I know, alterserver, I’ve thought about this from different angles. There is the view that washing feet symbolizes Christian service as well as institution of the priesthood, so in that sense, it can be beautiful (assuming there are no hidden agendas). For instance, last year our little parish washed the RCIA members’ feet on Tuesday of Holy Week (since our former Archbishop allowed only men on Holy Thursday). Since I was in RCIA, I was deeply moved–didn’t have any feminist agendas to press personally–it was just–Christ-like on the part of the priests. I felt humbled. It was Christlike.
Also, I’ve thought of this angle…washing feet goes with institution of the priesthood, right? So…Holy Communion was given to the apostles, the priests…so why don’t we pick 12 representative men on Holy Thursday and just allow them to receive Communion? Just some thoughts that I’ve been working through.
This year (some of you will love this–not!) our new archbishop washed the new communicants’ feet in the Cathedral on Holy Thursday–the little girls and boys (6 each). One little girl loved it…because she was last in line and her feet were getting cold, and the water was warm! At least one boy thought it was weird. This was a missed teachable moment!! Still…I think those children will remember this moment with their archbishop and it could be a good thing.
Believe it or not, I really am not sure stressing the service aspect of this rite is good–I worry about the loss of the meaning of the priesthood–and if we start thinking we’re all priests (in a sense, of course, we are)–then what about Eucharist? No priest, no Eucharist. It just goes with that old ''we are Church" mentality we need to lose. So many Catholics I think don’t “get” the Eucharist–it’s so easy to slip into heresy and just do things the way Protestants do. I’m all for washing only men’s feet on Holy Thursday. But there needs to be serious PR and catechesis to avoid confusion and hurt feelings among many poorly catechized (through no fault of their own) Catholics. That’s only charitable. Hopefully the new generation, JPII’s generation will bring a true springtime of orthodox Catholic faith! Hopefully this old, tired, feminist grabbing for power will end in our lifetimes. Really, they ruin it for those who do see some value in the rite as a sign of Christian service.
My 2 cents!