Today is my favorite liturgical day of the year (Holy Thursday, not April Fools), but also one of the hardest for me in practice. It doesn’t have to be; I could say No to having my feet washed at tonight’s Mass. The thing is, I wouldn’t be changed in the same way; I wouldn’t have the same opportunity for grace; I wouldn’t have the ongoing moment of inspiration.Good Friday should be the hardest, I suppose, or maybe the long wait of Holy Saturday, knowing Jesus is in the tomb. But, for me, today is the hardest, in that moment when my freshly washed foot is kissed, when I see the hint of tears in a beloved face, when I come closer to the real person of Christ.
Seeing Jesus on the cross, bleeding and gasping, isn’t as real as having Him hold my foot. Knowing He’s dying for me, that He loves me that much, isn’t as heart-rending as the action of service.
In many ways, my faith is immature, unprepared, not ready for the harsh reality of Good Friday. Often, I just don’t feel up to the challenge of sitting beside the grave, knowing that I’m part of the reason He’s there, but that He loves me anyway.
Tonight begins the Triduum. Lent is over. The feast of Easter is within sight. No foolin.
Owing to the lack of distinction in behavior by the human race on April 1st as versus any other day, April 1st has been canceled. When reached for comment, the month April said, “Hey, there are fools 365 days around, not just today and I for one am tired of being portrayed as having a monopoly on idiocy. I have opening day and Easter most of the time and Spring and still what do I get tagged with? Tax day, rain and stupid tricks that are the mental equivalent of knock knock jokes.”
May your Holy Thursday be filled with many blessings and much peace (and a laugh or two for good measure).
The only problem with you having your feet washed is this: you’re not a man. This part of Holy Thursday points to the institution of the Priesthood, not this lateral idea of the people. We get the “all about us” stuff the rest of the year.
Sorry, this sticks in my craw and I hope and pray the issue will be resolved soon. It’s obvious to see that even YOU don’t have peace with it and that’s a big sign.
I appreciate what you’re saying about grace and humility, but it takes even more humility to be obedient to the true intent of the Church as a whole in this most solemn of liturgies.
And that is what has gotten lost in America. I can’t speak for other countries as I don’t know what happens there. But my heart breaks every time I hear of parishes washign the feet of women, or washing hands or parish-wide wishing each other’s feet. Attention is taken from Christ and placed on the laity, and that is the very heart of this problem.
I hope it goes well and I know God uses even what is wrong in the liturgy as a source of grace for the faithful. May you have a grace-filled Triduum and Easter!
Adoro, thanks for your comment. Though I disagree with the point you make, I appreciate you bringing it up.
Was the washing of feet really about instituting the priesthood? That has never been my understanding of it, though I do not have a degree in theology. When our priest washes feet, I always feel the touch of Christ. I have never understood why it is limited to men or even to certain people (except that due to the sizes of certain parishes, the ‘come one, come all’ approach might not be feasible or organized).
That said, I am asking our priest to respond here, because I know that he is (a) in line with the teaching of our bishop who is in line with the Magisterium of the Church, and (b) very orthodox in his practices, and (c) very passionate about this being something open to all. I just don’t feel qualified to respond to the more technical aspects of your comment.
One thing: my issue with this doesn’t have to do with my gender. It has to do with someone serving me, and that someone being a person I respect so much we asked him to be a godfather to one of our daughters. He was the one who convinced me, through his priesthood, that I should be Catholic (though I’m sure he did it more through his prayers than by setting out to win arguments). Having him wash my foot is akin to having my mother-in-law take care of intimate details after a labor (which happened last time). It is something that’s uncomfortable. It is something, though, that is a necessary part of my path to practicing greater humility.
I hope you too have a grace-filled Triduum. I’ll be sure to think of you when I am outdoors and near horses. 🙂
Inspirational post, Sarah.
This Holy Thursday evening, I will be going to the Cathedral in my diocese (Joliet, IL) for a young adult Holy Thursday Midnight Pilgrimage led by our Bishop. I attended the pilgrimage last year and really enjoyed spending the time with Jesus, accompanied by other young adults. For more information, here’s a link to the webpage about our pilgrimage- http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/holythursday2010.asp
May God continue to bless you and your family during the Easter Triduum and Easter!
-Daniel,
Special Chronicles Podcast- http://specialchronicles.tk/
Daniel, you are so sweet. You know, I’ve never gotten an email to you to work, at either address. Thanks so much for your comment, and I am going to subscribe to your podcast once I get just a bit more caught up…keep up the great work and may God fill your Easter with many graces and blessings!
Adoro, lighten up. I myself failed to notice the official Vatican announcement that appointed someone as chief arbiter of who may have their feet washed and who may not. And I may point out that to refuse a reasonable request made for pastoral reasons from your pastor who is in union with his bishop borders on arrogant, not humility.
This part of the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s supper points as much to the role ofeach baptised Christian to be of service to others. The Eucharist is the focus of the special faculties of the priesthood. If it was a big deal and worthy of attention the Holy Father would have issued a Motu Propio by now and “fixed” it. Happens everywhere. Even in Europe, where church attendance is pitiful compared to the US and Latin America. Learn to find the joy in the miracle that is Jesus in His Body, the Church and not look for insignificant things that cause discord and loss of harmony. Especially now, as we prepare to celebrate our most sacred feasts.
Mark, you are a natural-born teacher. I wish I could attend your RCIA classes sometime, because there’s a lot of wisdom in what you write. (Well, “lighten up” made me laugh mostly.)
Have a great Easter, filled with the joy of the risen Christ!
The following instruction from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains in a more charitable way the Practice of Foot Washing to be used in the US. http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/general/feet.shtml
To all who I offended with my uncharitable remarks earlier, I humbly beg forgiveness.
I am a day late in commenting, but this was such a beautiful truth and honesty coming from you Sarah. I am happy that you could share in the ritual of having your foot washed. My parish presently washes the feet of 12 men, mainly from our RCIA class. But, having it done before – I know the humility and beauty of the act of Christ kneeling before you to wash your feet is so moving. I pray, and know, that you will keep that grace filled spirit you experienced through your hectic days.
Peace.