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USCCB and Washing of Feet Deacon Larry Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Question:

Trying to get a clear picture of the foot washing rite using men and women, I came across this from the USCCB Committe for Divine Worship web site. Seems the way this is worded is that women can be included. Here is what the site said:

Regarding the phrase viri selecti, the Chairman of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy, after a review of the matter by the committee, authorized the following response which appeared in the BCL Newsletter of February 1987:

#4. Because the gospel of the mandatum read on Holy Thursday also depicts Jesus as the "Teacher and Lord" who humbly serves his disciples by performing this extraordinary gesture which goes beyond the laws of hospitality,2 the element of humble service has accentuated the celebration of the foot washing rite in the United States over the last decade or more. In this regard, it has become customary in many places to invite both men and women to be participants in this rite in recognition of the service that should be given by all the faithful to the Church and to the world. Thus, in the United States, a variation in the rite developed in which not only charity is signified but also humble service.

Continued blessings for a holy Easter,

Deacon Larry
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Rev. Mr. Lottier,

I guess I'm just not so sure that this works... the language used doesn't sound liturgically forceful, and I'm not sure the Chairman of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy even has that authority.  In fact I'm pretty sure he doesn't.

Let's take a look at some of the statements:

 "In this regard, it has become customary in many places to invite both men and women to be participants in this rite....."

  Well, many things in the United States have become customary.  A lot of these things still remain liturgical abuses, some of them severe liturgical abuses.  It's still an abuse until Rome approves it for liturgical use.  Here's two examples that started out as "customs" and technically were abuses until ROME finally approved both for use in the US: receiving Communion on the hand and kneeling immediately after the Sanctus.  My personal opinion is that one of these two is a good thing and the other is not, but my point is that they are now both approved by Rome and therefore okay.  Washing the feet of women has NOT been approved by Rome, except in one diocese that I know of, the Archdiocese of Boston.  In fact since this statement was released in 1987 Rome has made clear again that it is just men.  (Paschales Solemnitatis, 1988)  Zenit has also reported on this in recent years.  http://www.zenit.org/article-9834?l=english  (scroll down a little)  In 2004 The Congregation For Divine Worship affirmed personally (personally I guess because there was no cite) to Archbishop O’Malley that the requirement is just men.  http://www.rcab.org/Pilot/2005/ps050401/holythursday.html

The second statement that caught me eye:

 "Thus, in the United States, a variation in the rite developed in which not only charity is signified but also humble service."

  Again, this is not liturgically authoritative language, and does not even mention women but rather charity and service.  Nothing here to fear, especially since in the VERY NEXT SENTENCE (the next paragraph) the chairman CLEARLY admits that this "variation" (referring now to women again, rather than charity I guess) differs from the rubrics.  So if I had to choose between the two, I would go with the one approved by Rome rather than the innovation.

 "While this variation may differ from the rubric of the Sacramentary which mentions only men ("viri selecti")" (paragraph 5)


Thanks for writing as always, and let me know if I can be of further help or clarification.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.