WASHING OF FEET
???
Paschale Solemnitatis
"45. Careful attention should be given to the mysteries that are commemorated in this Mass: the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and Christ's command of brotherly love; the homily should explain these points.
51. The washing of the feet of chosen men [viri selecti] which, according to tradition, is performed on this day, represents the service and charity of Christ, who came "not to be served, but to serve." [58] This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained."
The rubric for Holy Thursday, under the title 'Washing of Feet':
"Depending on pastoral circumstance, 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."
So then what is THIS?
In February 1987 Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) put out a newsletter. Among other things this what they had to say about the washing of feet:
“While this variation may differ from the rubric of the Sacramentary, which mentions only men (vir selecti), it may nevertheless be said that the intention to emphasize service along with charity in the celebration of the rite is an understandable way of accentuating the evangelical command of the Lord, "who came to serve and not to be served", that all members of the church must serve one another in love.” (BCL Newsletter, February 1987, Volume XXIII)
WHOA!
By admitting that the washing of women's feet ‘differs’ from the rubric of the Sacramentary, the BCL acknowledged the authority of the Sacramentary and then went against it!
By going against the Sacramentary the BCL sanctioned liturgical abuse!
On March 23, 2004 ZENIT reinforced the Vatican's instruction on Footwashing:
"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." Article
But the lobbying continued and ZENIT received a deluge of mail arguing the validity of the U.S. bishops' liturgy committee in 1987.
So less then a month later on April 6, 2004 ZENIT issued a follow up.
Tha saga continued. On March 28, 2006 ZENIT responded yet again!
A: "We already addressed the theme of washing women's feet in our column of March 23, 2004, and the subsequent follow-up on April 6."
“Since then, there has been no change in the universal norm which reserves this rite to men as stated in the circular letter "Paschales Solemnitatis" (Jan. 16, 1988) and the rubrics of the 2002 Latin Roman Missal.
No. 51 of the circular letter states: "The washing of the feet of chosen men which, according to tradition, is performed on this day, represents the service and charity of Christ, who came 'not to be served, but to serve.' This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained."
About a year ago, however, the Holy See, while affirming that the men-only rule remains the norm, did permit a U.S. bishop to also wash women's feet if he considered it pastorally necessary in specific cases. This permission was for a particular case and from a strictly legal point of view has no value outside the diocese in question.
I believe that the best option, as "Paschales Solemnitatis" states, is to maintain the tradition and explain its proper significance.”
Well now just wait a moment. Did I read it correctly? “…if he considered it pastorally necessary in specific cases. This permission was for a particular case and from a strictly legal point of view has no value outside the diocese in question.” What can a "specific case of pastoral necessity" be AND who it is for? - For some dissident nuns?
This is far from over; the push for including women in the washing of feet ceremony on Holy Thursday continues.
Why is it such a big deal? Because Jesus washed his apostles’ feet and there were no women among them. Because including women in the foot washing ceremony would change what Holy Thursday stands for.
Besides, are we prepared for THIS?
"How the Holy See deals with the many revisions in the proposed ICEL Sacramentary will surely set the path for future liturgical changes throughout the world. But will this path lead to greater devotion to Christ and His Church? Or will it lead to a maelstrom of confusion and evangelical lethargy, the bitter fruit of accommodating the worship of the Church to changing ideologies?
The liturgical innovation of ritually washing women's feet on Holy Thursday demonstrates the persistence of those promoting the feminist ideology at the highest levels of the Church's liturgical establishment in America. If the Holy See allows traditional liturgical practices such to be changed for merely "pastoral", sociological or ideological reasons, the Church may discover that not all of the paths lead to Rome -- or to Christ." Source
