The Last Word on Foot Washing

Can the priest wash women's feet on Holy Thursday?

According to the sacramentary, "The men [vir] who have been chosen are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest (removing his chasuble if necessary) goes to each man. With the help of the ministers, he pours water over each one's feet and dries them."

In 1988 the Congregation for Divine Worship reaffirmed that only men's feet are supposed to be washed: "The washing of the feet of chosen men [vir] which, according to tradition, is performed on this day, represents the service and charity of Christ, who came 'not to be served, but to serve' (Matt. 20:28). This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained."--Paschales Solemnitatis, 51.

In both cases the Latin word vir is used which means that men is not referring to mankind but only to males. Therefore, only men may have their feet washed on Holy Thursday. The practice of having the congregation wash each other's feet is also not allowed as the instruction refers only to the priest as the washer of feet.

Source

Furthermore:

First, the mandatum of that Mass... which is the Mass which commemorates the institution of the PRIESTHOOD together with the Eucharist concerns service. In the context of the Passion of the Lord, which is in obedience to the Father's commands, Jesus gives His Church (certainly) but more precisely His chosen Apostles whom He makes priests to continue and extend His saving work the example of humility and obedience. Obedience. If there are terrible scandals in the Church today, they rage precisely because of LACK OF OBEDIENCE to what the Church teaches. At this moment in the Church's year, in this particular Mass, a violation of this rubric and its symbolic intent, is not a small matter. Furthermore it is simultaneous symptomatic and causative: in the life of the Church how we pray has a reciprocal relationship with what we believe. Disobedience at any time in the Church's worship life will produce disobedience at every other level of the Church's life. Disobedience at a very important moment is worse yet. The Eucharist and its celebration is the "source and summit" of Christian living, and that includes Christian morals.

Source

And this:

This is an optional rite within the Mass of Holy Thursday. The Mass of Holy Thursday commemorates three things: 1) the institution of the sacrament of Holy Orders (priesthood), 2) the institution of the Eucharist, 3) the beginning of the Passion. What the priest does in the Mandatum - the foot washing rite (from the Latin word for "command" - he does in imitation of Christ, the High Priest. In the upper room, historically, Christ the High priest washed the feet of men, the apostles and he ordained them the first priests. In the Mass on Holy Thursday, the priest, acting in the person of Christ the High Priest, repeats this sacred action in the way that Christ did. He washes the feet only of those who would "ontologically" (that is, in their being - in their maleness) be able to receive Holy Orders just as the Apostles. This is ties together with the theology of how the priest is the "icon" of Christ. Thus, it is proper and fitting (and the law of the Church) that the priest wash only the feet of males.

Source

+++

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby!

Setting the record straight on .........

.....the sex abuse scandal in Milwaukee. Fr. Brundage took the time to come to my blog and post this link. Please read it.

+++

Passionate Homily!

Christ's Entry Into Jerusalem by Flandrin

Father gave such a passionate homily today that when he was done I nearly gave him a cheering standing ovation. However, I did control myself. I did send him an email as soon as I got home thanking him for giving such a poweful homily. He touched on every single thing that is wrong with society - contraception, sterilization, abortion, gay "marriage" and gay "rights," the current sex scandal we are enduring, etc. I wish you could have been there! I hope your priest set everyone straight today too!

Father was particularly concerned about people who were telling him they were ashamed to be Catholics. Now is the time to hold our heads high, to be up on our apologetics and to seek out the truth about the sex scandals. We cannot depend on the mainstream media to inform us - they are holding back facts plus they have their own agenda.

This week go out of your comfort zone to support the Holy Father and Holy Mother Church - wear that crucifix or saint medal, fly that papal flag, don't avoid that trash talker at work or at the bus stop but calmly state the facts regarding the latest scandal. And PRAY. Pray hard for our Holy Father, offer up your Holy Communions, sacrifice for his sake. And call on the communion of saints, particularly the martyrs. My own patron saint for this year is St. Stephen and he'll be getting an earful from me this week!

Dear Readers - may you all experience a spiritually profitable Holy Week - even if it means persecution. They hated Him first, now it's our turn.

+++

Palm Sunday and Luke

Here Comes the King.

I love this so much I think I post it every Palm Sunday.

+++

Luke was born on Palm Sunday the year it was on March 31. Even though Palm Sunday is on March 28 this year I always feel that Palm Sunday (whenever it occurs) is Luke's "real birthday."

When I was a kid I learned this poem:

"Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work hard for a living,
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
is blithe and winsome, happy and gay."

(Of course in those days gay meant joyful.)

I remember feeling this weird, irrational jealousy that Sunday's child got such a great write up although that was mitigated somewhat by the fact that I am a Monday's child (fair of face LOL!)
However, when Luke was born he fit the description! I am so blessed to be his momma!

He posted this last week while he was in Kandahar for a few days.

He's back at the front now.

+++

Lost and found

I forgot to write about a wonderful thing that happened earlier this week! I was reading our archdiocesan newspaper and noticed a photo of a woman on page two. It was a girl I had gone to high school with! I had no idea she was Catholic. I tried looking her up on facebook but came up empty. So I just typed her name into the browser and her own website came up (she's an artist.)

There was contact information on the site so I emailed her a short note. She got back to me within a day and I was so excited to read about what she's been doing with her life. She's even been to Poland and was able to visit St. Faustina's room!

The funniest thing about all of this - I dragged out my old yearbook and found the page where she had written a message to me - it was a page dedicated to the musical we had performed that year - The Sound of Music - the page was covered in photos of teenage girls dressed like nuns LOL!

Life can be so funny!

+++

How to make a palm cross

I better brush up on my palm cross making skills as Palm Sunday is pretty much here!

+++

Prepared for Holy Week?

I have calmed down a bit since my post earlier this evening. I watched a few youtube clips from Passion of the Christ and was reminded that we are to love our enemies and forgive those who do not know what they do. Other verses came to mind as well. And I see how the Holy Father truly is the Altar Christus, as is every priest.

My visceral reaction was a good thing - maybe not for my heart - but for my soul. I was thinking how quickly Lent had passed and how the last week was totally self indulgent as I was on vacation. The incident today has left me geared up for Holy Week. And that's a good thing.

+++

The IGNORANCE of the mainstream media is going to give me a heart attack!

I am SO ANGRY right now! I was watching a news show tonight and of course they were trashing the Holy Father and his alleged role in the latest sex abuse scandal to hit the airwaves.

But what really made me blow my lid and say a certain four letter word not once but three times was when the reporter said, "Catholics believe their pope is infallible."

I nearly threw something at the TV!

The reporter DID NOT USE INFALLIBILITY IN THE CORRECT CONTEXT!

So here is the the email I sent to the news station:

"I was very upset to hear your reporter Neil MacDonald make a false statement in regard to the Catholic belief of infallibility.

Catholicism maintains that the pope is infallible, incapable of error, when he teaches a doctrine on faith or morals to the universal Church. Papal infallibility does not mean that the Pope never makes mistakes. Infallibility doesn't mean that personally and individually he is free from error.

Maybe next time Mr. MacDonald might want to study up on his subject before his ignorance is broadcast on national television."

The last time the sex scandals really hit the Church hard was 2002. An article in Time magazine caused me to leave the Church for 8 months. Time magazine - hardly a cheerleader for Holy Mother Church. Even if the Holy Father had molested a child himself I would not leave the Church nor cease to defend Her.

Pray for our Holy Father. Offer up your sacrifices, prayers and Holy Communion for him.

Jesus, I trust in You.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Mt 16:18

+++

What I did on my Spring Vacation

Here's a quick itinerary and description of my trip...

Saturday - my eldest son picked me up from the airport, we had lunch and he took me to a sweet little park that is home to many ducks. In the afternoon I sent him out for a motorcycle ride and I watched a little TV. In the evening we went to a concert. The music was very good but the singer likes to use profanity when he speaks to the audience. *sigh* Oh, and the token lesbian couple in front of me didn't thrill me either. I hate PDAs whether you are straight or not.

Sunday - Latin Mass! Ah...bliss! The music was so beautiful, so sublime. Whose stupid idea was it to let people play guitars at Mass?? There were pink flowers on the various alters - very pretty. And the priest wore a raspberry colored chasuble (as opposed to the nearly Pepto-pink one that my home priest wears.)

In the afternoon we drove around the city where my ex's grandma lived. The Lutheran church that eldest son was baptized in was still standing (although it now shares space with some Korean church.)

Sunday night we went to an NHL game - I had SUCH a good time and my team won - yeah!

Monday - went to the city and saw the sites.

Tuesday - back to the city.

Wednesday - off to visit Nikki.

Thursday - Nikki worked so I stayed home and baked lemon squares and nut bars. Nikki is one happy camper!

Friday - met my step-daughter's friend for lunch as she happened to be visiting the same city Nikki lives in.

Saturday - shopping!

Sunday - Mass at Nikki's church. I have to say that padded pews are NOT the worst invention. The priest was wonderful - he actually used the word "sin" and said it existed! He also strongly advised EVERYONE to make it to every single Mass/service of the Triduum. Impressive.

In the afternoon we went to a horticultural conservatory. It.was.FABULOUS!!!!

Monday I packed my bags and we did a little more shopping and then I went home.

I REALLY miss city life and my kids!!!!!

PS...I did get to speak to Luke briefly and he is fine. They are starting to get their return dates. He should be leaving around mid-May. Debriefing and travel take from one to two weeks so he should be home by June 1.

+++

Tired

I will try to post by Thursday. I am tired today.

Angela

___

Angela is BACK!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack and had a fabulous time! More tomorrow. I will turn comments back on at that time.

+++

I miss...

Sometimes I do miss the 70's....

+++

Just a reminder

Heads up....I will be away from March 13 - 22 with limited computer access. I will be turning Comments off while I am away.

Don't forget to pray the St. Joseph Novena for Philip!

+++

St. Joe

Reminder: if you are praying a novena to St. Joseph then today is the day to start!

+++

The alternating experience of presence and absence

The alternating experience of both the presence and absence of God is intended to increase our desire for God. Ralph Martin in the 'The Fulfillment of All Desire."

"Unless we use the utmost vigilance in attending to these gift-laden visits of the Holy Spirit, we shall neither desire him when he seems absent nor respond to him when present. If he withdraws from us to stimulate us to a more eager search for him, how will we seek for him if we do not perceive his absence? Or when he comes to animate us, how shall we give him the welcome due his majesty if his visit passes unnoticed? The man who is indifferent to his absence will be led astray by other influences; the man who is blind to his coming cannot offer thanks for the visit." St. Bernard of Clairvaux

+++

Novena For Baby Philip - Tara's Grandson

Baby Philip with his godfather, Fr. Richtsteig

Starting Thursday I'm saying a Novena to Saint Joseph for baby Philip. He has a premature fusion of the metopic suture of his skull. Philip will have surgery on March 19--the feast of Saint Joseph. Philip's surgery is serious--the neurosurgeons will cut off the frontal portion of his skull, correct the problem, and sew his skull back into place. Philip will require a blood transfusion, and will be in the hospital for about five days. Please pray for him!!! (And for Grandma Tara and her family!)

Novena to St. Joseph

+++

Fr. Calloway's RADICAL conversion!

Recognize this face?

Fr. Donald Calloway was on Sunday Night Live with Fr. Groeschel tonight. If he can be redeemed there is hope for anybody! If it's too late in your time zone today then try and catch it later this week in an encore presentation.


In one paragraph here is Father Calloway's story....

"What does it take to transform a die-hard agnostic into a fervent apostle of Christ? How does God's grace literally transform hearts - one step at a time? In this amazing new conversion testimony, you'll literally be on the edge of your seat as a former Deadhead and drug-addict candidly shares how he was unexpectedly led to the Roman Catholic Church and eventually into a Roman collar as an ordained priest. An incredible odyssey of faith, Fr. Donald Calloway's radical conversion can be compared to that of a modern St. Augustine as chronicled in his famous Confessions. The son of self-proclaimed hillbillies from the back woods of West Virginia, Donald Calloway was raised without any religion or a father figure to model. Finally baptized as a Protestant at the age of ten, he never received any formal Christian instruction. And when his family moved to California, he slipped into the MTV lifestyle - sex, drugs and rock music. This pagan rebellion intensified to total mayhem when his family relocated to Japan and he ran away from home. Satisfaction of the senses became young Donald's rule of life that escalated to a life of crime. Constantly on the move to avoid arrest, he and his friends soon got connected with the Japanese Mafia. During this time of endless wanton wandering filled with wine, women and song, Donald's mother became Catholic and fervently prayed for her fifteen-year-old prodigal son to return home. Like a modern-day St. Monica, she trusted that God would touch his soul with the grace of repentance. Full of unexpected twists and turns, No Turning Back will inspire you to recognize and embrace the countless graces God grants in your own life. Part of a new generation of priests, Fr. Calloway's amazing story powerfully manifests Our Lord's infinite mercy and faithfulness."

Click here to order the book.

PS - I think Fr. Calloway gives Msgr. Ganswein a run for his money in the looks department. I know that is crass but sheesh - if I don't say it, who will?!

+++

Captions contest at Larry D's.

Caption contest over at Larry D's!!!

Here is the photo.......

Filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions. Colossians 1:24

Q. ~ What does this mean that when Paul suffers for the church he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions"? How can any man fill up what is surely as full as any suffering could be?

A. ~ It is full and lacking in nothing—except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ himself to the nations of the world and the people you know. God's answer to this lack is to call the people of Christ to present the afflictions of Christ to the world—to carry them from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

In doing this we "fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ." We finish what they were designed for, namely, a personal presentation to the world of people who do not know about their infinite worth.

Huh. I didn't know that. That is one verse I never understood before. It makes a bit more sense now.

+++

I am asking this half-jokingly....

OK, so if Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday are not considered part of Lent, then why does Father wear purple?

+++

Your accent betrays you

The joy of a Christian comes not from intermittent devotions and vocal prayers, but by living the Christ life intimately and to such an extent that even in our failings and weakness we may still betray our familiarity with Christ, as did Peter in the moment of his weakness: "You also were with Jesus the Galilean...Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you. "

~Abp. Sheen

+++

Fish on Friday - thanks LarryD and Terry N!

LarryD and Terry Nelson brought me

some fish for dinner tonight!

<><

Religion vs spirituality (and it's not from God)

Seen on the internet today - "religion is man made, spirituality comes from within."

This is so sauteed in wrong sauce I don't even know where to begin! DISCUSS!!!!

+++

No baptism for you!

I just heard from a Catholic friend that it may take 6 months or more to have his newborn daughter baptized. At his parish the priest only does baptisms quarterly and then only 10 at a time. I was shocked! How can you put a cap on a Sacrament? Yes, I understand doing it quarterly (they live in a very small northern town and the lone priest is up to his eyeballs in work because he's the only priest for thousands of miles) but to tell parents their child has to wait for the next "intake" is just WRONG! THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!

What do you think?

+++

Relay for Life and Run for the Cure

Is Relay for Life the same as Run for the Cure?

+++

LarryD.......Oh LarryDeeeeeeeeeee!

OK, LarryD...I'll stop now....really......I promise!