„…wystarczy obmyć sobie nogi...” (J 13,10)

Abstract

Every year in the Holy Thursday Liturgy the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in cathedrals and the major superiors - especially Benedictine abbots - usually in the central basilicas, perform the rite of mandatum - the ceremony of washing the feet of twelve friars or some lay men who have been selected from the members of the congregation. The rite of foot-washing appears to have been practiced in the majority of all the world religions. The author pays special attention to the significance of ablution rites in the Old and New Testament, referring to the texts which express the significance of these rites. In particular, the Author tries to interpret the fragment of chapter 13 of the Gospel according to St. John which tells us about Jesus washing His disciples feet. The Author shows the Biblical roots of this rite as well as its connection with Jesus prophetic mission. Moreover, he treats the abovementioned pericope as a special tribute paid to “apostolic feet” Not only does the act of washing of feet performed by Jesus express humble love of neighbour but this is also the homage paid to apostolic feet, since these are the feet that will carry the Good News to the comers of the earth.