This essay discusses the intersection of biblical interpretation with the liturgical practice of the rite of footwashing known as the Mandatum (commandment). This rite is celebrated within the Eucharist of Holy Thursday evening, the night on which Christians believe the Eucharist was instituted. Given the centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic teaching and practice, it is significant that the gospel reading in the Roman Lectionary is not one of the institution narratives of Matthew, Mark or Luke, but is rather from John which has no such account. According to the Gospel sequence, where one would expect to find the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus removes his outer garment, takes a towel and washes the feet of his disciples. In this choice of Gospel reading (Jn 13.1–15), the tradition of the Church would seem to be encouraging not just a retelling of the institution of the Eucharist on the sacred night of Holy Thursday but inviting entry into its meaning, as suggested by Jesus' example of washing of the feet of his disciples.

In our day, the rite of footwashing has been interpreted increasingly from a gender perspective. My concern is with the little known history of the insertion of the word viri (men) into the rite, an innovation that departs from tradition which prior to our own time never excluded women formally. The innovation in the tradition of footwashing, therefore, is not the washing of women's feet but their exclusion, as I shall explain later. In the light of this development, this essay seeks to address the challenge of balancing the relationship of Scripture and Tradition with the magisterium (teaching authority) in the community of the Catholic Church.