Why does my parish do Holy Thursday differently?

Dear Father:
I recently moved into a parish where on Holy Thursday even-ing at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper everyone washed each other’s hands. This didn’t make any sense. Why is this an option?

The Response:
This is not an option nor even allowed.

According to St. John, the night before Jesus died he washed the feet of the 12 Apostles. St. John uses the washing of the Apostles’ feet to further emphasize how Christ is the servant of servants the next day from the cross. This action reveals more about Christ and his passion than the upcoming ministry of the Apostles. In changing this ritual, the unique role of Christ — the suffering servant — is obscured.

The rite properly celebrated consists simply of the celebrant removing the chasuble (the outer vestment) and washing the feet of 12 men who represent the apostles. The celebrant alone should wash the feet as he normally acts in the person of Christ during the celebration of the sacraments and rites of the Catholic Church. Deeper meaning could be expressed to the assembly if the celebrant is also the pastor of the parish.

This ceremony also serves as an example to all Christians to be servants; however, we must first see how Christ offers his service, which is perfectly expressed at his death on the cross the next day on Good Friday. So, technically, after Pentecost, with the strengthening by the Holy Spirit, each Apostle (and, by extension, every believer) should be willing to live and die for the truth of the Gospel. This is the type of service symbolized.

Every ancient ritual during Holy Week aids the participant through opening the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection through word and action. Maybe this is a good time for parish liturgy committees to review how faithfully they celebrate these ancient rituals. A good guide is the Congregation for Divine Worship’s 1988 circular letter concerning "The Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts." [Paschales Solemnitatis]

Father Keller is an associate pastor at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Parish and assistant director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship.

With regard to "hand washing", we should recall that in the Gospels, it was Pontius Pilate who "washed his hands"...

This article is from the St. Louis Review