Holy Thursday

[Jabberwocky]

Typically, the priest of our parish has washed the feet of three people (one for each wing of our cross-shaped church) on Holy Thursday. This year, a new priest has arrived at our parish and instead of feet-washing everybody in the church walked up to the altar (as in a communion line) and dipped their fingers into a bowl of water, then their hands were dried by either Father or a Eucharistic minister. I know that Father has a problem with his legs or knees that could prevent him from kneeling to wash feet, but I did not know that the washing of hands by everyone was practiced.

Is it?

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='Jabberwocky' date='Apr 15 2006, 03:09 PM']I know that Father has a problem with his legs or knees that could prevent him from kneeling to wash feet, but I did not know that the washing of hands by everyone was practiced.

Is it?[right][snapback]948211[/snapback][/right][/quote]
no, it is not. for one, only [i]men[/i] are to have their feet washed. furthermore, only the [i]feet[/i] are washed, not any other part of the body. innovations like this defy the sign value of what is taking place. this article addresses both issues and what the liturgical norms are for this commemoration.
[url="http://cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=71"]http://cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=71[/url]

peace,
nick