I want to thank John Lilburne RomanRite.Com for sending me the Latin text of the instructions regarding footwashing. I got this just before the recent announcement by the Archbishop of Boston, but I wanted to follow up by presenting what the text of the law says, even if now we have a doubt of law situation in the U.S.
Here goes:
From page 300 of the 2002 Roman Missal, for the Mass of
the Lord’s Supper
Lotio pedum10. Completa homilia proceditur, ubi ratio pastoralis id suadeat, ad
lotionem pedum.11. Viri selecti deducuntur a ministris ad sedilia loco apto parata. Tunc
sacerdos (deposita, si necesse sit, casula) accedit ad singulos, eisque
fundit aquam super pedes et abstergit, adiuvantibus ministris.
Here’s a quick, rough translation that I did on the fly (so it may contain errors I’ll fix later):
The Washing of Feet
10. The homily completed, he proceeds, where a pastoral reason would suggest, to the washing of feet.
11. The chosen men are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest (removing, if it is necessary, the chasuble) goes to each, and
he pours water over the feet and he wipes clean, with the assisting ministers.
The above is what the current Roman Missal says, which is somewhat different (differences highlighted) than what is said in the 1970 Roman Missal, page 244:
Lotio pedum5. Post homiliam, in qua illustrantur potissima mysteria quae hac Missa
recoluntur, institutio scilicet sacrae Eucharistiae et ordinis sacerdotalis
necnon et mandatum Domini de caritate fraterna, proceditur, ubi ratio
pastoralis id suadeat, ad lotionem pedum.6. Viri selecti deducuntur a ministris ad sedilia loco apto parata. Tunc
sacerdos (deposita, si necesse sit, planeta) accedit ad singulos, eisque
fundit aquam super pedes et abstergit, adiuvantibus ministris.
That is translated in the current English Missal as:
Washing of Feet
Depending on pastoral circumstances, the washing of feet follows the homily.
The men who have been chosen are led by the minsiters to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest (removing the chasuble if necessary) goes to each man. With the help of the mninisters, he pours water over each one’s feet and dries them.
What’s different is that a big huge chunk of the first paragraph has been omitted in the current English translation. That part says:
After the homily, in which the chief mysteries are illustrated which are recalled in this Mass, that is to say the institution of the holy Eucharist and the ordaining of the priests as well as the command of the Lord of fraternal charity, he proceeds, where a pastoral reason would suggest, to the washing of feet.
The directions regarding what the priest should have covered in the homily got dropped in the current translation and, now, they are gone from the Latin as well.
Well, here’s a great variation on foot washing–shining shoes. You have to love the English.
It is interesting that, when Pius XII restored the Mandatum to the Triduum ritual, the purpose stated by the Congregation of Rites was:
“Where the washing of feet, to show the Lord’s commandment about fraternal charity, is performed in a Church according to the rubrics of the restored Ordo of Holy Week, the faithful should be instructed on the profound meaning of this sacred rite and should be taught that it is only proper that they should abound in works of Christian charity on this day.” [Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction on the Correct Use of the Restored Ordo of Holy Week, November 16, 1955 (National Catholic Welfare Conference Publications Office, 1955, p.6.)]
This makes sense, because the ritual had survived in the Roman rite among male and female religious orders for that reason.
One imagines that the thought of washing women’s feet never crossed their minds, not because of the ordination issue, but because of seemliness in light of celibacy and what then would have been considered socially indelicate about needing women to remove hosiery.
The *liturgical* connection to Orders is a relatively recent, and possibly innovative, gloss.
Rome’s reaction to Abp Sean’s query may be revealing this.
From #7 of the Top 10 Suggestions from Laity for “how their parishes could better help them integrate their faith with their daily lives”
Include women in more visible roles at liturgies. Allow girls and women to be altar servers, acolytes, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and to participate in foot-washing on Holy Thursday.
Brought to you by the US Bishops Department of Family, Laity, Women and Youth.
????!!!!
The last time _I_ went to Mass, the LAST thing we needed was to include women and children more visibly. We could, however, use a couple of MEN so Father doesn’t feel too outnumbered up there!
I agree.
Feminists and stinky feet. Not a good combination. 🙂
What can one say? ICEL is, and has been, a failure.
Dress shoes casual shoes work shoes snow shoes athletic shoes
Shoes generally fall into one of the following categories: dress shoes, casual shoes, work shoes, snow shoes, athletic shoes…