6 May 2023 was the Coronation of Charles III as king of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland and a sovereign venerated in many other places around the world.
In the United States we’re English enough in our roots that the whole beautiful ceremony in London was televised in full by several TV stations.
Watching, I couldn’t help but thinking that this ceremony, in church and being led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was similar to what I’m familiar with as an ordination.
An ordination ceremony is about receiving holy orders—that is to say, about being commissioned to a role of service and leadership in the Church, much like the assignment of officers in the military.
The coronation didn’t make Charles king. That was a matter of lineage. He became king as soon as Queen Elizabeth II died. But the coronation was the celebration of his elevation to this special rank, office, and responsibilities in his land—and intercessory prayers to God to strengthen and guide him.
The coronation, again referencing the military model, was a commissioning—about holy orders, about the king assuming responsibilities under God for the country and all its people.
The ceremonies, though they didn’t make Charles king, celebrated his new role, under God, for the good and welfare of the people subject to his rule.
English history has many a tale about great and good kings—and the opposite! (The same could be said about the English church leaders.)
The days described in “A Man for All Seasons” and the tales about Henry VIII were entertaining. They probably were accurate enough. But they were about times of bitter divisions and violent competitions.
Sanctity is not a requirement to be a king—but a commitment, a willingness to sacrifice for others, to serve is!
We cannot demand perfection of a ruler or leader—perfection is a rare and special gift of God. It’s enough that each does his or her best to do what is right, seeking always what conforms to the will of God and willing to sacrifice themselves for others.
Thanks be to God that there are people in positions of authority and leadership today willing to do just this, to sacrifice their lives in service to their people. Not necessarily saints, but nevertheless willing to serve God and country, no matter what the cost!
I suppose in England there may be people who find fault with their new king. But, that could be the case with anyone, since we are all limited creatures of God.
Thanks be to God, also, that in our day there is much better mutual understanding and respect. We live in a time when nobility is not just a word about class but a description of the service of modern queens and kings. We live in a time when there is no longer competition between Britain and Rome, but collaboration and mutual respect.
Pope Francis sent a highly meaningful and valuable gift to the new king—a fragment of the true cross of Jesus, a powerful reminder of the price of leadership, collaboration, and responsibility.
Also, there was an interesting innovation in King Charles’s coronation ceremony: prayers and blessings were offered for the king not only by the senior bishop of the Church of England but also by other religious leaders, even a Catholic cardinal!
The ancient English royal coronation is still very religious and increasingly ecumenical in spite of the change of so many other things in our tangled and confused modern world..
God save the king!
7 May 2023