Who Washes the Feet?
Q: In our parish, a young priest insists that a staff person must assist with the washing of the feet of parishioners on Holy Thursday. My research indicates that the priest has always represented Christ, who did not ask the servants to assist him in washing the apostles’ feet, nor did he tell Peter to help him so he could get the job done faster.
My feeling is that, if he wants to have staff help, he should first wash the feet of two or three of the staff, then have them go out to wash the feet of others. Am I right or is there a new interpretation of this Holy Thursday action?
A: You are correct in that the washing of feet in the Mass of Holy Thursday reminds us of the service Jesus did for his disciples on the first Holy Thursday (at the Last Supper). It has a long and varied history in the ceremonies of the Church and was part of an early baptismal rite. '
It was also an act performed by monastics in service of the poor and each other. The Council of Toledo in 694 required the washing of feet on Holy Thursday, directing that every bishop and priest was to wash the feet of his subjects. In the Missal of Pius V (1570) the washing of feet was placed at the end of the Holy Thursday Mass.
Our present Sacramentary puts the washing of feet after the Gospel telling how Jesus washed the feet of the apostles (John 13:1-15) and the homily.
The rubric in the Sacramentary states that those who have been chosen for footwashing are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest goes to each and with the help of the ministers pours water over each one’s feet and dries them.
In other words, the priest performs the washing of the feet with the assistance of other ministers. That does not seem unreasonable if there is a basin and towels as well as a pitcher of water to handle. The deacon and servers are at the altar to assist the celebrant.
The rubric does not envision several people going around washing feet apart from the priest.
My feeling is that, if he wants to have staff help, he should first wash the feet of two or three of the staff, then have them go out to wash the feet of others. Am I right or is there a new interpretation of this Holy Thursday action?
A: You are correct in that the washing of feet in the Mass of Holy Thursday reminds us of the service Jesus did for his disciples on the first Holy Thursday (at the Last Supper). It has a long and varied history in the ceremonies of the Church and was part of an early baptismal rite. '
It was also an act performed by monastics in service of the poor and each other. The Council of Toledo in 694 required the washing of feet on Holy Thursday, directing that every bishop and priest was to wash the feet of his subjects. In the Missal of Pius V (1570) the washing of feet was placed at the end of the Holy Thursday Mass.
Our present Sacramentary puts the washing of feet after the Gospel telling how Jesus washed the feet of the apostles (John 13:1-15) and the homily.
The rubric in the Sacramentary states that those who have been chosen for footwashing are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest goes to each and with the help of the ministers pours water over each one’s feet and dries them.
In other words, the priest performs the washing of the feet with the assistance of other ministers. That does not seem unreasonable if there is a basin and towels as well as a pitcher of water to handle. The deacon and servers are at the altar to assist the celebrant.
The rubric does not envision several people going around washing feet apart from the priest.
posted by See Tho Zhang Jacob at
8:18 PM
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