Viri Selecti

Every year at this time we seems to run into the same questions about the significance of the mandatum at the Mass of the Lord's Supper (or the washing of the feet). (Mandatum means command signifying the Lord's command to his disciples to serve others in the same way he has served them; it is also where we get the name Maunday Thursday.) More to the point is the question about whose feet should be washed. As with any matter liturgical, the answer must begin with a proper understanding of the theological significance of the event. Many have written on this, and I will not attempt here a complete answer. Instead, I offer a summary along with the rubric from the Sacramentary (Missale Romanum) and a few links that offers a more complete discussion of the problem.

The significance of the event is a re-presentation of Christ's washing of the disciples feet out of a sense of charity and service. Recall that the event of the Last Supper was also the institution of the priesthood. Christ, who came to serve and not to be served, tells the disciples, as priests, to do unto others as he has done unto them. The ritual of the feet washing is an imparting of the mission of charity and service in the priesthood.

The rubric found in the Sacramentary reads:

"Depending on pastoral circumstance, the washing of feet follows the homily. The men who have been chosen (viri selecti) are led by the ministers to chairs prepared at 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."

The new translation of the Roman Missal contain the same directive:

"The men who have been chosen are led by the ministers to seats prepared in a suitable place. Then the Priest (removing his chasuble if necessary) goes to each one, and, with the help of the ministers, pours water over each one’s feet and then dries them."

The Latin here reads viri selecti, and it is important to note that while "men" can be read in English as mankind, the Latin word viri cannot be similarly generalized. Its meaning means unambiguously male persons. The Latin word homo could have been used to indicate a gender-neutral "mankind," but it was not.  The rubric is clear; only men should have their feet washed by the priest so as to give the faithful a clear re-presentation of the events at the Last Supper. Pope Benedict XVI not only washes the feet of males, but washes the feet of priests. Of course, the local parish does not have this luxury, but certainly there are enough males to step in for a good washing!

For a final note, liturgical expert Fr. Edward McNamara addresses larger abuses of this holy ritual. (The source is the Zenit link found below.)

"[Variations of the ritual] -- of washing the feet of the entire congregation, of people washing each other's feet (or hands), or doing so in situations that are not visible to all -- tend to undermine the sense of this rite within the concrete context of the Mass of the Lord's Supper."

For further information on this, see the following links.

Zenit

WDTPRS I

WDTPRS II

USCCB