

[centurionguard]

The rubrics clearly state “men”. No one, on his own authority, can change them. Why do you think that the Holy See keeps sending out instruction after instruction on these matters? The GIRM is quite clear about what a bishop/archbishop can and cannot do. Changing the rubrics is not one of them.

“Paschales Solemnitatis” maintains the tradition of Men Only for Foot Washing on Holy Thursday.

However; why is it that the Holy See sometime back before 1996 granted discretionary permission to U.S. and Canadian Bishops to use women in foot washing?

To me this is a complete retraction of “Paschales Solemnitatis”. And you wonder why there’s so much confusion.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

This year it was 12 of the 18 altar boys who got their foot (one) washed. Usually it is men from the KofC. In 4 years at this parish I have never seen a woman get her feet washed.

 

[Phemie]

Last Thursday during the mass I saw that out of the 12 people who got thier feet washed 8 where women. Did something similar happen at your church? dont want to sound sexist or anything…

No woman got her feet washed at my parish – but neither did 12 men, they were only to able to come up with 8 who would do so. It’s the first time without women since we did away with hand washing and restarted the foot washing ritual.

 

[centurionguard]

Here’s an article worth reading: skellmeyer.blogspot.com/2009/03/holy-thursday-washing-feet.html

 

[TAllan]

IIRC there were two women that had their feet washed. All 12 of the people were from the RCIA class.

 

[Schluns]

The dioscean web site references, in fact uses the actual text, from the USCCB in allowing for women to be included in the foot washing.

archgh.org/Worship/faqs.htm

Here are some photos from the Holy Thursday Mass showing the Cardinal washing the feet of parishioners. Please note the gender of the person the Cardinal is serving.

tweetphoto.com/16733901

Peace

Tim

Here’s the actual USCCB faq usccb.org/liturgy/q%26a/general/feet.shtml

Pay attention to point #4
Because the gospel of the mandatum read on Holy Thursday also depicts Jesus as the “Teacher and Lord” who humbly serves his disciples by performing this extraordinary gesture which goes beyond the laws of hospitality,2 the element of humble service has accentuated the celebration of the foot washing rite in the United States over the last decade or more. In this regard, it has become customary in many places to invite both men and women to be participants in this rite in recognition of the service that should be given by all the faithful to the Church and to the world. Thus, in the United States, a variation in the rite developed in which not only charity is signified but also humble service.

– Yes, it has fallen into habit that women may have their feet washed on Holy Thursday, yes we may be EMs, yes we may be servers. But I beg the question, should we? I still believe the answer is NO!

In the U.S. men are giving up their rolls as the family spiritual leader and by allowing their roll to fall to the women, lose a very important roll in the family and in society.

If you want research on how paternal leadership affects the children’s church attendance and their contributions to society, I would be more than happy to PM it to you. I just did not want to get off track.

To (mis) quote my fav line of Jurassic Park, “Just because you can do something, does not mean you should”. I just don’t understand why so many men are willing to give up something so important. If I were a man, I would pull my wife back down in the seat and go up when Father made the request.

However, as a wife I am very proud that my husband answers that call, and I don’t have to shove him out of the pew.

 

[benedictgal]

The dioscean web site references, in fact uses the actual text, from the USCCB in allowing for women to be included in the foot washing.

archgh.org/Worship/faqs.htm

Here are some photos from the Holy Thursday Mass showing the Cardinal washing the feet of parishioners. Please note the gender of the person the Cardinal is serving.

tweetphoto.com/16733901

Peace

Tim

That statement, however, came one year before the promulgation of Paschale Solemnitatis. In this case, PS, because it is an authoritative document of the Holy See, is the prevailing rule.

 

[Orogeny]

That statement, however, came one year before the promulgation of Paschale Solemnitatis. In this case, PS, because it is an authoritative document of the Holy See, is the prevailing rule.

As I noted earlier, the USCCB has a note at the bottom of the page that comes from that reads “This is the latest statement of this Secretariat on the question. No subsequent legislation or instructions have necessitated a modification in the statement.”(bolding added by me). As I read that, it means that the USCCB doesn’t feel that the later version of PS changes their position.

Your disagreement isn’t with me, it is with Cardinal DiNardo. My personal opinion and your reading of PS is irrelevant. I follow my bishop and I trust that he understands what he is doing. You disagree with him and, in all honesty, if you are sure you are correct and he is wrong, you have an obligation to correct him.

I don’t know him well enough to have his personal cell phone number, but if you call the archdioscean offices, I’m sure they can direct you to him.

Peace

Tim

 

[benedictgal]

As I noted earlier, the USCCB has a note at the bottom of the page that comes from that reads “This is the latest statement of this Secretariat on the question. No subsequent legislation or instructions have necessitated a modification in the statement.”(bolding added by me). As I read that, it means that the USCCB doesn’t feel that the later version of PS changes their position.

Your disagreement isn’t with me, it is with Cardinal DiNardo. My personal opinion and your reading of PS is irrelevant. I follow my bishop and I trust that he understands what he is doing. You disagree with him and, in all honesty, if you are sure you are correct and he is wrong, you have an obligation to correct him.

I don’t know him well enough to have his personal cell phone number, but if you call the archdioscean offices, I’m sure they can direct you to him.

Peace

Tim

You have yet to provide us any official statement from the Archdiocese. Perhaps, for all we know, The Cardinal Archbishop may not be aware of certain practices employed in his diocese. That happens.

Regarding the USCCB, I have not had a very positive experience with them. The Secretariat’s office told me that they are not the “enforcing agency” of the liturgy, when I have contacted them about severe irregularities. On the other hand, the CDWDS has excellent “customer service”.

The bottom line is that the USCCB does not have universal jurisdiction, nor, does it have the authority to make up its own policy apart from Rome. If the USCCB wants to allow women to have their feet washed, it has to propose it and receive a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Latin Rite bishops in order to send it to Rome for recognitio. So far, that has not happened. What transpired in Boston is an individual case and not applicable to the whole country.