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Hekate

(100,133 posts)

22. That is seriously touching my heart.

Fri Mar 29, 2013, 01:23 AM

Mar 2013

I once came into a ritual space and to my surprise some women had prepared a foot-washing for the participants. It was one of the most comforting, kind, sensual and yet spiritual experiences I have ever had. The warm water, the soothing hands, the rough dry towel...

The custom started in a time and place where people wore sandals and walked hot dusty roads. It was offered to guests as a courtesy for their comfort when they arrived, but the washing was not performed by the master or mistress of the household, but by a servant.

In the stories about Jesus, there came a time when as an example of humility and service to his followers, he washed their feet.

That is the origin of the custom of Maundy Thursday, which is practiced not only by Roman Catholics but by several other Christian sects. As we just learned, when in Rome, the Pope and (male) clergy alone are the participants in this re-enactment of Jesus' example. Until now. Until this Pope. "As ye do even unto the least of these..."

I think Francis I is the real deal.

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Pope washes women's feet in break with church law [View all] onehandle Mar 2013 OP

Yes, he was supposed to have a dignified ceremony Warpy Mar 2013 #1

good for him, i hope he sticks to serving the poor rather than wanting to take away JI7 Mar 2013 #2

agreed La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2013 #87

It's a powerfull symbolic gesture. bluedigger Mar 2013 #3

I am Catholic and very 840high Mar 2013 #4

I am a lapsed Catholic. I like this Pope. Katashi_itto Mar 2013 #5

I'm an ELCA Lutheran. I like this Pope. LiberalLoner Mar 2013 #77

I am Methodist goclark Mar 2013 #127

I'm an agnostic PolitFreak Mar 2013 #137

I'm a communist Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #142

I'm an Atheist and I like this Pope. Odin2005 Apr 2013 #149

Me too. SleeplessinSoCal Mar 2013 #6

I'm an atheist and I'm so far pleased with him. caseymoz Mar 2013 #17

Ditto! Great post. JusticeForAll Mar 2013 #25

I guess I will be the one who says... SkyDaddy7 Mar 2013 #39

He's only been Pope for a few weeks. Pab Sungenis Mar 2013 #42

well said Tumbulu Mar 2013 #83

He's only been in two weeks. caseymoz Mar 2013 #54

Precisely Sherman A1 Mar 2013 #76

I agree. crim son Mar 2013 #95

I am ex-catholic as well hollysmom Mar 2013 #128

I'm an ex-Catholic Liberalynn Mar 2013 #139

The Pope has been in office for only two weeks. Beacool Mar 2013 #56

He hasn't even unpacked his suitcases yet. No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #61

He never has to unpack a suitcase. merrily Mar 2013 #111

Also he needs to build a T.A.R.D.I.S. Shivering Jemmy Apr 2013 #152

Recovering Catholic here as well Android3.14 Mar 2013 #35

Same here, and I do, too. AngryOldDem Mar 2013 #121

There he is, washing the feet of a female prisoner in blue jeans, saying he's at their service. freshwest Mar 2013 #33

It reminds me of Princess Diana going to visit AIDS patients in the 80s undeterred Mar 2013 #96

One person can, with acceptance and approval, encourage those who have suffered greatly. freshwest Mar 2013 #98

Absolutely! undeterred Mar 2013 #106

This Pope is more liberal fitman Mar 2013 #52

I think this reflects his upbringing and life No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #62

Wasn't he brought up by Europeans though? His folks were Italians. merrily Mar 2013 #112

I'm sure when you reflect on the children of immigrants No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #114

I AM the child of immigrants. It is very different from being raised by parents born in the U.S. and merrily Mar 2013 #115

I understand you meant nothing negative No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #117

No, I do realize now why I posted it and it was not a throwaway comment at all. merrily Mar 2013 #119

I am an atheist and I like this pope. Mortos Apr 2013 #148

He would be MTV interesting if he smoked a joint snooper2 Apr 2013 #154

He has only one lung - No Vested Interest Apr 2013 #162

What a bunch of theatre AlbertCat Mar 2013 #7

I did not know that! I am going to google. merrily Mar 2013 #120

He's been doing it for years. Beacool Mar 2013 #8

This is good to know The Second Stone Mar 2013 #16

Now that I think about it, the crucifixtion The Second Stone Mar 2013 #59

That's very heartening news. Thanks for posting this. freshwest Mar 2013 #101

No problem............... Beacool Mar 2013 #109

This is meaningful... CoffeeCat Mar 2013 #9

They're going to assassinate this guy. Those religious wingnuts don't play this game. loudsue Mar 2013 #10

I fear for his safety too. Beacool Mar 2013 #12

JP #1 was assassinated precisely because he *was* going after the Vatican Bank, yes? villager Mar 2013 #13

He also wasn't tough on commies Ter Mar 2013 #55

He's a Jesuit, and the Jesuits are tough starroute Mar 2013 #24

There are quite a few Jesuit martyrs No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #27

Most of those were killed doing missionary work starroute Mar 2013 #41

These days the Roman Catholic Church is attempting to overcome negative preconceptions.... Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #92

I wonder if this is why he decided on different living quarters, not as isolated as the big place. freshwest Mar 2013 #102

He has chosen to live okasha Mar 2013 #144

Thanks for the name of the place. Is there a shorter name for the official residence? freshwest Mar 2013 #145

They'll let this slide. When he starts fucking with their money, THAT's when hughee99 Mar 2013 #57

Have you read "In God's Name" by Yallop? JDPriestly Mar 2013 #69

I think that at the very least, John Paul was shamefully neglected starroute Mar 2013 #108

OMG, he washed feet attached to VAGINAS? OK, I'm sorta impressed. n/t TygrBright Mar 2013 #11

I think they were attached to ankles, but the feet belonged to women! nt MADem Mar 2013 #32

Are you sure? davidthegnome Mar 2013 #37

I'm no doctor, but I do remember a song about bones that laid out the pattern pretty clearly! nt MADem Mar 2013 #43

I, too, am glad to see a Pope... ReRe Mar 2013 #14

Now if would do something meaningful, Zoeisright Mar 2013 #15

damn your right backwoodsbob Mar 2013 #30

No, this church isn't misogynistic. caseymoz Mar 2013 #18

LOL! Politicalboi Mar 2013 #19

Don't feel bad. ForgoTheConsequence Mar 2013 #21

I appreciate the gesture. Arctic Dave Mar 2013 #20

That is seriously touching my heart. Hekate Mar 2013 #22

Foot fetishist. nt OnyxCollie Mar 2013 #23

Rec. n/t AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #47

Time to wash some gay feet. dencol Mar 2013 #26

I'm sure he has caraher Mar 2013 #63

I assume the other poster meant he needs to do penance and offer humble apology for his years of Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #86

That would be a good start caraher Mar 2013 #88

That would be nice. Jamastiene Mar 2013 #130

style over substance; still not slightly impressed with the junta's cleric Alamuti Lotus Mar 2013 #28

Whatever. Embrace thy cynicism, may it warm you at night. Katashi_itto Mar 2013 #81

For what reason do you have hope in such figures? Alamuti Lotus Mar 2013 #94

It freaks me out when I see religious leaders acting like the figures from their religion. Poll_Blind Mar 2013 #29

Isn't that what 'the vow of poverty' means? freshwest Mar 2013 #103

If the pope is going to wash your feet... jberryhill Mar 2013 #31

Personally, if I knew the Pope was going to wash my feet, Beacool Mar 2013 #60

These are young prisoners so I think their hygiene and pedi opportunities are limited. n/t pnwmom Mar 2013 #71

The pedi would be out of the question. Beacool Mar 2013 #73

Maybe not. I remember reading that the other prisoners pnwmom Mar 2013 #74

Ewwwwww.............. Beacool Mar 2013 #97

Good gesture! Tells me he may know what the problem is... Peace Patriot Mar 2013 #34

Thank you for that wonderful summary of the birth of misogyny in the Catholic Church. Pab Sungenis Mar 2013 #46

Thank you for this. So interesting! nt. polly7 Mar 2013 #48

Fascinating post! Turborama Mar 2013 #51

Peace Patriot, that is a wonderful post. merrily Mar 2013 #122

I so appreciate the thought and effort that went into this post Tom Rinaldo Mar 2013 #136

Yes, please post this as an OP in Interfaith okasha Mar 2013 #146

She died in a dispute between the Bishop of Alexandria AND the Governor of Alexandria happyslug Apr 2013 #147

maybe he`ll bring the church into the modern world.... madrchsod Mar 2013 #36

I'm starting to like this guy... davidthegnome Mar 2013 #38

Let that muhfugga start giving away the church treasures tabasco Mar 2013 #40

I like that he's wasting no time in establishing his new Church policies and agenda lunatica Mar 2013 #44

Please let this herald significant reform. n/t Orsino Mar 2013 #45

He seems so kind and compassionate, and much more involved with actual polly7 Mar 2013 #49

This is good. He's living up to Jesus' instruction: "He who would be first, Aristus Mar 2013 #50

BFD.... sell off the churches land and loot and give it to the poor then I'll be impressed. bowens43 Mar 2013 #53

To be fair, all Christan churches, not just the Catholic ones. WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2013 #124

And the pedophile priests? KansDem Mar 2013 #58

Kicking Up Dust To Evade the Real Issue BlueManFan Mar 2013 #64

Washing women feet Pope disregards his own law in this matter domchrist Mar 2013 #65

My Mom ArtiChoke Mar 2013 #70

He obviously does have a choice and he exercised it. pnwmom Mar 2013 #72

Do you mean this? Trying to interpret what you wrote... uppityperson Mar 2013 #93

"....we live in antinomian times." AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #129

Thanks, Frankie, but... B Stieg Mar 2013 #66

Good for him. Living a life of poverty and Ilsa Mar 2013 #67

From Pedophile to Pediphile! Anything to cover up their scandals. Walk away Mar 2013 #68

good for him .............. Angry Dragon Mar 2013 #75

We may have a real Pope here! colorado_ufo Mar 2013 #78

So many preeners and poseurs in power around the world BeyondGeography Mar 2013 #79

Athiest here. Wow. n/t Bertha Venation Mar 2013 #80

Nothing but a photo op broadcaster75201 Mar 2013 #82

No, it's not. Beacool Mar 2013 #110

Thank you for articulating this. No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #116

Thank you. Beacool Apr 2013 #159

I agree Quixote1818 Mar 2013 #132

I have liked what I have seen so far. Beacool Apr 2013 #160

Yeah. Just like that Obama guy. onehandle Mar 2013 #141

As admirable as that gesture would be Shivering Jemmy Apr 2013 #153

He says gay people are an attack on God, so those of you lauding him for this own that. Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #84

No, lauding the Pope for washing people's feet does not confer ownership of his homophobic stance DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #89

No he does not say "gay people are an attack on God." ucrdem Mar 2013 #105

It's Twenty Freaking Thirteen. Pardon me if I don't give a medal ... gauguin57 Mar 2013 #85

Any man that tells me what I have to do with my hair... Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #133

What the Pope does IS CHURCH LAW alcibiades_mystery Mar 2013 #90

Francis' gesture sparked a debate among some conservatives and liturgical purists VA_Jill Mar 2013 #91

I see he has a foot fetish. Just kidding! ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #99

Seems like he might have been the best possible outcome from that conclave MannyGoldstein Mar 2013 #100

Wow! Only 100 years behind the rest of the civilized world now! grahamhgreen Mar 2013 #104

that's being perhaps a bit generous.. ;) Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #143

Good start. Nt XanaDUer Mar 2013 #107

Doing this is much better than excluding women. merrily Mar 2013 #113

Everything this guy does makes me like him more (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #118

There's a church law that says you can't wash a woman's feet? tabasco Mar 2013 #123

Seven women had their feet washed at our Catholic Church. WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2013 #125

creepy Skittles Mar 2013 #126

Did you see this article? Quixote1818 Mar 2013 #134

a lot of poverty is CAUSED by the Catholic Church Skittles Mar 2013 #135

This is important because he is a role model and the more liberal the better Quixote1818 Mar 2013 #131

At least having a foot fetish is better than being a pedophile. AAO Mar 2013 #138

If he keeps this up, he will do ok. McCamy Taylor Mar 2013 #140

I am really starting to like this guy! Odin2005 Apr 2013 #150

Let me know when he sells off some of the Churches assetts moobu2 Apr 2013 #151

The good news is, you're getting your wish. ucrdem Apr 2013 #155

Yeah. Just like that Obama guy. onehandle Apr 2013 #157

They have sold plenty of assets to pay the victims. Beacool Apr 2013 #161

Being at one's service is actually being at one's service. To me this is a stunt. Lint Head Apr 2013 #156

Law, tradition, rules, rituals marshall Apr 2013 #158