Exploring the Corporal and Spiritual
Works of Mercy with Sacred Art
LESSO N OV E RV IE W
Learning Goal
ӹӹ Jesus gives us a model for living the
Corporal and Spiritual Works of
Mercy.
Connection to the
Catechism
ӹӹ CCC 2447
Essential Questions
ӹӹ Why did Jesus wash the
disciples feet?
ӹӹ Should we understand the
words wash and clean only in
their literal sense?
ӹӹ How does Jesus wash us and
make us clean?
B IB L ICAL TOUCHSTONES
[N]ot because of any righteous deeds we had
done but because of His mercy, He saved us
through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit.
TI TU S 3: 5
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am
doing, you do not understand now, but you
will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You
will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance
with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master,
then not only my feet, but my hands and head
as well.”
JOH N 13 :6-9
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Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
B Y FOR D M A DO X B RO W N ( 1 8 5 6 )
Oil paint on canvas. City of Manchester Art Galleries, Manchester, UK.
DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT
WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG
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Sacred Art and Mercy
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet, Ford Madox Brown, 1856
Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired
in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and
discuss them with your classmates.
Conversation Questions
1. Who is the man kneeling?
2. What is He doing?
3. Who is the man whose feet are being washed?
4. Who are the people in the background? Where does this scene take place?
5. What event in the Bible does this painting show us?
6. Read John 13:1-20. How does this painting help you understand these verses?
7. Why is Peter surprised that Jesus would wash his feet?
8. How does Jesus respond to Peter’s surprise?
9. What does Jesus tell the disciples in verses 14-15? What are some things He models in
this Gospel?
10. Should we understand the words wash and clean in these verses in a strictly literal
sense? In other words, might they mean something else in addition to their ordinary
meanings? How does Jesus “wash” us? How does He make us “clean”?
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ES
MS
Lesson Plan
Materials
ӹӹ Sacred Art and Mercy:
The Corporal and Spiritual
Works of Mercy
ӹӹ Handout A: Foot Washing
Warm-Up I
A. Display an image of Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet by
Ford Madox Brown. This image is on Sacred Art and
Mercy: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Give students as much time as possible to view the
painting in silence. Allow them to come up to the
screen to examine details.
B. Once several minutes have passed, ask students:
ӹӹ What do you first notice about this work of art?
ӹӹ What do you like about this work of art?
ӹӹ How does this work of art make you feel?
ӹӹ How do the colors in the work of art draw your
eye?
ӹӹ What is happening in this picture?
Warm-Up II
Give students a little background on the practice of foot
washing; for example:
ӹӹ In ancient times, having your guests’ feet washed
was a way to show them honor.
ӹӹ Foot washing was commonly practiced in desert
climates, where sandals were the usual footwear.
ӹӹ In these climates, water was rare and precious,
yet gracious hosts offered it to their guests.
ӹӹ The lowest servant in the household was
expected to wash the feet of guests.
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Activity
A. Put students in small groups and give each group a laminated copy of Sacred Art and
Mercy: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Have them discuss the questions
on the back of the handout with each other. During this time, focus on keeping students
intent on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in
unexpected ways.
B. Display the image on Handout A: Foot Washing. Ask students to compare this image
with the Brown painting. As a class, discuss the following questions:
ӹӹ What is the pope’s role in the Church?
ӹӹ Why would he imitate Jesus this way?
ӹӹ Whose feet is Pope Francis washing?
ӹӹ Why would the pope wash the feet of prisoners?
Wrap Up
A. Discuss how the pope is Christ’s representative on Earth and called to imitate Christ in
a special way. Then ask your students if only priests and religious are called to be like
Christ. Of course the answer is no: we are all called to live as Christ did.
B. For homework, have students ask their parents to help them locate and bring in an
image of a pope doing any of the following things:
ӹӹ Caring for a sick person
ӹӹ Visiting the imprisoned
ӹӹ Feeding the hungry
ӹӹ Helping the poor
ӹӹ Offering advice or instruction
ӹӹ Comforting someone
Next class, have students share the pictures they brought in for homework and explain
what is happening in the pictures. When they are done, they should affix the pictures to
a bulletin board or another display area.
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HANDOUT A
Foot Washing
Directions:
Look at the image and answer the questions below.
L’Osservatore Romano
1. Who is the man kneeling?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How does this image compare with the painting Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet by Ford
Madox Brown?
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3. Choose one of the Bible verses below and write a short reflection in response.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The land will never lack for needy persons; that is why I command you: “Open your
hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.
DE U TER ON OMY 15 : 11
And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of
these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
M ATTHE W 2 5 : 40
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak
and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to
give than to receive.”
AC TS 2 5 : 40
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Answer Key
Sacred Art and Mercy: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
1. Jesus Christ
2. Washing the feet of a man
3. St. Peter
4. The Apostles in the Upper Room at the Last Supper
5. Jesus washing the Apostles’ feet on Holy Thursday
6. Accept reasoned answers.
7. Because he knows that Jesus is God the Son; only lowly servants were expected to wash
feet.
8. Unless Peter is washed by Jesus, Peter will not go to heaven.
9. Jesus tells them that He has given them an example to follow. He models servant
leadership, humility, unconditional love, and mercy. Accept additional reasoned
answers.
10. These words remind us how Jesus cleanses our souls of sin. Students may make
connections to the Sacraments of Baptism and Confession and the use of holy water
and sacred chrism.
Handout A: Foot Washing
1. Pope Francis
2. Accept reasoned answers.
3. Accept reasoned answers.
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