"The Fifteenth Station Of The Cross"
The agony of de feet

Again... we see the washing of women's feet on Holy Thursday. And again... we see the slow but deliberate destruction of the male priesthood.

And as innocuous as the washing of women's feet seems to be, no matter how well meaning the catechitically-impaired laity feels about the topic at hand, the Sacred Tootsie Washing (AKA: Poncho Lady Pedicure Bop) is just flat-out wrong.

Here's why we should never be washing the feet of other than adult males -- (borrowed from the CUF site on the subject) -- The Church’s current guidelines clearly prescribe that only men may have their feet washed in the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual. And this is based upon the fact that The Holy Bible states that the only ones present at the washing of the feet were Christ's Apostles (Jn. 13:1-20).

And let's not forget... the Apostles were the first priests, bishops and pope. Right? But I'll emphasis that in a bit later in this posting.

Anyhow, this brings into question the phrase viri selecti in which the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) uses, which can only be translated as “chosen men” (males). Notice it doesn't say mulieribus selecti, or even the generic, all encompassing homo selecti. It's VIRI selecti. As in VIR Speluncae Catholicus. Get it?

Unfortunately, many don't. That's why the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued the circular letter, “Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts” (Paschales Solemnitatis) on January 16, 1988 (emphasis mine).

“The washing of the feet of chosen men 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.’ This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained”.In other words... when Christ washed the feet of His Apostles, it signified that the priests are to serve... not to be served. The purpose of the ritual is to focus on the role of the priest.

Yet alas, in many corners of The Church, everybody and their brother (or sister, as the case may be) are getting their footsies hosed down every Holy Thursday. So now the focus is now off the priest, and placed squarely on the laity.

But hasn't the "Spirit of Vatican II" has been diabolically striving for lo these many past decades?

I think CUF says it best;
Unfortunately, in many parishes changes have been introduced to the washing of feet ritual. These changes violate liturgical norms and destroy the sign value of the ritual. These changes include washing the feet of women and children, having extraordinary ministers wash feet, having the entire congregation come forward to have their feet or hands washed, or having hands anointed. Proponents of these changes argue that those whose feet are washed should represent the many different people in the parish and the equality of all. In places where hands are washed, they argue that it is easier to do and everyone can participate. Such arguments wrongly de-emphasize the purpose of the prescribed ritual.

When women, children, or large numbers take part in the foot washing ritual, the focus shifts from the priest to the congregation. This is not the purpose of the ritual. The purpose of the ritual is to focus on the role of the priest. When hands are washed rather than feet, the connection with Scripture and the actions of Christ are lost (Jn. 13:3-11). As Jesus Himself said to Peter, who wanted his hands and head washed with his feet, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet…but not everyone of you (are clean)” (Jn. 13:10). These last statements of Jesus show that the emphasis of the ritual is not on the people, but on the actions of the priest. For the ritual does not symbolize that everyone is made clean, or that everyone participates, but rather that the priest is to serve.And just out of curiosities sake... have any of you had other than adult males as participants in this particular ritual last Holy Thursday?