Last year I watched the Holy Thursday Mass on EWTN. During the Mass when it was time to wash people's feet I noticed that they only washed the feet of men. It made me wonder if that is how it is suppose to be done in all parishes. Or does the United States have a dispensation from this practice?
Cathy
Cathy,
The Roman Missal states specifically that men are to have their feet washed. The Latin original uses the word vir which means only male persons and not mankind. By tradition twelve men are used to represent the twelve Apostles but this number is not specified in the Roman Missal. It is common practice in the U.S to use women and persons of various ages as well as men at the foot washing. This is done in the name of being more inclusive and the action is interpreted under the broader banner of service on the part of the priest and for all Christians rather than the traditional emphasis on the priest as Jesus washing the feet of the twelve Apostles, which by the way would still include service. While the intention of being inclusive may be laudable the use of women in the feet washing is a practice that is not called for by the Roman Missal. To many the practice may seem to be a harmless and even justified. However, with this departure from the rubrics there is the possibility that in the more extreme cases some may use this practice to undermine the Church's teaching on the distinctive (thought no less equal) role of the sexes in God's creation as well as the male only priesthood. Nevertheless, there are many pastors very faithful to the Church who include women in the foot washing. This is often done because it is such an entrenched practice and gender relations are such a hot topic in our culture that this specific isolated issue is not deemed a major concern considering the many other issues that pastors have to confront.
Fr. Pisut
