How Should We Understand Pope Francis Washing Women's Feet?

NCRegister ^ | March 28, 2013 4:28 | Jimmy Akin

[Salvation]

So, more men need to volunteer. Come on, guys!

[keats5]

John 13
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

[lp boonie]

“Why would anyone have a problem with that?”

---

Wait until you see how many do have a problem—a perfect symptom of what is wrong with the Roman Catholic Church today.

[muawiyah]

It’s one thing to give money ~ anyone can do that, but giving of your time and your mind is another ~ those are gifts that one may have but not others ~ thinking of the needs of the poor is very important.

[caww]

“who cares?”

Well it’s obvious from the hits on these threads and the news stations covering it worldwide..that many DO care how the Representative of their faith goes about representing them.

Anyone who has international interest is going to be critiqued....particularly concerning most mainline religions and their leadership.

[steve86]

many DO care how the Representative of their faith goes about representing them.

Yes, including me and virtually everyone on these threads.

I can see both sides of it -- the 'slippery slope' possibility as viewed by the traditionalists (potentially leading to arbitrary changes in rubrics); the 'emulate Jesus' side as seen by others (needs little explanation). I don't have the background to characterize the two points of view in more formal ecclesiastic terms.

In any case, please have a Blessed Easter!

[rabidralph]

Perhaps the model should be Christ, instead of the Pope. It is not some super-human feat that the pope performed, but something that any Christian should feel no hesitation to do in regard to his fellow man—that is serving others.

[The Wizard]

He showed us what humility and character look like, obama has neither.....

[narses]

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[steve86]

I should have said:

the 'slippery slope' possibility as viewed by the traditionalists (potentially leading to arbitrary changes in or ignoring of rubrics);

[ConorMacNessa]

John 13, in my opinion, is not authority for the exclusion of women. From the King James Version and the Latin Vulgate:

13:4 He riseth from supper and layeth aside his garments and, having taken a towel, girded himself.
surgit a cena et ponit vestimenta sua et cum accepisset linteum praecinxit se
13: 5 After that, he putteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
deinde mittit aquam in pelvem et coepit lavare pedes discipulorum et extergere linteo quo erat praecinctus
13: 6 He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
venit ergo ad Simonem Petrum et dicit ei Petrus Domine tu mihi lavas pedes
13: 7 Jesus answered and said to him: What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
respondit Iesus et dicit ei quod ego facio tu nescis modo scies autem postea
13: 8 Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet, Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me.
dicit ei Petrus non lavabis mihi pedes in aeternum respondit Iesus ei si non lavero te non habes partem mecum
13: 9 Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.
dicit ei Simon Petrus Domine non tantum pedes meos sed et manus et caput
13: 10 Jesus saith to him: He that is washed needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.
dicit ei Iesus qui lotus est non indiget ut lavet sed est mundus totus et vos mundi estis sed non omnes
13: 11 For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: You are not all clean.
sciebat enim quisnam esset qui traderet eum propterea dixit non estis mundi omnes
13: 12 Then after he had washed their feet and taken his garments, being set down again, he said to them: Know you what I have done to you?
postquam ergo lavit pedes eorum et accepit vestimenta sua cum recubuisset iterum dixit eis scitis quid fecerim vobis
13: 13 You call me Master and Lord. And you say well: for so I am.
vos vocatis me magister et Domine et bene dicitis sum etenim
13: 14 If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.
si ergo ego lavi vestros pedes Dominus et magister et vos debetis alter alterius lavare pedes
13: 15 For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.
exemplum enim dedi vobis ut quemadmodum ego feci vobis ita et vos faciatis




Where are the survivors of the massacre at Benghazi? The silence of the Obama Regime on this question is deafening!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[caww]

well... ultimately believers need to go about the business of who Christ is in the minds and hearts of all people. For without that questioned answered all else has no relevance when all is said and done.

Proclaiming ‘He’s Risen”..is the ultimate victory past, present and future....and for that all men have hope.

[Coleus]

I just call it political correctness and posturing, I may be wrong. All this does is give the other side justification to start the polemic of women priests. IMHO

I remember in past FR threads people quoting the Sacramentary instructions for Holy Thursday and the definition of the word Vir and so on, I guess it’s a moot topic now.

[Salvation]

vir and viri = men

I really encourage all men to step forward next Holy Thursday evening and volunteer to be one of the twelve washed by your priest.

Don’t hang back.

[keats5]

I didn’t post that as any type of authority for the exclusion of women. I was just posting what Jesus did and said about washing feet in general.

[SumProVita]

Good take! People are getting FAR too caught up in the externals and forgetting the HEART of Christ! Jesus was often talked about in the same ways because of His actions.

We should never forget that.

[ConorMacNessa]

Understood, FRiend. I probably should not have addressed that post to you - it was not intended as criticism of you. I should have addressed it to Salvation only, or to "All."

If I offended you, I am truly sorry.



Where are the survivors of the massacre at Benghazi? The silence of the Obama Regime on this question is deafening!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[MDLION]

I think Pope Francis can give permission to wash women’s feet the same way Blessed John Paul II gave permission for female altar servers. I wish he had changed the law before he did this, though. I fear this is going to stoke false hope among the women’s ordination crowd. I used to write letters to the appropriate church authorities in the early 90s about liturgical abuses. I hope Pope Francis’ action won’t stoke a number of Catholic priests and liturgical people to say: We’ll celebrate Mass anyway we want.

[Coleus]

I really encourage all men to step forward next Holy Thursday evening and volunteer to be one of the twelve washed by your priest. >>

Yes, let the Holy Spirit be their guide and if so a little nudge too.

[keats5]

No offense taken. Just clarifying my own meaning. : )