Many of the Novus Ordo churches will have the priest washing the feet of women on Holy Thursday. Since all of the apostles were men, and Jesus didn't wash the feet of any women at the Last Supper, why would any woman even want to participate in this ritual?
Let me guess. It is all about a greater role for women in the Catholic Church. Either they are poorly instructed, they just don't care, or they want equality for women in all things Catholic. After all, they say, it shows service and humility, and women are capable of both. I've even heard the complaint that people who oppose the washing of women's feet must also oppose communion for women. Their logic? Well, because no women were present at the Last Supper, they conclude that we must think Jesus did not intend for women to receive His Body and His Blood.
I'm familiar with these arguments, and last year, I approached my priest with this document from Father McNamara, which answers the question quite nicely. The result was that only men got their feet washed on Holy Thursday. This year, we have a new priest, so I'm going to have to present the article all over again.
Q-2: I have learned today about the Washing of the Feet ceremony at Mass in my parish on Holy Thursday. To take the place of the Twelve Apostles, we are to have six gentlemen and six ladies. I would welcome your comments about this innovation. -- M.R., Melbourne, Australia
A-2: The rubrics for Holy Thursday clearly state that the priest washes the feet of men ("viri") in order to recall Christ's action toward his apostles. Any modification of this rite would require permission from the Holy See.
It is certainly true that in Christ there is neither male nor female and that all disciples are equal before the Lord. But this reality need not be expressed in every rite, especially one that is so tied up to the concrete historical circumstances of the Last Supper.
I wonder how many parishes have the permission of the Holy See to wash the feet of women?
.JPG)
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P.G., all you have to do is attend any Christmas pageant, and you'll find out information that the Catholic Church, as part of a dark conspiracy of censorship, has suppressed for centuries: that the Three Wise Men all had sex change operations.
We have female EMoHC in my parish giving blessings to children as they approach the altar.
Actually, that gives me an idea for my next post...thankyou ladies.
hi all, just a note to say hi. i resigned at CAF. hope you all have a great day. Jesus did not wash the feet of women, so why do they do it at the NO?
muddy waters...
Quo Vadis, Viri Selecti? (Jimmy Akin)
Thanks for the link. Mark. I talked my priest today about this subject, and it appears he is not going to wash the feet of women on Holy Thursday.
I can recall 2 people in one Parish in Queens some years back:
Both had their feet washed as a Couple Strong in their Faith;
It was Holy Thursday;
They were OUTWARDLY Pious. It was later that they only Appeared as Husband & Wife;
They were actually in the practice of Concubinage, as both are divorcees;
& their daughter left the Church in AZ.
our bishop finally laid down the law last year & issued a similar statement. In direct disobediance to the bishop, our old priest only washed the feet and three handicapped children... to prove a point, I guess. Oh you should have heard the women whine & moan. *ugh* I hate my liberal church.
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