April 6th 2023
Dear Diary,
Holy Thursday. Monday Thursday as Tommy keeps saying for some reason. I suppose it kind of feels like the beginning of the week. Whatever.
They are really nagging this year so there are last minute decisions to make. Debating about the whole “washing of the feet” thing. I really hate doing it with all that crawling around on my hands and knees, plus dirty feet! And I get flak from the traddies if I throw a few women in the mix. The other side is that people think about how humble their bishop is, which is a plus. It make people happy to think their bishop is humble, so we’ll do it. I do kinda like that song they sing while I do it, something like the “Semper ubi sub ubi” we joked around about when we took that one Latin semester freshman year in the seminary.
A couple years ago one of the priests came up with the idea of washing everybody’s hands instead. That was a great idea! Keeps you off the floor and for me that’s no small thing. Then Tommy pointed out that the only one who washed hands was Pontius Pilate. That was it.
I hope it goes quick tonight. I want a good steak after Mass. Get stuff ready in the kitchen before hand just to make sure I get it in before midnight.
Whatever happened to those great old clerical suppers we would have on Holy Thursday, with lamb and wine to celebrate the priesthood together? It’s like that whole world is gone now. Maybe that’s for the best. The other bishops and the nuns are always going on about how bad clericalism is. But back in the day we were – I dunno – happier about things. That’s the big project now: gotta make people happy.
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I was in Vienna some 15 years ago for Maundy Thursday Mass and the pastor was kind enough to let me sit in choro. I would come to regret that.
The reason for my visit to Vienna was to see a neurosurgeon for some spine problems – since the nearby country I was living in at the time had nothing so advanced. My chair in the sanctuary wasn’t really a chair, but something of an oak stump with no back. There was no washing of the feet. The priest brushed and polished men’s and women’s shoes.
Yes, good to see our leaders follow the example of the Lord at the Last Supper, even if flexibility (both physical and spiritual) becomes an issue as we age. Glad that the Most Rev. Bishop continues with this liturgical “option”.
Many priests today get together for a good dinner after the Chrism Mass, usually earlier in the week in most dioceses. Still, a small, low-key festive dinner on Holy Thursday is certainly appropriate.
I really enjoy reading the diary entries, Fr. Z. I look forward to them.
Sad to say, they are more truth than satire. It’s hard to do satire in an insane culture. I’m amazed the Babylon Bee can continue to come up with so many satirical articles, but I’m glad they do. Laughter is good for the soul and the heart and mind as well.