Queen Elizabeth II - Rest in Peace
Posted: Fri, 9 Sep 2022 12:24
In many ways the death of a ninety-six-year-old should not shock us, but, somehow, the death of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II has made a huge impact not only in Great Britain, but also across the world. Unlike her great grandson, Prince George, Elizabeth was not born to be the monarch. Indeed, she was ten when a constitutional crisis brought her father to the throne—sadly the theme of divorce and betrayal seems to have intruded into the lives of her children. While her uncle gave up the crown in order to marry his divorced lover, her divorced son will now become King. Sadly, his divorced first wife, Princess Diana was cruelly taken from us in a Parisian car crash, many still find the debacle difficult to reconcile with Christian teaching. It is a contradiction that we all must face - trying to live a good life in the face of our own personal failings. Somehow, Queen Elizabeth was able to walk that difficult tightrope and offer hope in the gloom.
The British monarch is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England—a title that dates back to the reformation of Henry VIII. The majority of us cannot remember the 1953 coronation, but it was a highly religious event, as the emphasis was on duty and service to the nation and the Commonwealth. The Queen was crowned in a deeply symbolic church service that was devised in AD 973 and included prayers and a service of Holy Communion. The orb, sceptre, ring, and crown used in the ceremony each include a cross to symbolise the rule of Jesus Christ over the world. Even though the crown jewels are set with many of the world's most valuable gems, a Bible is presented during the coronation and described as 'the most valuable thing that this world affords'. The most sacred moment at the heart of the ceremony is the anointing. When the symbols of royal status are removed. The Queen, sitting under a canopy to hide the sacred moment from the cameras, was dressed in a simple white dress with no jewels or crown. As the Archbishop anointed her with Chrism oil, the prayers said over her invited God's Holy Spirit to set her apart as God's servant. Christians believe that God's anointing fills his people with his love and empowers them to follow him, as we see in baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
The theme of service runs throughout the coronation, and, during the Queen's long reign, she has been inspired by the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ, who said of himself: he 'did not come to be served, but to serve.' Thus, we cannot understand the Queen without reference to her Christian faith. The Queen's life and testimony make it clear that she took these words very seriously. She saw herself as the one who was there for her people for seventy years, and was, according to Catherine Butcher and William Shawcross, 'the servant queen' who served the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. Her faith was not something that she saw as her public duty. The faith of Elizabeth II was deeply personal and to be lived fully. She took the title 'Defender of the Faith' to heart, and we must never forget that this honour was given to the English monarchy by the Pope.
In this post Covid age, Pope Francis calls the global community to share their common heritage and values to make our world a safer place. In his recent encyclical, 'Fratelli Tutti' ('Brothers and Sisters All'), the Holy Father points to the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' as the way to treat others—we cannot sit on the fence, as Christian life calls for commitment. The Queen refers to this parable often, as she sees that it emphasises the theme of service. In four of her Christmas broadcasts, she has talked about this parable. In 1985 she said the story 'reminds us of our duty to our neighbour. We should try to follow Christ's clear instruction at the end of that story: "Go and do thou likewise".' In 1989 her reference to the story reflects the influence of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who shared her practical Christian faith and sense of duty. She said, 'Many of you will have heard the story of the Good Samaritan, and of how Christ answered the question (from a clever lawyer who was trying to catch him out) "who is my neighbour?". Jesus told of the traveller who was mugged and left injured on the roadside where several important people saw him and passed by without stopping to help. His neighbour was the man who did stop, cared for him, and made sure he was being well looked after before he resumed his own journey. It's not very difficult to apply that story to our own times and to work out that our neighbours are those of our friends, or complete strangers, who need a helping hand. Do you think they might also be some of the living species threatened by spoiled rivers, or some of the children in places like Ethiopia and Sudan who don't have enough to eat? … it would be splendid to think that in the last years of the twentieth century Christ's message about loving our neighbours as ourselves might at last be heeded.'
In 2004 she returned again to the same parable and, most recently, in her 2020 broadcast on Christmas Eve from Windsor Castle, where she had been isolating with Prince Philip due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she said: 'We continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers and draw comfort that - even on the darkest nights - there is hope in the new dawn. Jesus touched on this with the parable of the Good Samaritan. The man who is robbed and left at the roadside is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture. This wonderful story of kindness is still as relevant today. Good Samaritans have emerged across society showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender, race or background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of God.' Her speeches at Christmas, and at times of crisis like the death of Diana and the horror of Covid, help to bring a sense of unity across the nation. She offers the anchor of stability that we all need.
From the personal notes attached to bunches of flowers at Balmoral and Buckingham Palace to the official messages from the Pope, Heads of State, and governments across the globe, it is so very clear that this woman was deeply loved. She was the monarch who visited nations across the world, trying to unify, as her historic 2011 Irish visit showed. She was the leader who had a sense of fun, as we saw in her sketches with 'James Bond' in 2012, and 'Paddington Bear' just a few months ago during the platinum jubilee celebrations. She was a family person whose inspiration will no doubt be a lasting help to the new king, Charles III. Like families across the world, the Windsor's shared problems and breakups. However, it was their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who offered a stability in the face of crisis.
As a nation, millions will be deeply upset at her passing, while others might wonder what the fuss is about. Whatever your stance on the future of royalty, we cannot ignore her calming presence on the national and global stage. Prime Ministers will come and go: indeed, a couple of days ago she said farewell to Mr Johnson, and welcomed Mrs Truss as the fifteenth premier to serve under her. We cannot ignore that anchor of stability: in a world that can give us a President Mandela or a President Trump, perhaps there is something to be said for an unelected monarchy that truly understands the concept of service for the nation. In 2012 she concluded her Christmas broadcast by praying for her people and inviting a practical, servant-hearted response to Jesus Christ's message of love:
'This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son "to serve, not to be served". He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others. The carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter" ends by asking a question of all of us who know the Christmas story, of how God gave himself to us in humble service:
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part…
'The carol gives the answer, 'Yet what I can I give him – give my heart'.
As Salesians working for Don Bosco in the British Province, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to King Charles III and the entire family. We pray for the eternal rest for the Queen we have known for so long. We pray that she will hear the words of the Servant King she served so faithfully for seventy years, 'well done, my good and faithful friend: come and inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world.'
Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB