Pope Francis to wash feet of prisoners in pre-Easter Mass

[Brendan_64]

You are correct, I can not assume that all twelve juvenile drug offenders have not been baptized. I think one could assume that they need deliverance.

Quite possibly, but we cannot be completely sure of that. We do not know waht is in the heart of any man. I would also say that there are many more baptised Christians in need of deliverance, than there are those who are in prison.

It is probable that Jesus was referring to the fact that the twelve had been baptized and made clean through the words of Jesus Christ. In effect, these twelve **are **disciples of Jesus Christ, except for Judas, the betrayer.

And again, who are we to judge that those in prison are ‘less clean’ than those not in prison? We cannot assume this. We are all sinners.

Celebrating Mass with prostitutes will not save them. All of us baptized, or unbaptized sinners need repentance. instruction, and reconciliation in Jesus Christ before we receive the Holy Eucharist.

Who are we to know how many, or which people, receiving Communion in any ‘respectable’ church community are free from unrepented mortal sin? And with prostitutes, how do we know how many of them have not repented?

We are all sinners, why is someone who is not in prison more suitable for having his feet washed on Holy Thursday than someone in prison? How can we judge that?

 

[Tampa_Dave]

I’ve always thought the washing of the feet was a great symbol of humility.

 

[mercytruth]

Quite possibly, but we cannot be completely sure of that. We do not know waht is in the heart of any man. I would also say that there are many more baptised Christians in need of deliverance, than there are those who are in prison.

And again, who are we to judge that those in prison are ‘less clean’ than those not in prison? We cannot assume this. We are all sinners.

Who are we to know how many, or which people, receiving Communion in any ‘respectable’ church community are free from unrepented mortal sin? And with prostitutes, how do we know how many of them have not repented?

We are all sinners, why is someone who is not in prison more suitable for having his feet washed on Holy Thursday than someone in prison? How can we judge that?

Once again, all of your counter arguments may have some validity, especially if one’s assumptions arise from spiritual pride. On the other hand, presumptions may lead to universal brotherly love which will become an unholy mess. We should also remember that our good works (if we have any) should be done in secret.

God’s peace

 

[Brendan_64]

We should also remember that our good works (if we have any) should be done in secret.

That is indeed true on an individual level. However the Holy Father exists as a special vessel for God’s light to shine as an example to others. It is difficult for this light to illuminate the world if it is locked away, in private and out of sight.

 

[mercytruth]

I’ve always thought the washing of the feet was a great symbol of humility.

It is a symbol of great humility if done in the proper context, and it is also a lesson of universal mutual servanthood within the body of Christ. I presume that for Pope Francis it is more than a symbol for him, it is a conscious act of humility. and I also presume that it is a declaration of servanthood toward those who may not be disciples of Jesus Christ.

His peace

 

[JReducation]

As an initial enthusiast over Pope Francis, the washing of the feet of incarcerated young people on Holy Thursday seems inappropriate from the gospel standpoint. I am under the impression that when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, it represented servanthood within the body of Christ, and not servanthood to offenders of the law.

Don’t get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with reaching out to those who are in prison for wrong doing, but washing their feet seems to conflict with the gospel example of the washing of the disciples feet.

God’s peace

It was servanthood within the Body of Christ, but not exclusively to those who were believers. If one does the exegesis for that story, one finds that the Lord’s Supper is the event at which Christ institutes two sacraments: Eucharist and Holy Orders.

The one order within the Sacrament of Holy Orders that is often forgotten is the Order of the Deacon. The washing of the feet was an act of Diakonia. For the apostles to have the fullness of the priesthood, they had to have the three orders: deacon, presbyter and bishop. Christ institutes the diaconate in this rite.

If we observe the rite during Holy Thursday, the priest takes off the chasuble, which is the external garb of the presbyter. He wears simply the alb and an apron with the stole or he may wear a dalmatic, the proper vestment of the deacon. The reason that the deacon wears a diagonal stole is because the early deacons wore a towel over the one shoulder as Christ wore the towel during the washing of the feet.

It was servanthood within the Church for ALL people, not only for those who believed. It’s the ordained minister serving the poor.

 

[mercytruth]

It was servanthood within the Body of Christ, but not exclusively to those who were believers. If one does the exegesis for that story, one finds that the Lord’s Supper is the event at which Christ institutes two sacraments: Eucharist and Holy Orders.

The one order within the Sacrament of Holy Orders that is often forgotten is the Order of the Deacon. The washing of the feet was an act of Diakonia. For the apostles to have the fullness of the priesthood, they had to have the three orders: deacon, presbyter and bishop. Christ institutes the diaconate in this rite.

If we observe the rite during Holy Thursday, the priest takes off the chasuble, which is the external garb of the presbyter. He wears simply the alb and an apron with the stole or he may wear a dalmatic, the proper vestment of the deacon. The reason that the deacon wears a diagonal stole is because the early deacons wore a towel over the one shoulder as Christ wore the towel during the washing of the feet.

It was servanthood within the Church for ALL people, not only for those who believed. It’s the ordained minister serving the poor.

Thank you. From my reading of the epistles of Ignatius and the Constitutions of the Apostles, I understand the diaconate to represent the servanthood of Jesus Christ to his Father.

That is, the local deacons were the eyes, ears and hands to the local Bishop for those who were in physical need within the local church body. They acted as mediators between those in need and the Bishop, just as Jesus was mediator between man and God.

Turning this around, it would seem to me that Jesus Christ is teaching his disciples that the Apostolic Bishops of the church should wash the feet of those within the body of Christ who are actually ministering to those with physical needs. In effect, humbly acknowleging that all of us as members of Christ’s body are in servanthood to each other regardless of our spiritual authority or ministry.

Regardless, you have given me another valuable perspective.

God’s peace

 

[pete_29]

Hopefully this will be a life changing experience for them.

 

[sennincatholic]

there is nothing wrong with the pope washing the feet of prisoners!in so doing he is expressing what humility truely is.a christian should serve a fellow human irrespective of wether he is a believer or not.that is what genuine love is…

 

[JReducation]

Thank you. From my reading of the epistles of Ignatius and the Constitutions of the Apostles, I understand the diaconate to represent the servanthood of Jesus Christ to his Father.

That is, the local deacons were the eyes, ears and hands to the local Bishop for those who were in physical need within the local church body. They acted as mediators between those in need and the Bishop, just as Jesus was mediator between man and God.

Turning this around, it would seem to me that Jesus Christ is teaching his disciples that the Apostolic Bishops of the church should wash the feet of those within the body of Christ who are actually ministering to those with physical needs. In effect, humbly acknowleging that all of us as members of Christ’s body are in servanthood to each other regardless of our spiritual authority or ministry.

Regardless, you have given me another valuable perspective.

God’s peace

The part that we can’t forget is that a man cannot be a bishop unless he’s a priest and a deacon. The priesthood is covered when he commands them to “do this in memory of me”. Then there is the diaconate. The ordination would be incomplete, if he had not ordained them deacons as well as priests.

Scripture scholars do not mention the members of the body at all. St. Jerome’s commentary refers us back to the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which is at the service of all and which has three ministries.

 

[Lucky7]

We have to look at this for what it is. Every pope is an individual. He has his style, which is shaped by his experience. I like what Michael Voris had to say on this score. I wish I could find it again. In essence, he says that same thing that I said before. We have to stop imposing on the pope. Popes are not carbon copies of each other and they’re not expected to be. They’re individuals. They have different perspectives. They have different worldviews. They even have different views of the Church and the papacy.

To this, I would add that while the pope does not own the papacy, the papacy has been shaped by the popes. Scripture does not give us a standard for the papacy. It gives us a standard for Peter. He is to strengthen his brothers in the faith. How Peter does this is up to him to figure it out. Jesus did not map it out for him.

The richness of the papacy is due precisely to the diversity that the 266 popes bring to the office. If each of them were a carbon copy of the previous one, today’s pope would look like a first century Jewish transplant to the Roman Empire, which is what Peter probably looked like.

Only consecrated men and women and married people make vows. Secular priests make a promise of obedience to their bishop. The promise is simple and it’s renewed at the Chrism Mass.

People often make this promise into some kind of solemn vow, which it is not.

Only religious who belong to orders, not even those who belong to congregations, make solemn vows. Outside of that select group, married people also make solemn vows to each other.

We must be careful not to make this something that sounds like the pope is changing all the rules. He’s going by his own style and his charism as a Jesuit. It probably would not occur to a Jesuit bishop that he absolutely must celebrate Holy Thursday mass at his cathedral. This does not mean that a Jesuit bishop would not do so. As a son of St. Ignatius, he probably sees himself as a free soldier who goes where God calls him to go. That could be to his cathedral or some other place. This sense of freedom is one of the perks that comes with being a member of a religious order. If you can call it a perk.

Thank you for this post. I better understand things…it was very helpful to me.

 

[Lucky7]

OK, so I’m confused. Exactly how is he doing this and how is it different than in the past?

 

[Holly3278]

I think it is wonderful that Pope Francis is doing this. I think it shows a great deal of goodness and humility on his part.

 

[mercytruth]

The part that we can’t forget is that a man cannot be a bishop unless he’s a priest and a deacon. The priesthood is covered when he commands them to “do this in memory of me”. Then there is the diaconate. The ordination would be incomplete, if he had not ordained them deacons as well as priests.

Scripture scholars do not mention the members of the body at all. St. Jerome’s commentary refers us back to the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which is at the service of all and which has three ministries.

Without directing my comments to the scriptures at this time, I would like your understanding of the liturgical precept for the washing of feet on Holy Thursday as of January 16, 1988.

51. 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.

In another words, it seems that men who are currently serving the body of Christ are chosen to have their feet washed, as a reminder to all the clergy that Christ came ‘not to be served, but to serve’.

adoremus.org/PaschalisSollemnitatis.html#anchor268078

Since 1985 both Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI washed the feet of 12 priests on Holy Thursday, except in 2006 & 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI washed the feet of 12 laymen from the Roman Diocese.

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1301316.htm

I can understand that Pope Francis would want to be representative of Christ who came to serve and not be served, but it seems to me that the twelve chosen men should also be included as representatives of that calling within this liturgical ceremony of Holy Thursday.

God’s peace

 

[JReducation]

Without directing my comments to the scriptures at this time, I would like your understanding of the liturgical precept for the washing of feet on Holy Thursday as of January 16, 1988.

51. 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.

In another words, it seems that men who are currently serving the body of Christ are chosen to have their feet washed, as a reminder to all the clergy that Christ came ‘not to be served, but to serve’.

The precept has not changed. The precept does not say that those who are the beneficiaries of the feet washing are to be those who are ordained or involved in any kind of ministry.

The precept says “chosen men”. In Latin, this means “individuals who are chosen”. Who does the choosing? The presider of the mass does the choosing.

---

PS. I should have added here that a pope can change a law or dispense with it at any time without notice. We saw this at the inauguration mass. On Frebruary 27th Pope Benedict created a law that all the cardinals were to pledge obedience in a public function and not in the mass.

Within minutes after his election, Pope Francis changed Pope Benedict’s law. The law was in the books from February 27, 2013 to March 13, 2013. In other words it was bypassed. The same thing can happen with this mass.

The mass has to be celebrated. Where and how is up to the pope.

 

[mercytruth]

The precept has not changed. The precept does not say that those who are the beneficiaries of the feet washing are to be those who are ordained or involved in any kind of ministry.

The precept says “chosen men”. In Latin, this means “individuals who are chosen”. Who does the choosing? The presider of the mass does the choosing.

---

PS. I should have added here that a pope can change a law or dispense with it at any time without notice. We saw this at the inauguration mass. On Frebruary 27th Pope Benedict created a law that all the cardinals were to pledge obedience in a public function and not in the mass.

Within minutes after his election, Pope Francis changed Pope Benedict’s law. The law was in the books from February 27, 2013 to March 13, 2013. In other words it was bypassed. The same thing can happen with this mass.

The mass has to be celebrated. Where and how is up to the pope.

Thank you for the more correct and general Latin original of ‘chosen men’.

BTW (if you do not mind) are all priests Latin literate? And can anyone perform the actual foot washing?

God’s peace

 

[mercytruth]

Thank you for the more correct and general Latin original of ‘chosen men’.

BTW (if you do not mind) are all priests Latin literate? And can anyone perform the actual foot washing?

God’s peace

Well, I found out that the phrase in question is viri selecti (select men) and not individua selecti. The USCCB has determined that the liturgy of Holy Thursday foot washing ceremony should include **all members of the Church **(including females)
regardless of the exclusionary Latin phrase viri selecti

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

But as you say, Pope Francis has the perogative of choosing whose feet will be washed on Holy Thursday.

God’s peace.

 

[JReducation]

Thank you for the more correct and general Latin original of ‘chosen men’.

BTW (if you do not mind) are all priests Latin literate? And can anyone perform the actual foot washing?

God’s peace

You’re very welcome.

Not all priests are Latin literate. It depends on a number of factors:

1. When you went through formation
2. How much Latin you actually had
3. If you belong to a religious order, does your order use Latin

For example, I went through formation from 69 forward. I had four years of Latin. I went through formation with the Capuchins. The Capuchins used Latin back then. You had to do more than just read it off the page. We had to know how to write it, something that I no longer know how to do.

Here is a myth and I’m not sure how it started. Theology has not been taught in Latin since the 1800s. Some people are going around saying that theology was taught in Latin. That’s not accurate. The manuals were translated as early as the mid-1800s. You often had to read the original writings in Latin. For example, we read Bonaventure in Latin. But the book that went with it was in English. However, here is something strange. Theology was taught in your language, but your comprehensive examination at the end of the four years was in Latin and it was oral.

Current law requires that diocesan priests be formed in Latin. It does not specify how good they have to be. Most Latin courses are a year or two.

 

[JReducation]

Well, I found out that the phrase in question is viri selecti (select men) and not individua selecti. The USCCB has determined that the liturgy of Holy Thursday foot washing ceremony should include **all members of the Church **(including females)
regardless of the exclusionary Latin phrase viri selecti

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

But as you say, Pope Francis has the perogative of choosing whose feet will be washed on Holy Thursday.

God’s peace.

That’s characteristic of Romance languages. They always speak in the masculine, even when they mean men and women. For example, if you were to speak about your parents, you would say "My fathers are . . . " ( patres mei or parentibus meis).

If you’re speaking about mankind, there is no such word in Latin or its offspring languages. You have to replace with “man” or “humanity” (humani generis or humanitas). Here’s something interesting about Latin and its offspring. “Man” is written in the masculine. “Humanity” is written in the feminine. Both include both genders.

It’s very hard to nail it down to a gender, unless you know that the document wants a specific gender.

In this case, if I’m not mistaken, they wanted males.

 

[triumphguy]

My general observations:

I don’t believe the Pope is washing the feet of the inmates for any other reason than he thinks it’s the right thing to do.

I see all kinds of motives imputed to his.recent actions.

I see questions about his real versus apparent humility.

People wondering why he’s changing timeless traditions.

As John Wayne might say: “Sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do”

I believe the Pope is just being true to himself.