Pope Francis washes feet

[ringil]

I really appreciate this sort of response as opposed to the usual response I’ve seen lately in the forums which is a bunch of anger and name-calling towards posters who don’t fall in line with everyone else’s feelings about our new Pope. There are people out there, myself included, that are struggling and working through REAL feelings whether we understand them or not. Most of us are NOT happy with our feelings, but they are there for whatever reason.

Rather than admonish them, it would be much more helpful to pray for them or give them as much information and reassurance to allay whatever concerns or fears they may have. I would say that there are probably a lot of people out there *beyond CAF *who are struggling with this and I think it would be a huge mistake if other Catholics ignore it or get angry with them.

Thank you for listening because I think it needed to be said. I hope what I wrote was not offensive because it was not meant to be.

Perhaps it is the Evil One driving this fear and disillusionment. God desires that Catholics follow the lead of the Pope with hopeful obedience. The Devil seeks chaos and division.

THe Pontiff is our Rock.

Perhaps call to St. Michael to defend against these temptations and fears.

 

[Pulvis]

from sojo’s post
"The Pope himself told one reporter something very important. He said that Catholics should be following Christ, not the Pope. The Pope is nothing - merely a servant-leader. If a Pope’s actions lead one to stop believing in the Church, then it shows we have gone seriously astray. "

For those who may not have had/received a proper catechesis as to Who the Pope is, What his duties are and Why Christ established the Papacy, here is a good, orthodox link:

newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm

From Vatican Council I; Ch. 3: #9

“So, then,
if anyone says that
the Roman pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and
not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole church, and this
not only in matters of
faith and morals, but also in those which concern the
discipline and government of the church dispersed throughout the whole world; or that
he has only the principal part, but not the absolute fullness, of this supreme power; or that
this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the churches and over all and each of the pastors and faithful:
let him be anathema.”

papalencyclicals.net/Councils/ecum20.htm

 

[johnmann]

The controversy was addressed by the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy in 1987. old.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.shtml

The practice of washing women’s feet is acknowledged and lauded despite the recognition that it’s against the rubrics.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Not to play conspiracy theorist or anything, but we know that right around major Holy Days, the secular world goes absolutely diabolic in trying to find ways to put Christians at each other’s throats.

If Satan can’t find something REAL to get us sniping at each other, he’ll invent or distort something.

And he did. Big time. Lots of people just playing into his hands.

Some fall for the big lie that somehow Pope Francis is ‘changing doctrine’.
(He isn’t).
Some fall for the little lie that ‘what the Pope does, does not matter’.’
(It does, but NOT necessarily the way that some think it does).

Some fall for a world view that is presented as being either ‘espoused’ by the Pope, or ‘rejected’ by the Pope. . .and in both cases, the Pope is doing NEITHER.

Some fall for the written or spoken distortions and get wound up into strawmen arguments.

Some fall for the sublter presentation of, again, “it doesn’t matter because it’s too petty”, some for ‘it’s BIGGER than it is’, and some get confused or deluded.

SO: Become properly educated. If you defend the Faith make sure you’re not only defending an accurate interpretation of the Faith itself, and make sure you’re doing it properly.

Don’t ‘knee jerk’, but don’t dismiss legitimate concerns. Don’t leap to conclusions, but don’t shut your eyes and pretend there’s nothing there.

Trust in God, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that all the actions are coming ‘from Him’. Trust that He will ‘make all well’, but don’t think one can be Dr Pangloss and announce that anything goes and it’s hunky dory.

Don’t be a hypocrite, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because you (like me) are personally guilty of anything from mistaken ideas to actual sin, it means you can’t say anything about objective truth (you can).

Pray, trust, and COOPERATE with what God calls you to do.

 

[Lormar]

Perhaps it is the Evil One driving this fear and disillusionment. God desires that Catholics follow the lead of the Pope with hopeful obedience. The Devil seeks chaos and division.

THe Pontiff is our Rock.

Perhaps call to St. Michael to defend against these temptations and fears.

No perhaps about it. It is the Evil One. I understand what Lucky is going through.

 

[Lucky7]

The controversy was addressed by the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy in 1987. old.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.shtml

The practice of washing women’s feet is acknowledged and lauded despite the recognition that it’s against the rubrics.

Yes, it mentions women and the feet of “some of the faithful”, not non-Catholics.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Jimmy Akin has a very good exegesis on the whole foot washing incident on his blog.
Here’s a snippet

Thank you!

 

[JReducation]

Yes, it mentions women and the feet of “some of the faithful”, not non-Catholics.

You have to understand there how the word “faithful” is being used. Take in context. For the Church, those sitting in the pews are the faithful. She does not distinguish between the Catholic and the Jew sitting in the pews. When a liturgical rubric says that faithful, it’s referring to the people present at the liturgy. It does not exclude non-Catholics. The writers were not even thinking about those finer distinctions. This is a different context. Catholicism is not required for this, because it’s not a ministry.

 

[Lucky7]

You have to understand there how the word “faithful” is being used. Take in context. For the Church, those sitting in the pews are the faithful. She does not distinguish between the Catholic and the Jew sitting in the pews. When a liturgical rubric says that faithful, it’s referring to the people present at the liturgy. It does not exclude non-Catholics. The writers were not even thinking about those finer distinctions. This is a different context. Catholicism is not required for this, because it’s not a ministry.

Do you have something that shows this to be the case? Because I always thought the “faithful departed” and the “prayers of the faithful” meant Catholics. How do we know there aren’t atheists sitting in the pew?

I ddi find this and it appears “faithful” = baptized

newadvent.org/cathen/05769a.htm

 

[fabio_rocha]

I thought this liturgical event is to represent the washing of the feet Jesus performed to His (male) apostles.

 

[PJM]

=ringil;10556921]Perhaps it is the Evil One driving this fear and disillusionment. God desires that Catholics follow the lead of the Pope with hopeful obedience. The Devil seeks chaos and division.

THe Pontiff is our Rock.

Perhaps call to St. Michael to defend against these temptations and fears.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT:bigyikes:

AND lots of eager Bevers to jump on what clearly they don’t understand!

We need to PRAY MUCH for this good and holy man of God

 

[dshix]

I thought this liturgical event is to represent the washing of the feet Jesus performed to His (male) apostles.

There is a lot of controversy on this topic. Rather than reiterate it, read this thread.

I will say that this breaks the rubrics, but I don’t know very much more about it.

 

[Mariem2]

Really? I thought it was to commemorate the lesson in humility and service that Jesus gave to his apostles.

 

[Lucky7]

I think it is unfair to the media to accuse them of originating a desire to foment dissent in the Catholic Church. I think we’ve all seen enough traditional Catholics on CAF have a serious problem accepting the Pope’s decision to wash the feet of women (and a Muslim). And this follows on worries that his refusal to wear a red cape, deny the red shoes, stay in the Casa de Marta and pay his own bills will result in the end of the Latin Mass. We have had more than one CAF member lament a possible total loss of faith over the new Pope. The reaction has been enough to get several threads locked down due to the disrespect shown the Pope. This even beats the chest thumping when Bl. JPII kissed the Koran!

I think this is fair. HOwever, I would again argue (and have noticed that not many have responded to my prior post) that these Catholics are not “dissenting”, but struggling. I say the same thing about Catholics who “struggle” with certain teachings/doctrine of the Church. And here we aren’t even talking about doctrine…we’re talking about long-held traditions.

Struggling is very different than dissenting. I would greatly appreciate it if other Catholics on here would refrain from calling those of us who are struggling …“dissenters”.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Thank you, I appreciate your prayers very much.

I have faith in God, but at this point I have no trust in our Pope. A lot of people seem inspired by him and I actually feel a little jealous because I want so much to feel that way too, I’m trying everything I can think of to convince myself I love him and can trust him. Others are saying how warm he seems but I just feel coldness and, honestly, fear.

Read the Gospels. Very seriously. Jesus threw over traditions right and left, He cared about loving one another. That is what the Church is. If you doubt the Pope now, you have separated yourself by your own belief in yourself, instead of trust in the Holy Spirit. Instead, consider that what you thought of the most importance might be far less important than service, above and below.

I doubt the Pope is going to be celebrating a clown Mass anytime soon, or revamping Liturgy yet again. He wants us to follow Him on the narrow path.

God gives us what and whom we need when we need them. Right now, we seem to be in need of Pope Francis. Trust God more than yourself.

 

[Lormar]

With all due respect it sounds like you are reading too many blogs and forums run by schismatic groups.
Stop doing that and you’ll be fine.

I second that.

 

[PJM]

=Lucky7;10557333]I think this is fair. HOwever, I would again argue (and have noticed that not many have responded to my prior post) that these Catholics are not “dissenting”, but struggling. I say the same thing about Catholics who “struggle” with certain teachings/doctrine of the Church. And here we aren’t even talking about doctrine…we’re talking about long-held traditions.

Struggling is very different than dissenting. I would greatly appreciate it if other Catholics on here would refrain from calling those of us who are struggling …“dissenters”.

ITS completely prejudiced and totally UNFAIR because:

1. They have no idea of what actually is right and wrong
2. Are eager to damage the papacy ANY and EVERY way they can
3. It is a smear campaign

This relates to a church practice which is changable!

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Mental exercise. Where does the washing of the feet usually occur? A Church.

Whose feet get washed? Other priests (and deacons)? Is this correct*? I ask because if it is not priests (and deacons) only, then it is already and nearly always not an exact reenactment of the Last Supper, no?

*this is a serious question and I am requesting an answer, please

 

[Lucky7]

ITS completely prejudiced and totally UNFAIR because:

1. They have no idea of what actually is right and wrong
2. Are eager to damage the papacy ANY and EVERY way they can
3. It is a smear campaign

This relates to a church practice which is changable!

I was responding to sojo’s comments as being fair. I don’t think the media is at fault for making this stuff up. There are traditionalists that feel this way. Granted, that doesn’t mean I give the media a pass on everything (for example, I question the report in mercytruth’s thread about the Pope giving communion to the prisoners), but in this case, I don’t think it’s all their fault.

 

[graciew]

I was responding to sojo’s comments as being fair. I don’t think the media is at fault for making this stuff up. There are traditionalists that feel this way. Granted, that doesn’t mean I give the media a pass on everything (for example, I question the report in mercytruth’s thread about the Pope giving communion to the prisoners), but in this case, I don’t think it’s all their fault.

Here is the issue,in my eyes,they may be traditionalists or whatever media wants to be , and "feel " this way.
Their job is to convey facts,not their feelings.In this sense,they are responsible for what they write.