end of the world.'

Jesus showed him to the other Apostles, and said, that when he
should be no more present among them, Peter was to fill his place in
their regard. Peter said: 'Thou shalt never wash my feet!' Our Lord
replied: 'If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me.' Then Peter
exclaimed: 'Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.' Jesus
replied: 'He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is
clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.'

By these last words he referred to Judas. He had spoken of the
washing of the feet as signifying purification from daily faults,
because the feet, which are continually in contact with the earth, are
also continually liable to be soiled, unless great care is taken.

This washing of the feet was spiritual, and served as a species of
absolution. Peter, in his zeal, saw nothing in it but too great an act
of abasement on the part of his Master; he knew not that to save him
Jesus would the very next day humble himself even to the ignominious
death of the cross.

When Jesus washed the feet of Judas, it was in the most loving and
affecting manner; he bent his sacred face even on to the feet of the
traitor; and in a low voice bade him now at least enter into himself,
for that he had been a faithless traitor for the last year. Judas
appeared to be anxious to pay no heed whatever to his words, and spoke
to John, upon which Peter became angry, and exclaimed: 'Judas, the Master
speaks to thee!' Then Judas made our Lord some vague, evasive reply, such
as, 'Heaven forbid, Lord!' The others had not remarked that Jesus was
speaking to Judas, for this words were uttered in a low voice, in order