Washing of the feet

[HagiaSophia]

When I saw this story in the Boston Globe, I became somewhat puzzled - since the washing of the feet has always been to commemorate the selection of the apostles as priests and missioners how can the bishop want to use women in the linup?

"While in Rome, O’Malley also will seek a clear explanation on the washing of feet, an issue that caused controversy after he washed only the feet of men, and not women, on Holy Thursday in April. O’Malley later apologized for offending women, and said he was following Vatican guidelines.

“The archbishop will ask for an extension of the directive on footwashing, to allow both men and women to be washed,” Coyne said."

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/08/23/boston_archbishop_to_report_to_vatican_on_clergy_sex_abuse?mode=PF

"

 

[deogratias]

The Vatican instruction regarding the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday that is found in the rubric of the Sacramentary states:

“Depending on pastoral circumstances, the washing of feet follows the homily. The men who have been chosen (viri selecti) are led by the ministers to chairs prepared at a suitable place. Then the priest (removing his chasuble if necessary) goes to each man. With the help of the ministers he pours water over each one’s feet and dries them.”

The words (‘viri selecti’) refers to only men

The archbishop will ask for an extension of the directive on footwashing, to allow both men and women to be washed," Coyne said."

The proper authority for the interpretation of documents is the Holy See or a two-thirds vote of an episcopal conference. In such a case, where two-thirds of the Bishops of a country have voted in favour of a change due to their interpretation at an episcopal conference, their interpretation must still be sent to the Holy See for ratification (approval and the giving of a formal sanction). Except where the law specifically allows them to do so, no individual Bishop or pastor can give his personal interpretation of a document that originates from the Holy See.

According to the instructions handed down from the Vatican, only men can participate in the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday. This all male implementation is to reflect that the Apostles of Jesus were all men.

And I hope it remains that way. What’s wrong with the women that they think they must do everything a man does - hasn’t the Pope just addressed this and as the French say - viva the difference.

 

[HagiaSophia]

deogratias:

According to the instructions handed down from the Vatican, only men can participate in the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday. This all male implementation is to reflect that the Apostles of Jesus were all men.

And I hope it remains that way. What’s wrong with the women that they think they must do everything a man does - hasn’t the Pope just addressed this and as the French say - viva the difference.

I suspect that the old saying of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” may well have some bearing on it. However, I am getting rather weary of bishops who seem to have forgotten “why” we do some things, we don’t just do them as some “quaint custom” and fail to explain them to the first “lets pretend and play dress up” types that show up.

You can call a wagon a car but no matter how you paint it, dress it or decorate, it does not become a Maserati. (sigh)

 

[Deacon_Ed]

The problem here is that some liturgists have reinterpreted the action of Jesus to represent service rather than part of the “ordination” of the Apostles. If the former there is no reason not to wash the feet of women, if the later is there is no way that one could include women just as there is no way that women could be ordained to the priesthood.

In the East this is, of course, not an issue. Only men get their feet washed.

Deacon Ed

 

[mercygate]

HagiaSophia:

When I saw this story in the Boston Globe, I became somewhat puzzled - since the washing of the feet has always been to commemorate the selection of the apostles as priests and missioners how can the bishop want to use women in the linup?

“The archbishop will ask for an extension of the directive on footwashing, to allow both men and women to be washed,” Coyne said."

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/08/23/boston_archbishop_to_report_to_vatican_on_clergy_sex_abuse?mode=PF

"

Since I tend to be simple-minded and literal whenever it seems reasonable to be so, when asked to be one of the “washees” at the Holy Thursday Mass this year, I telephoned the U. S. Conference of Bishops to ask this question and was told that (despite the Latin “viri” which means “males”) since 1987 (or was it '97?), women have been included. I went through with it out of a perverse sense of “obedience” but would rather that the answer had been “men only” for all the reasons stated here.

 

[kmktexas]

O’Malley was one of a handful of Bishops to insist on “men only”. The USCCB has a document which acknowledges that a custom to wash the feet of men and women has arisen in many areas of the country. It neither approves or disapproves of the practice, just acknowledges the custom.

It would sure be interesting if, when asking for claification, the Vatican “clarifies” a men-only rule.

Does anyone know if this is mostly a US issue? Who’s feet are washed in other countries?

The reason I ask, is that, in my own unscientific observance, the Vatican is becomming less tolerant of ‘USA-only’ exceptions to the rules.

 

[deogratias]

The U.S. Bishop’s statement is thus
published by the U.S. bishops’ liturgy committee in 1987 (see www.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.htm).

See Paragraphs 4 and 5

Paragraphs 4 and 5 read:

Does the U.S conference of Bishops have the authority to change the rubic of the Sacramentary? It does not indicate they got the approval of Rome.

The text of the statement does not claim any authority whatsoever in site of its seeming official because it was published by the liturgy committee.

Does a pastor or even a bishop have the authority to change or vary specific rites at his own behest? I think not unless there there is a law specifically allowing him to do so - there is none on this subject and the new missal states it as did the old one.

So is this liturgy statement made in 1987 valid?

Interestingly this custom only was reintroduced as a rite in 1955 (unless I am mistaken).

 

[Fast_ed75]

Is this more of the people taking “The DiVinci Code” as fact?

I’m a convert to the RCC, and I was shocked to see women getting their feet washed the first time I attended on a Maundy Thursday.
Of course, I was also shocked to see a Sister “playing Jesus”, and lugging a cross around on Good Friday, and girls in purple body stockings dancing around at Easter Vigil.

According to the Bible, Christ washed the feet of twelve men. Men! Not women or children, men. Oh geez, I can’t take it. I am fed up with “liturgists” turning the Mass into community theater!!

 

[deogratias]

Is this more of the people taking “The DiVinci Code” as fact?

I don’t think so - it has been going on since the 80’s - it is probably more a result of the feminists demanding equal rights in the Church instead of accepting their difference and realizing how blessed they are - after all men can’t have babies and it was a woman who was the mother of God.

 

[Lance]

Fast_ed75:

Is this more of the people taking “The DiVinci Code” as fact?

I’m a convert to the RCC, and I was shocked to see women getting their feet washed the first time I attended on a Maundy Thursday.
Of course, I was also shocked to see a Sister “playing Jesus”, and lugging a cross around on Good Friday, and girls in purple body stockings dancing around at Easter Vigil.

According to the Bible, Christ washed the feet of twelve men. Men! Not women or children, men. Oh geez, I can’t take it. I am fed up with “liturgists” turning the Mass into community theater!!

As another conver let me say Amen Brother! Amen!

 

[HagiaSophia]

mercygate:

I telephoned the U. S. Conference of Bishops to ask this question and was told that (despite the Latin “viri” which means “males”) since 1987 (or was it '97?), women have been included.

Sigh - merely affirms what many of us think about this group as a “body”…

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Pray for our bishops. They make mistakes, like all of us. They’ll be held to a higher standard of judgment too, because “for those to whom much has been given, much will be demanded of them.”

May God help our bishops to be the stewards, pastors, and guides to lead us, and all men, to Him. May He bless them and give them counsel, fortitude, piety, wisdom, and fear of the Lord.