Feet Washing on Holy Thursday
Those who seem to have decided that washing men's feet only on Holy Thursday should be elevated to the status of near-magisterial teaching should take note:
Archbishop Sean O'Malley, after consultation with the Vatican, will wash women's feet this Holy Week:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/19/omalley_to_wash_womens_feet_in_rite/
Archbishop Sean O'Malley, after consultation with the Vatican, will wash women's feet this Holy Week:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/19/omalley_to_wash_womens_feet_in_rite/
posted by Mark Mossa, SJ at 10:35 AM
6 Comments:
This has always seemed a silly stand for the curia to make. If footwashing is really about clergy, why isn't the rite included in the Chrism Mass or ordination? Why are non-ordained feet washed? And if this is all about who supposedly was or wasn't at the Last Supper, why are women permitted to receive Communion? And if this whole deal is about clergy, why is the Last Supper Discourse so broadly applied to Christian life, not ordained life? If the Vatican took a serious look at the Mandatum, it would need to address all of these points. But then again, there'd be no fight for prelates who have nothing better to do than alienate women. And people wonder why the DaVinci Code has such legs with conspiracy buffs. Sheesh.
With respect, Holy Mother the Church should inform the times not the times inform Holy Mother the Church. Rubrics don't become outdated -- obedience declines and Rome caves. St. Augustine's dictum apparently is no longer vaild. Roma locuta est. Causa finita est. Is now: Rome has spoken let the debate begin and in some cases the unpunished disobediance (see the history of altar girls, communion in the hand, communion in both species at all Masses and the list goes on). As you well know, Christ empowered Peter to rule hence giving him the keys. He did not call on Peter to be first among equals and to win debates with his equals. Peter, having primacy of place, debating among his equals is the schism that became Eastern Orthodoxy -- look what that got them.
Oh well, It is all in the capable Hands of the Holy Spirit and I humbly submit to my bishop as I am sure you do too. But as you can see I don't go into submission without making my point first.
Have a happy, joy filled, holy Easter.
Silly or not, I pray we might all find the grace to follow the rubrics while voicing our concerns in a collegial way. It seems to me that this particular rubric is ripe for change, but I would not disobey it without ecclesiastical approval if I were a priest.
I am not against the wearing-a-miniskirt-for-Jesus school of thought, or of banning all conversation between the sexes or anything, but it did strike me as somewhat inappropriate for a priest to be kissing women's feet. This just struck me this year.
Ay-yi-yi. Can we all take a deeper stab at this? Let us ask oursleves why Jesus washed feet in the first place? (And perhaps a better question would be why he told those at table that they were to wash each other's feet).
If we were smart and really believed in Jesus we'd follow his example and wash each other's feet every Sunday.
Moreover, we'd go the extra mile. Footwashing was something that people really needed to do. They were walking all day long with sandals on and while they were otherwise clean, their feet were filthy. Imagine reclining on the floor and having those filthy feet near the food that was about at the same level as those outstretched feet. People would probably be incapable of eating.
What keeps people from savoring their food today? A lack of money or resources? Homelessness, unemployment, an unwanted pregnancy, something else? How do we best serve those people's needs.
Dare I say we should dispense with the literal footwashing and get to the heart of the matter. What can we do to best serve the people of God. There's a new ritual for ya!
Yes! Thank you, Mike, for some needed depth!
Post a Comment
<< Home