7/2/2023 0 Comments Polish oath of loyalty 1953![]() The Crown absorbs our ineradicable desire to exalt and idolize our leaders, depriving those with real power from receiving such acclaim and reverence. ![]() They are mere ministers of the Crown and servants of the people, treated with no fanfare, no inauguration ceremonies. ![]() The coronation has a special significance for those who must swear an oath of allegiance to the king because they act in his name, whether as parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, armed forces, or police. A young member of the Chapel Royal said to the king: “Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of kings.” He replied: “In his name and after his example I come not to be served but to serve.” The same theme was recalled when (in another innovation) the king offered his own prayer: “God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.” In case anyone wasn't paying attention, Archbishop Justin Welby’s sermon hammered the point home: The anointing and crowning of the sovereign are an enacted prayer that he may be given grace to dedicate himself to the service of his people-and a prayer that he may inspire and support others to find liberty in service of God and neighbor. The beginning of Charles's ceremony featured an unprecedented addition that made very clear the theme tying everything together. This year, the language of the Authorized Version and the Book of Common Prayer were mingled with the banal prose typical of contemporary liturgies, what one commentator has dubbed “ churchofenglandese.” ![]() A ceremonial presentation of the Bible and a vow to “maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion” were inserted at the coronation of William and Mary, to demonstrate parliament’s will to maintain a Protestant monarchy after the Glorious Revolution. Parliament’s growing power over the Crown can be charted from various additions throughout the years. It is a palimpsest of British history, bearing the marks of every major event since the first kings were crowned more than a millennium ago. But the basic elements of the ritual-anointing, investiture with regalia and crown, enthronement, the Eucharist-were seen again this past weekend, indicating that at the heart of the British Constitution remains an exchange of vows before God, binding ruler to ruled with rights and obligations. The service featured new music, including an anthem written by the composer of Cats. For the first time, ministers from other Protestant denominations and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster each offered a blessing for the newly-crowned king, who also received a greeting from non-Christian religious leaders at the end of the ceremony. Finland General oath of office.To the surprise of many (including myself), the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday was not substantially different from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. ![]()
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