ABOUT THE MASS SERIES
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About the Mass series |
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS: PART 8: WASHING
OF THE HANDS’.
Washing one’s hands as a
sign of inner purity was customary in both Judaism and early Christianity.
Historically, in Rome, there were various times when the washing of the hands
took place, sometimes before the gifts of the people were collected, sometimes afterwards. The hand-washing rite first appeared outside Rome at this stage of
the Mass, and it survived only in a Mass presided over by a priest. At first,
no prayer accompanied the action, but a number of formalae were added around
the eleventh century, with verses of Psalm 26 being the most used. In the 16th
century Psalm 26:6-12 and a concluding doxology were made obligatory.
Today, the
washing of the hands is accompanied by Psalm 51:2 which is said quietly by the
priest. It reads: ‘Lord, wash away my iniquity, cleanse me from my
sin’.
Notice that the word ‘sin’
is in the singular- not that it infers that the priest has only one sin, but on
our behalf, he gathers up the sin of all of us and prays. The priest uses a
linen small finger towel, which is distinguished by a small embroidered cross
on its edge. The purificator (also known as purifier) however, has the
embroidered cross in the centre.
At every Mass we attend, we
too, like the priest should desire to be cleansed within. So, whilst watching this
action in the Mass, we can spiritually participate by again strengthening our
commitment to Christ, (and if necessary) revisit in our hearts the penitential
rite and our desire for a change of heart. You might even decide to include
this prayer in your pra‘yer life.
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