Holy Thursday Hand Washing

[Lynn46]

I live in the Diocese of Rochester, NY. I was at a parish meeting this week and we were informed that we are going to have “hand washing” on Holy Thursday. As I understand it the converts who are coming into the church this Easter will have their feet washed. Then everyone will be invited to come up and wash their hands. The purpose, as I understand it, is to get more people to be involved, because so few like to come and get their feet washed. The most important event of Holy Thursday is the direction to be of service to each other. Hand washing is more symbolic of our duty to be of service to each other. We use our hands in service to others.

I would be interested in any feedback from anyone who has had any expereience with this. I voiced my objections, but it is not up for discussion. Our pastoral administrator and the retired priest who says mass for us have decided this is what we are going to do. Thank you

 

[wannabee]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEK

Sorry - can’t help thinking of someone who washed his hands - and then - well we all know what happened on Great and Holy Friday

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Lynn46:

I live in the Diocese of Rochester, NY. I was at a parish meeting this week and we were informed that we are going to have “hand washing” on Holy Thursday. As I understand it the converts who are coming into the church this Easter will have their feet washed. Then everyone will be invited to come up and wash their hands. The purpose, as I understand it, is to get more people to be involved, because so few like to come and get their feet washed. The most important event of Holy Thursday is the direction to be of service to each other. Hand washing is more symbolic of our duty to be of service to each other. We use our hands in service to others.

I would be interested in any feedback from anyone who has had any expereience with this. I voiced my objections, but it is not up for discussion. Our pastoral administrator and the retired priest who says mass for us have decided this is what we are going to do. Thank you

I would first find the “Option” for “hand washing” in the Rubrics for the Mass of Holy Thursday/ Mass of the Last Supper and see what it says. Because the structure of this Mass is specifically spelled out.

Good luck

In finding it, that is.
Contact the diocese ASAP!

 

[Gratias_Grace]

Lynn46:

The purpose, as I understand it, is to get more people to be involved, because so few like to come and get their feet washed.

Lynn46:

Hand washing is more symbolic of our duty to be of service to each other. We use our hands in service to others.

Lynn46:

I would be interested in any feedback from anyone who has had any expereience with this.

I have never heard of it, and it don’t give me a good feeling. It seems to me that your clergy has a big job to do to change peoples attitides to footwashing. It’s **an hounor ** to get a phonecall from the priest and to be asked to sit in the line of the laypeople which feet the priest are going to wash! (I suppose that the priests in your church do understand that they themselves have to call the males that are supposed to happily obey the invitation)!

To say no, is to tell that one don’t understand what it’s all about!

The footwashing is meant to symbolize that Jesus washed the diciples feet, that even if He was the master He was the peoples servant. The Bible says: "He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ (NRSV John 13:6-8)

… ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ …

It’s a shame if male lay-people say no to have their foot washed by the priests! NO ONE OTHER THEN PRIESTS OR DEACONS DO THE FOOTWASHING! Why don’t these people that don’t want their feet washed stop to be catholic?

I think your church is a case for the bishop. This problem MUST be overcome!

Even the pope washes lay-peoples feet on Holy Thursday. He has even kissed the feet of strangers.

a) Clik at the link!
b) Wait until “The interactive gallery from The Canadian Press” pups up!
c) Click at the cross in front of “Photo Gallery”!
d) Click at forth picture on third row from abowe.

canoe.ca/CNEWSWorldYouth/on_flash_pope_gallery.swf

Mass is not a pick and choose seremony where one puts in what one likes. :bowdown: Tell your parishpriest that!

SORRY FOR SAYING THIS IN AN ANGRY VOICE (MAY BE YOUR FEELINGS GET HURTS) , BUT THE TOPIC IS WORTH A "WAKE UP CALL "!

Must God bless every priest and deacon in your parish and everyone of the lay-people!



G.Grace

 

[Gratias_Grace]

Lynn46:

The purpose, as I understand it, is to get more people to be involved, because so few like to come and get their feet washed.

Lynn46:

Hand washing is more symbolic of our duty to be of service to each other. We use our hands in service to others.

Lynn46:

I would be interested in any feedback from anyone who has had any expereience with this.

I have never heard of it, and it don’t give me a good feeling. It seems to me that your clergy has a big job to do to change peoples attitides to footwashing. It’s **an hounor ** to get a phonecall from the priest and to be asked to sit in the line of the laypeople which feet the priest are going to wash! (I suppose that the priests in your church do understand that they themselves have to call the males that are supposed to happily obey the invitation)!

To say no, is to tell that one don’t understand what it’s all about!

The footwashing is meant to symbolize that Jesus washed the diciples feet, that even if He was the master He was the peoples servant. The Bible says: "He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ (NRSV John 13:6-8)

… ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ …

It’s a shame if male lay-people say no to have their foot washed by the priests! NO ONE OTHER THEN PRIESTS OR DEACONS DO THE FOOTWASHING! Why don’t these people that don’t want their feet washed stop to be catholic?

I think your church is a case for the bishop. This problem MUST be overcome!

Even the pope washes lay-peoples feet on Holy Thursday. He has even kissed the feet of strangers.

a) Clik at the link!
b) Wait until “The interactive gallery from The Canadian Press” pups up!
c) Click at the cross in front of “Photo Gallery”!
d) Click at forth picture on third row from abowe.

canoe.ca/CNEWSWorldYouth/on_flash_pope_gallery.swf

Mass is not a pick and choose seremony where one puts in what one likes. :bowdown: Tell your parishpriest that!

SORRY FOR SAYING THIS IN AN ANGRY VOICE (MAY BE YOUR FEELINGS GET HURTS) , BUT THE TOPIC IS WORTH A "WAKE UP CALL "!

“Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is the most profound religious observance other than Easter in Roman Catholicism”
catholicism.about.com/cs/lent/a/HolyThursday04.htm

Must God bless every priest and deacon in your parish and everyone of the lay-people!



G.Grace

 

[Courage_to_ride]

I entered the awesome Catholic church last Easter. Because I was a candidate for conversion I also was honored to have my feet washed.

We too had our own “controversy”. I was told by my sponsor, who was very involved in the RCIA program, that the tradition of the church is for men to have their feet washed. We had some lovely women in our RCIA class. The priest wanted them to be included, even though it goes against what the church practices. Things went fine, that night. But… some folks have refused to help the priest in the future because of his stubbornness on this and other issues.

The Catholic faith is beautiful, and every ceremony is steeped in tradition.

God Bless

ck

 

[lacoloratura]

Well, of course it’s not what’s called for, but I think there are a lot of things more worth getting upset over. It sounds like they’re not doing away with foot washing completely - you say that the catechumens/candidates are having their feet washed. I have been to Holy Thursday Masses in which hand washing was the ONLY thing done.

I think we can afford to be a little flexible with things like this. As a rule, I’m happy to accept the Church’s way of doing things, simply because I accept her teaching authority. I am also not going to get bent out of shape over something like this when there are so many other, bigger fish to fry. Just my opinion - and I respect everyone’s right to disagree!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

lacoloratura:

Well, of course it’s not what’s called for, but I think there are a lot of things more worth getting upset over. It sounds like they’re not doing away with foot washing completely - you say that the catechumens/candidates are having their feet washed. I have been to Holy Thursday Masses in which hand washing was the ONLY thing done.

I think we can afford to be a little flexible with things like this. As a rule, I’m happy to accept the Church’s way of doing things, simply because I accept her teaching authority. I am also not going to get bent out of shape over something like this when there are so many other, bigger fish to fry. Just my opinion - and I respect everyone’s right to disagree!

I don’t think that the fish would get very big if we would just catch them while they are small!

The Liturgy, Law and Doctrine are not the things that we should be “tweeking” with. I know I will sound gruff when I say "This is the Church, It’s not our Church, it’s His Church, come in or close the door!

 

[otm]

Courage_to_ride:

I entered the awesome Catholic church last Easter. Because I was a candidate for conversion I also was honored to have my feet washed.

We too had our own “controversy”. I was told by my sponsor, who was very involved in the RCIA program, that the tradition of the church is for men to have their feet washed. We had some lovely women in our RCIA class. The priest wanted them to be included, even though it goes against what the church practices. Things went fine, that night. But… some folks have refused to help the priest in the future because of his stubbornness on this and other issues.

The Catholic faith is beautiful, and every ceremony is steeped in tradition.

God Bless

ck

That’s sad. Now both sides are being stubborn. Sure makes for progress and reconcilliation.

 

[rwoehmke]

Some people got to add catsup on their apple pie too. Just can;t leave well enough alone.

 

[All4lifetoo]

Lynn46:

I live in the Diocese of Rochester, NY. I was at a parish meeting this week and we were informed that we are going to have “hand washing” on Holy Thursday. As I understand it the converts who are coming into the church this Easter will have their feet washed. Then everyone will be invited to come up and wash their hands. The purpose, as I understand it, is to get more people to be involved, because so few like to come and get their feet washed. The most important event of Holy Thursday is the direction to be of service to each other. Hand washing is more symbolic of our duty to be of service to each other. We use our hands in service to others.

I would be interested in any feedback from anyone who has had any expereience with this. I voiced my objections, but it is not up for discussion. Our pastoral administrator and the retired priest who says mass for us have decided this is what we are going to do. Thank you

Our parish priest does this also. It is an abuse! This year I am going to attend a different church for Holy Thursday. I am tired of it.

 

[Gratias_Grace]

lacoloratura:

I am also not going to get bent out of shape over something like this when there are so many other, bigger fish to fry. Just my opinion - and I respect everyone’s right to disagree!

To “get bent out of shape” is different from feeling angry at priests doing small changes that in the long run can get in to BIG CHANGES!

When the fish has become large, it may be much harder to deal with it!

http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons3/trout.gif

http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons3/bluefintuna.gif



G.Grace

 

[krazykatlady]

When I lived in the diocese of Richmond, Va our parish did not have a foot washing ceremony. Everyone got their hands washed instead. That parish did a lot of other not so kosher things also.

 

[kmktexas]

All4lifetoo:

Our parish priest does this also. It is an abuse! This year I am going to attend a different church for Holy Thursday. I am tired of it.

Our priest doesn’t wash hands but he lets the DRE organize the foot washing and the way it is done makes me very uncomfortable. He is a very orthodox priest for almost everything else. I think we are going to a different parish this year too since it occured to me that my kids have never seen a Holy Thursday service done correctly.

 

[lacoloratura]

Gratias Grace:

To “get bent out of shape” is different from feeling angry at priests doing small changes that in the long run can get in to BIG CHANGES!

When the fish has become large, it may be much harder to deal with it!

That may be true, but that’s a slippery slope argument, which is a logical fallacy. As I said, I know many people will disagree, but that’s my opinion.

 

[Gratias_Grace]

lacoloratura:

That may be true, but that’s a slippery slope argument, which is a logical fallacy. As I said, I know many people will disagree, but that’s my opinion.

Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion!

G.Grace