Washing the feet of women

Pray Tell
March 5, 2015

Another bit of information has come to us from Rome:

The Congregation for Divine Worship is now working on a document clarifying that the feet of women as well as men may be washed – this at the request of the “highest levels” of the church.

As you may recall, Pope Francis has caused quite a stir in recent years by washing the feet of women during the Holy Thursday Mandatum. The Pope’s actions were so sensational that the Liturgy Secretary of England and Wales reminded parishes that this practice was prohibited. He even went so far as to say: “It is precisely because the papal liturgy is a distinct reality in itself, that local churches [cannot] call on its precedent to dispense themselves from norms that apply to the whole Church.”

Many parishes in the United States and Europe have taken to washing the feet of women as well as men during their Holy Thursday services. Some bishops have cracked down on the practice, such as Bishop Morlino of Madison, while others have turned a blind eye. It will be interesting to see if this rumored directive will make it out of the CDW before Holy Thursday this year. Only time will tell.