Much discussed these last days, the Pope disregarded the rubrics surrounding the washing of feet.
Also much discussed, the Pope has rejected tradition in multiple other very visible ways.
Also, widely reported is the Pope’s commentary that the Church should not be inwardly focused.
It is not my intent here to discuss whether the Pope is right or wrong, authorized or not, to do what he has done. Father Z and Ed Peters do an excellent job of summing this up and I recommend you read it. My concern now is elsewhere.
The Pope’s disregard for established law and rubrics coupled with his statements has an effect and I am afraid it is not all good.
I fear that the Pope is inadvertently setting people in the Church against each other.
This is how the Pope’s actions are now being framed in the popular mindset:
If you think that law and rubrics are there for a reason, the reason being the order and good of the Church and the faithful, and you are troubled about the violations then you are part of the problem. You are one of the inwardly focused people that the Pope is trying wrest the Church back from. If you think that law, rubrics, and tradition matter, you are the other–you are the problem. You are not humble and simple like the Pope. You are the past.
If, on the other hand, law, rubrics, and majesty in the worship of God have never been your thing, then life is good. The Pope, by example if not by word, is validating your worldview. You have never really cared about such things and have often violated them. The Pope has just shown that, as you always suspected, these things don’t really matter, that things like law, rubrics, and majesty hinder evangelization and are simply the products of an inwardly focused Church. You are part of future Church.
But this unfortunately sets the good of the Church against itself, truly a house divided. This division makes its way down to the people. Look how quickly that happened forty years ago.
Is it alright, in the name of simplicity, for a Catholic not to go to Church on Sunday as long as he keeps the day holy in some way? Why not?
If you think that abstaining from meat on Fridays is silly and anachronistic and a sign of an inwardly focused Church, can you dispense with it if you abstain from something with more meaning to you? Why not?
Which laws, rubrics, and traditions still matter? Which are still binding?
But see, if you even ask the question, then you are part of the problem and part of the past.
I don’t believe that this is the intent of the Holy Father, but to some degree it is already the result. If Pope Francis continues to show disregard for law, rubrics, and tradition, I fear this dreadful result.
There are many things the Pope can change, law and rubrics among them. If the Pope wishes to change them, he should do so properly. For one thing the Pope cannot change is human nature. Disregard for the law breeds only more disregard for the law.
[Note. I love the Pope and want him to succeed. I think renewed focus on the poor is wonderful and I support it wholeheartedly. But I do not accept, as some would have you believe, that law, rubrics, and tradition must be thrown overboard to achieve this renewed focus on the poor. I don’t think the Pope supports this either, but I fear some of his actions give encouragement to those who do.]
March 30, 2013 at 11:22 pm
I think the healthiest thing for all of us is to just conceed that Pope Francis did indeed break liturgical law. It does damage to everyone's understanding of the papacy if we imagine exemptions that simply are not there. He can make bad decisions. He can break law. He can do all of these things and still maintain the authority of the pope and the protection of infallibility. It's okay to look upon some of his actions and consider that they may not be good ideas for the faithful. It is not making a judgement upon his soul, rather it is performing the very important task of being a cognizant member of the body of Christ. I love our Holy Father, and I continue to pray for him as he asked us to. As a faithful and non-dissenting Catholic, I am grieved by the disregard for binding liturgical law. God gives us laws through our Holy Mother Church in love, and it is our loving duty to honor Him by these as long as they are on the books. That is the most humble thing.
March 31, 2013 at 3:05 am
Well said.
March 31, 2013 at 12:17 am
It seems to me that Jesus broke a number of religious rules when he healed on the sabbath and "Oh NO!" He talked to a Samaritan and not just a Samaritan but a woman! It seems to me that a lot of religious people got really upset with Our Lord for breaking the rules. Since taking office the Holy Father has shown the love and humility of Christ in action. Is his style and manner different from Pope Benedict? Yes it is but that does not make it wrong. Instead of talking about schism we should all be praying for the unity of the Church. Pope Francis is the choice of the Holy Spirit at this time in history. I think that everybody should relax and instead of complaining start praying for our new Holy Father.
March 31, 2013 at 12:25 am
…Did you even read the post?
March 31, 2013 at 12:36 am
BC,
Pope Francis is not Jesus nor does he need to employ the same methodology. If the rubrics need changed, then the Pope could have easy done so before Holy Thursday and then explained why he was making the change. It would have been a real teaching moment.
Further, I don't believe you can ever say definitively that any Pope is the choice of the Holy Spirit. As Cardinal Ratzinger answered when asked if the Holy Spirit picks the Pope:
"I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope. … I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined."
It appears as though the Pope simply didn't execute this as best as he could. So be it. It is said he is a humble man. If that is the case, he will learn from such things and apply that knowledge.
March 31, 2013 at 4:22 am
This is much ado about nothing. We're confronted with increasing religious intolerance throughout the world, our own nation stands ready to give full recognition to gay marriage (any bets on how we'll fare then?), theres a greater push for "mercy killings" aka euthanasia and growing acceptance for debating the merits of murdering babies after birth.
And we're worried because the Pontiff washed some girl's tootsies?
Give. Me. A. Break.
March 31, 2013 at 4:27 am
Both/And.
March 31, 2013 at 4:33 am
We're confronted with increasing religious intolerance throughout the world, our own nation stands ready to give full recognition to gay marriage (any bets on how we'll fare then?), theres a greater push for "mercy killings" aka euthanasia and growing acceptance for debating the merits of murdering babies after birth.
Have you noticed the arguments used to promote those things?
It's "nice." Sure, killing your dad when he's old and sick is against the rules, but he's suffering! Yes, killing a small child is against the rules– but it's so mean to punish someone with a baby….
Oppose gay marriage? But they're doing it for LOVE!
March 31, 2013 at 4:47 am
Subvet
Not about the tootsies. About whether the law and tradition still apply. I understand it may not be the most critical issue to some, but it is important.
March 31, 2013 at 5:34 am
Really? This is how we celebrate the Resurrection of the Christ? That people equate all law and all tradition as equal is not church teaching! You have Tradition (with a capital T) which is faith and morals (that which is objectively true by its own nature)which does NOT change nor can any man dare to change. Then you have tradition (with a small case t)which are matters of disciplines…and do change all the time. the traditionalists, at times, can be a bit maddening… you would think Jesus spoke Latin at the Last Supper. The Pope, as chief liturgist of the Catholic Church can change 't'radition. I, frankly, am much more concerned about the wanton breaking of Tradition, which was going on before Francis or before Vatican II. That said, a Blessed Easter to all.
March 31, 2013 at 6:22 am
Father,
You are missing the issue entirely. It's not about the change of traditions (with a small "t"), it's about how the change was done. Surely we could have easily just changed the rubrics and then followed the rubrics. There is not reason to pit charity against following the rubrics of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They should work together.
Happy Easter to you as well, though I would appreciate you not generalizing groups of people and/or insulting them.
March 31, 2013 at 6:23 am
Christ washed the feet of the priests he ordained at the last supper – the apostles.
He gave the new commandment "to love one another as I have loved you" to these priests.They are to love and serve all people.Pope Francis is one of Christ's priests by apostolic succession. His example from this Holy Thursday is for priests to love and serve all people. That's why he chose the people he did.
Isn't it that simple?
Have Blessed Easter!
March 31, 2013 at 6:28 am
Thomas,
The rubrics call for males only. That's pretty simple. If changing it is that important, cannot we simply just change the rubrics instead of ignoring them.
Isn't it that simple?
March 31, 2013 at 9:19 am
I wonder what will happen if Pope Francis liquidates the Vatican treasures…
Rick, he wouldn't need to do that. The Vatican owns billions in securities, stocks and bonds, and has massive shares in various holding companies and businesses. He could liquidate those far more easily than paintings or statues, most of which would be too expensive for the vast majority of potential buyers.
March 31, 2013 at 1:21 pm
It is a shame that Holy Thursday has been reduced to a foot washing event. Holy Thursday is the night Jesus initiated both the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist and that seems to have been forgotten in the confusion about who should have their feet washed. In the Gospel Jesus did not wash the feet of women. He ate and sat with sinners and fed the hungry on other days but on the Night of His Last Supper, He washed the feet of His Disciples only. I don't understand why we have to confuse that simple fact. The Priesthood is a Sacred Vocation. Priests are called to serve and to help souls to get to Heaven and they do this by administering the Sacraments of the Church. Jesus called on them to serve and by washing their feet He showed them simply what that means for Priests. To go out to the poor, the rich, the lonely, the unloved, the housebound, the addicts, the prisoners, the sick and all peoples and bring Christ to them. But it does not mean we diminish our respect for the Liturgy, the Holy Mass or the Sacraments where Christ is at the centre.
St. Jean Vianney was a great example, both living a life of extreme poverty, but holding on to all that is beautiful with the Liturgy and also serving souls through the Sacraments and through his teaching and witness of a holy life. We could do with more like him.
March 31, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Foxfier & Patrick Archbold, I understand the importance of rules, law & tradition. 22 yrs. in the sub force makes me a "play by the rules" type from Jump Street.
But with all the problems facing the Church now, the uproar over this incident seems unwarranted. It's as if the Barque of Peter is leaking like a sieve and we're concerned about the chipped paint.
Maybe my own reaction is out of proportion to how the problem is presented on this blog. In all fairness I admit to having been on numerous other sites where the prevailing sentiment is "the AntiChrist is here! Run for the holy water founts, women and children first!"
So maybe my disgust is aimed at the wrong people, if so please forgive my ridicule of your sentiments.
But I still consider this incident small potatoes.
March 31, 2013 at 4:37 pm
It is precisely the rejection of the principles that underlie the ecclesial laws and their upholding that has lead to the outright heresies and denial of the fundamental moral law which has caused the collapse in the Faith and its practice.
March 31, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Patrick, you are expressing the concerns that I have had watching our new Holy Father. But I am having a hard time reading many of the comments here and in other places. In worrying about these things, am I missing what the Holy Father is saying? Matt Drudge has the Holy Father's homily as the headliner on his website this morning, featuring this quote: "Change Hatred Into Love". This, quite frankly, is great PR for the Church. How many people will click the link, and learn something about the Church for the first time? How many of those people will hear the Holy Father's words, then come to these blogs and say, "The Pope is talking about love, and all actual Catholics can do is talk about feet! I thought the Pope had a compelling message, but apparently his own followers can't hear it. I guess I won't bother looking any further into that Church." We'd better stick with praying for him and reading his actual words, and allowing ourselves to be challenged by them. God will take care of the rest.
March 31, 2013 at 11:33 pm
You know what's missing in this entire argument? Any discussion about how Pope Francis' actions will affect the young people involved. Will they change? Will they know that God loves them and wants to reach out to them through His Son? Will Catholics in the area follow up with initiatives of their own? (I wouldn't expect Pope Francis to do so, given the tremendous problems he will face once Holy Week ends and he settles into his papacy.).
Ultimately, that's the question. Rubrics are quite irrelevant, by comparison.
April 1, 2013 at 1:42 am
A couple of points on this:
1) That Christ only washed the apostles feet. He also only imparted the Eucharist to the apostles, yet we all receive the Eucharist. In fact, his command to "wash other's feet" in the Gospel of John is far more specific than his command to "Do this in remembrance of me". In the case of the washing of the feet, He *is* commanding the disciples to go forth and do this to others. In the case of the Eucharist, He did not command the disciples to do this to others, but yet no one is arguing that sharing in the Eucharist should be the sole purview of the ordained.
2) We are getting too uptight over a rubric. This isn't a law that is on par with going to Mass on Sunday and upholding morality. It is a rubric that is hotly debated. And at the end of the day, the Pope is the supreme liturgist by virtue of His office and Papal liturgies have *many* times in the past been used to clarify or even set forth new rubrics going forward. So this is not without precedent. Many times, especially during the Papacy of Blessed John Paul, a liturgical practice would enter Papal liturgies and then make their way into the rubrics of the Church.
3) We are losing the larger point here. This strikes me as similar to what Christ said – The Sabaath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabaath. We can't get *so* caught up in legalese that we lose the point of our Faith – that Christ, the Son of God, was made man, and that he died for our sins and rose from the dead, that we may have life. He gave us the Church and the Sacraments to guide us through life, and we need to follow that Church, even when it makes us uncomfortable.
4) We have to remember that it was not the Cardinals in Sistene Chapel that chose Pope Francis – it was the Holy Spirit, through them. The Holy Spirit must have had a purpose and a reason for choosing Pope Francis at this moment in history. That's not to say that anything done by a previous pope was wrong or bad, or that what they did was more right than what Pope Francis is doing now. It's just that, at this point in the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit deemed that Pope Francis was the man to lead Christ's Church. It takes humility to trust that God will keep His promise – on this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
My prayer for Easter is that God will guide Pope Francis to accomplish His will, not my will, or anyone else's will. God's plan is not our plan, and our faith dictates that we acknowledge that, even if it makes us uncomfortable or it doesn't meet our preconceived notions of how things *should* be.
April 1, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Christ gave us His Church with its Magisterium as the way for us and all men to achieve salvation. Ignoring Church law cannot do good, only evil. There are principles central to the Faith and Truth at stake. Love never rejects the truth or lawful authority which in the Church gives us the true interpretation of God's Revelation through Tradition and Scripture. Catholics know that we may not dispense with the God-appointed Magisterium and determine what Tradition and Scripture dictate for ourselves. There are fundamental principles at stake, without which the Deposit of Faith cannot be safeguarded for the Faithful and the whole world.
April 1, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Letters from Prison
Some results of Pope Francis' actions:
http://en.radiovaticana.va/m_articolo.asp?c=677778#
KM