Chapter 25: Of the Washing of the feet, and the sacred discourse of Jesus, at the Supper

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, most highly exalted King of Saints, for that supreme example of deep humility and abject self-abasement, which You did show forth, and leave to us for our imitation, when You, the most holy God, did think no scorn of carefully washing, on Your bended knees, and with Your own ever-blessed Hands, of wiping, and of kissing, the feet of those poor fishermen. Your humble followers: and, more than all this, did also wash, with the same tender loving-kindness, the feet of Your perfidious betrayer, although, ungrateful for all Your benefits, foul within and unwashed, he went on still in his wickedness.

O wondrous tenderness of a Master to a disciple so hardened, O endearing complaisance of a most loving Lord to a servant who was utterly depraved, who was so case-hardened in his sin, that not even by Your courtesy at the feast, nor by the gentleness of Your menial service, nor by the sweetness of Your discourse, could he be held back from his wicked purpose! I praise and glorify You for Your long reclining at the table of this most sacred Last Supper, at which You did perform so many wondrous acts of love, that time would fail for their worthy recital.

I praise and glorify You, O Jesus, of Comforters the best, of Teachers the sweetest, of Helpers the most powerful, for that long, notable, and heavenly discourse, full of the fire of love, and sweet as a honey-comb, which, after the washing of the feet, and the departure of the traitor Judas, You did, in words which all might understand, deliver to Your disciples. By it You did take pains to comfort and strengthen their sad hearts against the tribulations which were to come upon them, giving them a sure hope of Your Resurrection, of their being strengthened by the coming of the Holy Ghost, and of their being received after this their exile into the heavenly mansions of Your Father; adding moreover many most beautiful words. And at last, at the close of this sacred utterance, with a faithfulness that knew no bounds, You did, in true union of heart, gather them all up in Your commendation of them to God the Father, saying: " O Father" I will that they may be all one, as we also are."

And hereupon You did with Your disciples enter a garden, apart from the busy hum of men, suited for private prayer, and there You did prepare Yourself for Your coming Agony, and Sacred Passion, speaking thus: " Sit you here and watch with Me, till I go yonder, and pray ."

I pray You now, O most loving Jesus, my Master and my Lord, that You would grant to me who am the chiefest of sinners, and Your unworthy servant, to meditate with recollected mind upon Your words so heavenly, and upon Your doings so vividly set forth. Grant to me especially, I beseech You, to bow my most stubborn of necks to the doing of all work, no matter how humble, and to the fulfilment of all duties, no matter how servile; utterly to overcome my pride and false shame, that so I may learn to spend myself in the loving service, not only of my fellow-religious, and of my friends, but also of those who are repulsive to me from defects of mind or body. May I never think it a great matter to have to ask pardon for my shortcomings, when You, my God, were not ashamed to bend Your most sacred knees in the presence of Your disciples, and to wash their feet. Taught, as I am, by Your example, help me to carry into act what I hear and read of You.

But because I am at all points full of faults, and stained with all kinds of evil propensities, I need to be cleansed from my sins by a washing of exceeding thoroughness. To You, therefore, do I stretch forth my hands; and with the knees of my heart humbly bent before You, I pray You that You would vouchsafe to wash carefully and thoroughly, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head; for in many ways have I sinned against You, by thought and by speech, both in what I have done and in what I have left undone.

Wash me, therefore, O my Jesus, from all the filth of my sins, cleanse me from every defilement, whether of body or of soul; that so, being made clean from head to foot, I may be found meet to have part with You, in that everlasting joy, which You have promised to all Your loved ones, who in times of temptation have held fast to You.

Give me also, I pray You, an understanding heart, that I may be able fully to comprehend that most sweet discourse, which You did speak at the Supper: for its words are indeed words breathing love most fervent, comfort the sweetest, and wisdom the most exalted. So write Your new commandment upon the tables of my heart, that my soul may be on fire with the twofold love which it enjoins: strengthen me in every trouble that may come upon me, and in place of this world's joys, fill me with the most sweet comfort of Your Holy Spirit.

Give me that true peace of heart, which the world cannot give; give me the Spirit, the Paraclete, Whom the world sees not, neither knows. Come, O Lord Jesus, and deign to make Your abode with me, that You in me, and I in You, we may dwell together in one.

↑ [Probably an allusion to a sermon of St. Gregory the Great (on the gospel for Septuagesima Sunday) in which the five hours of the day, during which the labourers were hired to work in the vineyard, are explained as representing five ages of the world.]