Lil Red Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 more via Deacon's Bench http://en.radiovaticana.va/articolo.asp?c=677823 On Thursday evening as the sun set over a rain washed Rome, Pope Francis crossed the Tiber River bound for the city’s juvenile prison, Casal del Marmo, which roughly translated into English reads, ‘Marble Home’. There in a tiny simple chapel among the young offenders, he celebrated Mass of Our Lords Supper and the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Two young men read the first reading and the responsorial psalm, a female volunteer read the second reading while the prison chaplain recited the Gospel, John Chapter 13. Without any pause for introduction, Pope Francis immediately picked up from the very last words of the passage that recounts the Mandatum or Washing of the Feet. Below we publish a Vatican Radio transcript and translation of the Holy Father’s unscripted homily, at Mass for Our Lord’s Supper, Casal del Marmo, Holy Thursday 28th March 2013. “This is moving, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Peter understands nothing. He refuses but Jesus explains to him. Jesus, God did this, and He Himself explains it to the disciples.. ‘Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do’. It is the example set by Our Lord, it’s important for Him to wash their feet, because among us the one who is highest up must be at the service of others. This is a symbol, it is a sign – washing your feet means I am at your service. And we are too, among each other, but we don’t have to wash each other’s feet each day. So what does this mean? That we have to help each other…sometimes I would get angry with one someone, but we must let it go and if they ask a favor of do it! Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what I do. And I do it with my heart. I do this with my heart because it is my duty, as a priest and bishop I must be at your service. But it is a duty that comes from my heart and a duty I love. I love doing it because this is what the Lord has taught me. But you too must help us and help each other, always. And thus in helping each other we will do good for each other. Now we will perform the ceremony of the Washing of the Feet and we must each one of us think, Am I really willing to help others? Just think of that. Think that this sign is Christ’s caress, because Jesus came just for this, to serve us, to help usâ€. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Pope not Catholic enough for y'all? :) I kid, I kid. Seriously, though, it seems to me that there are two major ways to interpret the symbolism associated with washing of the feet. The first has to do with the priesthood, Christ washing the feet of the apostles. I would argue that this symbol is clearest when it's a bishop washing the feet of some of his priests, not when a priest washes the feet of a group of lay men from his parish. The second has to do with service, Christ humbling himself in the ultimate way on the cross as an act of loving, sacrificial service for the world. I would argue that Pope Francis made this symbol clearest when washing feet on Holy Thursday. Instead of emphasizing his title of "bishop of Rome," it seems that on Holy Thursday the pope was emphasizing his title "servant of the servants of God." AND HEY LOOK Pope Francis' homily that Red posted while I'm writing this supports my idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Does it confuse me that Pope Francis broke the rubrics? Yes. I don't know what to think. But the love that he showed the detainees makes my heart feel very full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel's angel Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I just wonder if attitudes would be different if he wasn't the Pope. If this was "some bishop somewhere", I'm sure more people would be out asking for his head (not that I would advocate that attitude, regardless of who it is). Like lil red, I'm not sure what to think. The inclusion of two Muslims confuses me more than the inclusion of two women. At parish level, I can see how women end up being involved, but as Pope I think he might be muddying some waters. In Benedict, we had a Pope who clearly spent a lot of time thinking and praying about things before acting; Francis seems to do this less-so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 lol. That was a great scene in the movie the way he gives a dean scream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrestia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Disclaimer: These are honest questions that I have had for years. I am not trying to be argumentative. I do not in any way, shape, or form stand at odds with the Magisterium. Who decided that washing feet was a sign of the ministerial priesthood? I was told/taught that originally only men in seminary were supposed to have their feet washed. Non-seminarians were eventually included because their aren't enough young men in seminary for each parish to have 12 on Holy Thursday. I understand the seminarian thing, but once lay men are included, why not women? Because only men had their feet washed by Jesus? Then why are women allowed to receive communion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 from Elizabeth Scalia (aka the Anchoress) on facebook: Many people may be surprised to learn that in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI visited the inmates at the same detention center Pope Francis visited today, and shared Mass with the kids, although it was not on a Holy Thursday. I mention this because of the weird remarks I am seeing from people who would like to pretend that until now the church and its popes have been negligent of the poor and the marginalized. These are sentiments that can only come from a place of ignorance or willful malice. Speaking of papal humility, while I am certainly admiring of and challenged by the examples of Pope Francis, it's worth mentioning that Benedict seems content to be maligned, misunderstood or even cast aside for the sake of Christ and his church, and the workings of the Holy Spirit. That's a pretty admirable sort of humility, too, every bit as self-abnegating and Christlike as the willingness to live simply and wash the feet of others. Worth pondering all of our examples of papal humility, this Triduum, don't you think? Its very disheartening to read and hear news reports that seem to show that all the past Popes before Francis loved living as kings... I'm getting a little tired of it. I love Pope Francis, but there's nothing wrong with wearing richly adorned vestments at Mass. There's nothing wrong with celebrating Mass at beautiful huge basilicas. This may not be Francis' preference, but it isn't about him or his preferences. It's all about God. Pope Benny understood this, and he brought back traditions that symbolized Papal authority. He didn't do this to boast. Perhaps in a church threatened by the "dictatorship of relativism", Pope Benny wanted to reemphasize the importance of obedience to the traditions of the Church and Her teachings. He wanted to emphasize that the Authority of God rest in His Church and that the Pope is truly the Shepherd of God's Church on earth. He wanted to re-emphasize the splendor and beauty of a Liturgy so badly abused in the last 40 years... Am I saying that Pope Francis doesn't want to emphasize these things? It seems he wants to emphasize charity and humility, but these virtues aren't absent just because you wear a beautiful garment to celebrate Mass in a lavish basilica... Last night at the Mass of the Last Supper, the priest celebrating at my parish mentioned how Pope Francis washed the feet of a female. Surprisingly, applause broke out in the congregation. He then went on and washed the feet of more females than men. I'm afraid this action does confuse the faithful. Lillabett is right, it confuses those of us who have fought and won so many little battles over the abuse of the Liturgy, because now I feel like rubrics don't seem to be all that important...not even to the Pope... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrestia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm afraid this action does confuse the faithful. This is a little off topic, but, IMHO, being confused from time to time is a good thing. It makes us think. The faithful were probably confused when Latin was replaced with the common language. I know my sister was very confused when we went to church on Christmas in Dubai, she hadn't been to mass in so long that she didn't know the updated translations (& with your spirit, etc.). I certainly agree that the media portrayal of the contrasts between B16 & Papa Pancho (PP) is disturbing, but I like that it makes the faithful speak out. At my age, I only remember JP2, B16, and now PP. IMHO, they have each displayed their humility and love in different ways - and that's a god thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappo Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Its very disheartening to read and hear news reports that seem to show that all the past Popes before Francis loved living as kings... Last night at the Mass of the Last Supper, the priest celebrating at my parish mentioned how Pope Francis washed the feet of a female. Surprisingly, applause broke out in the congregation. He then went on and washed the feet of more females than men. I'm afraid this action does confuse the faithful. Lillabett is right, it confuses those of us who have fought and won so many little battles over the abuse of the Liturgy, because now I feel like rubrics don't seem to be all that important...not even to the Pope... I really agree with that. How can I write a letter to my parish priest asking why he washed the feet of women, or why he did this, or why he didn't wear that when he can just reply "Well the Pope did it, so I did too". I think if Pope Francis wanted to wash the feet of two women, he should have publicly dispensed himself from Canon Law or some such thing that way the people are aware and not scandalized. Jimmy Akin is wrong that Canon Law doesn't apply to the Pope. He is just as bound to it as any other Catholic, the difference is he can dispense himself from it. It is of my opinion that if a pope is going to do that though, it should be done publicly so as to not cause scandal and confusion among the laity and clergy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 This is a little off topic, but, IMHO, being confused from time to time is a good thing. It makes us think. The faithful were probably confused when Latin was replaced with the common language. I know my sister was very confused when we went to church on Christmas in Dubai, she hadn't been to mass in so long that she didn't know the updated translations (& with your spirit, etc.). I certainly agree that the media portrayal of the contrasts between B16 & Papa Pancho (PP) is disturbing, but I like that it makes the faithful speak out. At my age, I only remember JP2, B16, and now PP. IMHO, they have each displayed their humility and love in different ways - and that's a god thing. I like "Papa Pancho" :) I respectfully disagree. I am speaking personally here. I've been confused enough! :lol: But I can see what you are saying, that change does cause much confusion at first, but its not permanent. I really agree with that. How can I write a letter to my parish priest asking why he washed the feet of women, or why he did this, or why he didn't wear that when he can just reply "Well the Pope did it, so I did too". I think if Pope Francis wanted to wash the feet of two women, he should have publicly dispensed himself from Canon Law or some such thing that way the people are aware and not scandalized. Jimmy Akin is wrong that Canon Law doesn't apply to the Pope. He is just as bound to it as any other Catholic, the difference is he can dispense himself from it. It is of my opinion that if a pope is going to do that though, it should be done publicly so as to not cause scandal and confusion among the laity and clergy. I was thinking the exact same thing! It would be nice if he would have mentioned this before he took these actions, because there would be less confusion amongst the faithful. Less of a chance for a misinterpretation of his actions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Catholic Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 People having issues with this is extremely troubling. It just goes to show you that a good chunk of Catholics just don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightofChrist Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Its very disheartening to read and hear news reports that seem to show that all the past Popes before Francis loved living as kings...Yes it is, but I can kind of see why they would be mistaken to think that way. It is confusing when the Pope, out of humility doesn't honor some tradition that all, most, or many previous Popes did honor. Does it mean that the previous Popes where not humble when they did honor some tradition what this Pope does not? I would say no, absolutely not, one of the greatest acts of humility for a Pope is to conform himself to the Papacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I didn't even realize that it was against the rubrics to wash women's feet. And Muslim's feet? Sigh. All of this makes me really confused and disheartened. I think it was a beautiful gesture of love to wash everyone's feet, even though it broke the rubrics, but it does bother me because like Slappo said, now the priests might just think they can break the rubrics when they want cuz the pope did it. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightofChrist Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I didn't even realize that it was against the rubrics to wash women's feet. And Muslim's feet? Sigh. All of this makes me really confused and disheartened. I think it was a beautiful gesture of love to wash everyone's feet, even though it broke the rubrics, but it does bother me because like Slappo said, now the priests might just think they can break the rubrics when they want cuz the pope did it. :(Taking liberties with the liturgy and the lack of discipline to enforce and honor the rubrics has been a very serious problem in the Church for the decades now. With Pope Benedict XVI things were getting better, because he lead by example and made great strides to ensure a renewal of the liturgy, ie the Reform of the reform. But now perhaps that is in some danger. Because the Pope whether he knows it or not still leads by example. What he does or does not do will send a message to the faithful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Taking liberties with the liturgy and the lack of discipline to enforce and honor the rubrics has been a very serious problem in the Church for the decades now. With Pope Benedict XVI things were getting better, because he lead by example and made great strides to ensure a renewal of the liturgy, ie the Reform of the reform. But now perhaps that is in some danger. Because the Pope whether he knows it or not still leads by example. What he does or does not do will send a message to the faithful. I feel kind of sick. :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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