Pope Francis includes women in papal feet washing ceremony for first time

[allhers]

Here, at the Chrism Mass he explains why:
radiovaticana.va/player/index_fb.asp?language=en&visualizzazione=VaticanTic&Tic=VA_EIZ1J7OF

 

[chaunceygardner]

Not only two women, but two of the inmates were Muslim. Wow!

The debate on whose feet can or should be washed appears here every year at this time. At our parish, and I believe at past parishes, the priest either selected people of both sexes, or they washed the feet of whoever approached, male, female, young or old. What Jesus did was show his disciples the meaning of humility and service to those who would be our shepherds; I doubt he intended it to be limited in the way it has been. I have this feeling that what Pope Francis did today has Jesus in Heaven smiling and nodding his head, thinking, “finally, someone who gets it.”

Bless this Pope.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Not only two women, but two of the inmates were Muslim. Wow!

The debate on whose feet can or should be washed appears here every year at this time. At our parish, and I believe at past parishes, the priest either selected people of both sexes, or they washed the feet of whoever approached, male, female, young or old. What Jesus did was show his disciples the meaning of humility and service to those who would be our shepherds; I doubt he intended it to be limited in the way it has been. I have this feeling that what Pope Francis did today has Jesus in Heaven smiling and nodding his head, thinking, “finally, someone who gets it.”

Bless this Pope.

Bless this Pope indeed, but it’s really kind of a verbal SLAP at our previous Popes you’ve made, don’t you think?

Think about it. You’re saying that one short year ago, Pope Benedict was washing men’s feet and Jesus was saying, “HE STILL DOESN’T GET IT”. . .

All the previous Popes were not WRONG washing the feet of men only, and Pope Francis is not somehow the ONLY GUY to 'get it right".

 

[_Abyssinia]

USSCB statement from 1987 but this is not in reference to the Pope directly:

“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.”

“5 .While this variation may differ from the rubric of the Sacramentary which mentions only men (“viri selecti”), it may nevertheless be said that the intention to emphasize service along with charity in the celebration of the rite is an understandable way of accentuating the evangelical command of the Lord, “who came to serve and not to be served,” that all members of the Church must serve one another in love.”

old.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.shtml

 

[triumphguy]

I believe that this is damaging to the sacred liturgy and to the whole life and sanctity of the Church.

I wouldn’t go that far; however, you can expect to see the liberal/progressive Catholics taking thismove as a step in the right direction…you know, to female priests.

Not only two women, but two of the inmates were Muslim. Wow!

The debate on whose feet can or should be washed appears here every year at this time. At our parish, and I believe at past parishes, the priest either selected people of both sexes, or they washed the feet of whoever approached, male, female, young or old. What Jesus did was show his disciples the meaning of humility and service to those who would be our shepherds; I doubt he intended it to be limited in the way it has been. I have this feeling that what Pope Francis did today has Jesus in Heaven smiling and nodding his head, thinking, “finally, someone who gets it.”

Bless this Pope.

So now muslim women can become priests!

 

[_Abyssinia]

Foot Washing and Equal Rights by Fr Dwight Longnecker

The whole world is clucking again about “equality” and “equal rights.” It is not wrong to fight for “equality” and “equal rights” but the problem is that these are very emotive and vague terms. Most anyone who feels aggrieved in some way, or even worse, most anyone who is feeling somewhat envious, can start a campaign for equality and equal rights and who can say “No!”.

Indeed, to say “No” to anyone in our society for any reason at all is likely to bring down upon you a lawsuit and a demand for equality.I notice, however, that no one is intent on being equal to those who are inferior. The demand for equal rights has become rather like the stamping of the foot of a spoiled child who wants what the other child has simply because the other child’s got it and he hasn’t.

What would it be like, on the other hand, if we stood the whole crazy world upside down and started demanding equality with those who are our inferiors? What if our whole world were to be ordered in such a way that those who were on top were the servants of those below?

As it happens, the Christian gospel is so ordered. It is the topsy turvy, table turning kingdom of Christ the Servant-King, and it’s illustrated by the washing of feet on this Holy Thursday. What other religion dares to state such a paradox in the world of men? Only the one founded by the Son of Man. What other religion or ideology proposes that the top dog serves the underdog? Even the Queen of England–who still gives out Maundy Money has given up on the foot washing part of the ancient ceremony. “Here peasant–have a bag of gold instead…”

But our Pope–and every Catholic priest tonight– shows the world a different way. Here we say, “I believe not only in equality, but in something called service. I serve you not simply because we are equal in some bland way, but because we are equal in dignity. We are both sons of the most high. This is the equality of the gospel: an equality that gives up equality to lowers itself in a virtue far greater than equality: the virtue of humility.

 

[Lucky7]

So now muslim women can become priests!

I don’t understand this comment (especially given my post was one of the ones quoted).

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Bless this Pope indeed, but it’s really kind of a verbal SLAP at our previous Popes you’ve made, don’t you think?

Think about it. You’re saying that one short year ago, Pope Benedict was washing men’s feet and Jesus was saying, “HE STILL DOESN’T GET IT”. . .

All the previous Popes were not WRONG washing the feet of men only, and Pope Francis is not somehow the ONLY GUY to 'get it right".

Was Paul VI taking a slap at his predecessors when he simplified vestments and abolished the Palatine and Noble Guards? Was John Paul II slapping his predecessors when he refused the sedia gestitoria ? Was Pius XII slapping his predecessors when he simplified the Triduum liturgy? I thinks popes have the right to change disciplinary matters without the presumption that such changes are a direct or indirect attack on prior popes.

 

[vames]

So now muslim women can become priests!

Yep - Muslim and Orthodox men and women can become Catholic priests
usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/28/pope-frances-washes-feet/2028595/

 

[coachdennis]

I don’t understand this comment (especially given my post was one of the ones quoted).

I can’t speak for Triumph Guy, but I believe it is called an attempt at humor or irony or perhaps sarcasm.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Was Paul VI taking a slap at his predecessors when he simplified vestments and abolished the Palatine and Noble Guards? Was John Paul II slapping his predecessors when he refused the sedia gestitoria ? Was Pius XII slapping his predecessors when he simplified the Triduum liturgy? I thinks popes have the right to change disciplinary matters without the presumption that such changes are a direct or indirect attack on prior popes.

I wasn’t saying that the POPES were making an attack; I was stating that Mr. Gardiner’s statement could be construed as a slap against Pope Benedict (or Pope John Paul II) because only a year ago, Pope Benedict (and 10 years ago Pope John Paul, etc.) were washing the feet of men only, and yet this year 2013, according to Mr. Gardiner’s imagined scenario, Jesus, seeing Pope Francis washing women’s feet, said, “SOMEBODY (obviously NOT Pope Benedict or Pope John Paul) FINALLY (meaning that this was something that should have happened IN THE PAST, a LONG TIME AGO) 'got it RIGHT” (as though men only washing was WRONG."

 

[triumphguy]

I don’t understand this comment (especially given my post was one of the ones quoted).

Well, apparently if washing women’s feet means that they will one day be priests, then washing Muslim women’s feet means that their ordination is the next logical step.

Or perhaps getting your feet washed is not a screening process for the priesthood, but is symbolic of Christ the Servant of all, and of the priest acting in the person of Christ the Servant.?

 

[aemcpa]

If he includes women in the foot washing ceremony on Holy Thursday, then those who barred women from it in the past did so in error and he is correcting this error.

That is not true. His actions do not change the law, nor do they free any other priest or bishop to violate the law, and they certainly do not retroactively change the law.

 

[allhers]

So now muslim women can become priests!

I think you have to “get” triumphguys sense of humor to understand how ridiculous this is.

 

[triumphguy]

I can’t speak for Triumph Guy, but I believe it is called an attempt at humor or irony or perhaps sarcasm.

Let’s stick with humour

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

This is fantastic. The original was a lesson in humility. Maybe the women in our Lord’s circle didn’t need that lesson. Clearly some of the women of today do (as do the men, obviously).

He also met with Mary Magdalene (and his Blessed Mother) and told her that he was ascending to “my Father and your Father”. Should we assume that He was saying that the Father was only Mary’s? Or only women’s? Nope. He raised Lazarus from the dead. IIRC, only 1 other resurrection performed by Jesus is mentioned. Again a man. Do women have no chance at resurrection, then?

Attaboy, holy Father.

 

[Lucky7]

Well, apparently if washing women’s feet means that they will one day be priests, then washing Muslim women’s feet means that their ordination is the next logical step.

Or perhaps getting your feet washed is not a screening process for the priesthood, but is symbolic of Christ the Servant of all, and of the priest acting in the person of Christ the Servant.?

So it sounds like you seem to think that I think it’s a screening process for the priesthood?
I was referring to how this report will sound to liberal/progressive Catholics.

Edit: I really need to stop using “liberal” or “progressive” labels and use “heterodox”

 

[_Abyssinia]

Washing Women’s Feet? by Fr Dwight Longnecker

Today Pope Francis washed the feet of twelve detainees in a youth detention center. Two of them were female.

Last year I wrote this post explaining why the rubrics call for men to have their feet washed.

The Pope clearly has not read my blog!

What are we to make of the Holy Father disregarding the rubrics which call for men only to have their feet washed, and what does his washing feet of females say about the link between the foot washing and the apostolic ministry?

Clearly, the Holy Father wishes to emphasize the other symbolic aspects of foot washing more than the link with the apostolic ministry. At the heart of the symbolism of foot washing are the Lord’s words, “I have not come to be served, but to serve.” and “The greatest among you must be the slave of the least.” By taking a step to the lowest of the low in society and washing their feet he is emphasizing the heart of the ceremony–at the expense of the other rich symbolism of Holy Thursday.

What do I make of it? It’s okay. He’s the Pope. I’m concerned that his willingness to disregard the rubrics will give the wrong signal and give carte blanche to every other priest who wants to use the liturgy to make a personal point. I personally wish he had found a way to combine all the elements of this rich symbolism together–maybe by choosing to wash the feet of selected priests and brothers who spend their lives serving the poor. He would thereby have also re-emphasized his role as “the servant of the servants of God”. By doing this within his basilica of St John Lateran (I know he hasn’t yet taken possession of it) he would also be showing through rich and traditional symbolism, the role of the Bishop of Rome as the servant of the poor by washing the feet of those priest members of the Body of Christ who serve the poorest of the poor.

On the other hand, by taking a radical step and washing the feet of poor young prisoners–women as well as men–he not only reminds us of the radical nature of the symbol, but also the unexpected and sometimes upsetting example of the Lord himself–who upset some traditions in order to make a point. Did he break the rubrics? At the end of the day the rubrics are there to serve the gospel–not the gospel to serve the rubrics.

 

[Ohana]

Hello,

… . . . Anyway, yes, the rubrics say that “men” may have their feet washed.

Dan

Hmm, now that we have returned to non inclusive language, I would assume “men” meant all of “Man” or homo sapiens, which includes women last time I asked.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

So it sounds like you seem to think that I think it’s a screening process for the priesthood?
I was referring to how this report will sound to liberal/progressive Catholics.

Edit: I really need to stop using “liberal” or “progressive” labels and use “heterodox”

Washing their feet was a service to them. It doesn’t imply anything about their possible services to the Church (obviously, in the case of the Muslims).

You gotta wonder. Some day there will be a Pope that helps re-unite Christians. What if that Pope is now reigning?