The Mass in Slow Motion: The Priest Washes His Hands

Washing of the hands.- Didn’t Father wash his hands before Mass? What’ she doing that NOW for? Maybe he sneezed or something! Or maybe he accidentally touched something that was dirty?

Well, in modern times we place a great deal of emphasis on cleanliness. We have bacteria in mind and consider washings necessary to preserve good health and prevent the spread of sickness. But the ancient world knew very little of bacteria and washings to prevent disease. To the ancients washing was for the removal of dirt to be sure but it was also a symbol of purification. So when the priest washes his hands he says rather unusual words: “Lord wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of my sins.” Notice there is nothing in these words about the body at all. The washing of the hands is a symbol of the priest’s need to have his soul cleansed that he may undertake a holy task. He may or may not have dirty hands, but this is really not the essential point which is that he should have a desire for inward purification before daring so holy a task. It is thus an egregious omission to not wash the hands. The washing of the hands should never be omitted for reasons it is now hoped are obvious. The priest washes his hands at the side of the altar saying the prescribed prayer quietly. The minister pours the water.

The historyof this practice in indeed ancient. The Jewish faith prescribed many ritual washings and included were washings that took place at or in proximity to the meal. There was certainly a practical aspect to this washing in earlier days of the Mass. After handling the many gifts brought forward, the priest’s hands would easily be soiled and this washing thus had a practical aspect. However, some dispute this claim since the ritual sometimes took place before the offerings were brought forward. At any rate, today the rite has an essentially symbolic role wherein the priest recalls his need to be cleansed interiorly and that he shares in the need for forgiveness and redemption.

2 Replies to “The Mass in Slow Motion: The Priest Washes His Hands”

  1. This was actually the first part of the Mass I consciously discovered whilst reading my Bible: “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” – Psalm 51:2. It set me on the path to discover quite how soaked in scripture the Mass is – this was news to me at the time.

  2. When God called Isaiah to be Holy and serve God, to be priestly (Isaiah 6:1 – 6:8), Isaiah first had to be made Holy by the purging of his sins and his wickedness. Recognizing that he wasn’t Holy and was unclean, Isaiah cried out Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! Isaiah was afraid that he would die from having seen the King. One of God’s seraphim flew to Isaiah and the seraphim holding an ember which he had taken from God’s altar, touched Isaiah’s mouth with it, thus cleansing him and making him holy so that he could do the will of God (being priestly). Priests at Mass also have to be cleansed from sin so that they too can carry out God’s will, specifically the act of consecrating the bread and the wine, and by the power of the Holy Spirit turning it into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Transubstantiation) as commanded by Jesus at the Last Supper (Gospel of John Chapter 6).

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