Holy Thurs washing of feet

[redrosetea]

I am a bit confused are women not to be included in this ceremony?

Our priest washed the feet of the catechumans and 2 were female…is this allowed?

He is a good and a holy man, but I have read this is only to be done to males…am I missing something and getting the wrong end of the stick?

 

[larousser]

No it is not permitted under any circumstance whatsoever, except in the archdiocese of Boston (where the Vatican granted an indult). Charitably register your concern with the priest (often they are simply ignorant of these laws), and failing that your bishop. If he does not correct your priest, contact the Congregation for Divine Worship:

wdtprs.com/blog/2008/03/holy-thursday-mass-optional-washing-of-feet-only-males/
wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/preparing-for-a-yearly-triduum-controversy/
wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/a-diocese-responds-it-is-okay-to-violate-the-holy-thursday-rubrics/

 

[Malkin71]

I am a bit confused are women not to be included in this ceremony?

Our priest washed the feet of the catechumans and 2 were female…is this allowed?

He is a good and a holy man, but I have read this is only to be done to males…am I missing something and getting the wrong end of the stick?

The reason why I stopped going to Holy Thursday Mass was when they started to include women. It brings to mind of the outfit someone wore. This was in the early 80’s. It blew my mind when she was standing there. At the Last Supper, Our Lord was the feet of 12 men. This was in the Gospels. It did not mention any women. This is another tradition that the modernist, feminists and liberals have done damage to. If you go against them you are a bigot!

I do believe there is a Vatican document on why it is to be men. I have to look it up.

 

[chewchoo]

is there an age limit also imposed for the washing of feet?
we had men, women and children (boys and girls) going up to the altar for this ceremony.

 

[BayernAnhaenger]

is there an age limit also imposed for the washing of feet?
we had men, women and children (boys and girls) going up to the altar for this ceremony.

I think it is supposed to be 12 men.

What “men” means, in terms of male, I do not know.

However, I would have them all be sure to be confirmed, so I would make it 16+.

 

[SourGrape]

The number of MEN for the foot washing is not specified, but as previous posters have said, this act is supposed to be reserved for MEN, not women.

Please refer to the following Circular Letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

adoremus.org/PaschaleSolemnitatis.html#anchor268078

Also, Zenit featured a good article explaining the symbolism of this practice:

zenit.org/article-15653?l=english

I have attended Holy Thursday Mass where the Bishop washed the feet of women. That diocese does not have special permission from the Holy See to do so, but perhaps the Bishop was unaware? I can’t say.

Worse yet, though, in my opinion, is when the priest invites anyone willing and wanting to have their foot washed come up! Ugh…it unnecessarily drags out the Mass and as the Zenit article rightly observed, takes away from what should be our central focus: Christ instituting the Eucharist on that holy night, not the foot washing.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

In the older rite the celebrant washed the feet of the altar boys; so there wasn’t an age limit at that time.

 

[paramedicgirl]

If you search the Zenit archives, you will see where Father McNamara states that only men are to have their feet washed on Holy Thursday by the priest. Women are not to be included in this ceremony. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from getting their feet washed, does it?

 

[wisdomseeker]

I am a bit confused are women not to be included in this ceremony?

Our priest washed the feet of the catechumans and 2 were female…is this allowed?

He is a good and a holy man, but I have read this is only to be done to males…am I missing something and getting the wrong end of the stick?

this has been going on in my parish as well. this year i notice were mainly kinds and women. and now i notice that more and more women are taking charge in the Church. last sunday a woman was right behind the Alter preparing the Chalice and Bread while the Priest was sitting down. i see this new priest pretty liberal. it seems to me that is if they are preparing for women to take charge. very sad indeed.

 

[Chatter163]

In the older rite the celebrant washed the feet of the altar boys; so there wasn’t an age limit at that time.

No, the older rite calls for twelve priests or members of religious house to be washed.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

No, the older rite calls for twelve priests or members of religious house to be washed.

In the churches I attended, and served as altar boy, there were only two, or sometimes as many as four altar boys. That was who got washed. After the celebrant the next nearest priest was 20 miles or more away, half an hour or more on those roads. I never saw 12 priests together until I was in college or later. [The diocese now has 93 priests serving 133 parishes. It was probably about the same then. It would have been quite a road show to get 12 priests to each parish on Holy Thursday.]