15 Surprisingly Catholic Elements of the King Charles III Coronation - including Liturgical Music from an Historic Convert to Catholicism

In an article, written by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, head of the Bishops of England and Wales, for Vatican News, the Christian elements of the coronation were explained. Below are 15 points from that article and other sources, of the Catholic influences on the coronation ceremony.

1. The opening words of the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, 6 May, in Westminster Abbey, are most revealing. A chorister speaks first, saying: “Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings” and King Charles replies: “In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve.”

2. Prayer is at its very heart, from the silent prayer offered by the King before the high altar at its opening, a prayer placed there so as to express King Charles' wish to make it clear that his first allegiance is to God, through the public prayer he will proclaim, then the anointing with Chrism, the blessings and the celebration of the Holy Communion.

3. There are four consistent elements to these coronations: the anointing of the monarch, the crowning, the giving of the sword of justice and the reception of Communion. During the anointing, the Archbishop of Canterbury will pour holy oil (which is blessed at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem) onto the Coronation Spoon and place the liquid onto the king's hands, chest and head (behind a special screen). The tradition dates back to Kings I in the Old Testament, where King Solomon received a similar ceremony by Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet.

4. Newly composed choral music is to be heard, sung in the different languages of these islands. People from all walks of life have been invited together with leaders from so many different nations. The full range of Christian denominations are present and some have a speaking part to contribute.

5. At the end of the proceedings, just before leaving the Abbey, the King will be greeted by the religious leaders of other religions who address him “as neighbours in faith” and receive his acknowledgement in return.

6. The history of these lands is profoundly marked by our religious history. Until the sixteenth century, the coronation was Catholic. For the last four hundred years it has been a service of the Church of England and it remains so. In the archives of Lambeth Palace there are records of the coronations of kings and queens reaching back to the eleventh century.

7. As it is known, Pope Francis presented to King Charles a relic of the true cross of Christ. This relic has been fashioned into a silver cross which will be carried at the head of the first procession on Coronation day.

8. The Pope will be represented at the Coronation by His Eminence Cardinal Parolin, [Vatican Secretary of State] accompanied by the newly appointed Papal Nuncio to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Archbishop Maury Buendia.

9. The ceremony itself contains many indications of its Catholic origins: the singing of the Kyrie, the Veni Sancte Spiritus, the Te Deum and the Gloria, in a setting written by William Byrd, a convert, for recusing Catholics in the sixteenth century.

10. The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, was invited to contribute to the blessing of the newly crowned King, an innovation which is a further step towards the healing of our common ancient wounds.

11. Then the king takes what is called “the statutory Accession Declaration Oath”. King Charles has recently said that he takes this oath as a fully committed and devout member of the Church of England.

12. He also said that while this solemn duty is his constitutional obligation, there were other duties he has, less solemnly expressed but also sincerely fulfilled. He explained that these are his duty to maintain the practice of religious freedom in the United Kingdom and its welcome to people of other and all religious faiths.

13. In one of the most important innovations of this Coronation, the King prays publicly, for all to hear. This prayer follows immediately the taking of the Oath. The King prays: “Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

14. Excluding the Vatican City State, there is only one other state in the world that installs its Head of State with a religious ceremony.

15. Before their marriage, Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles made a public act of repentance for their sins. Saying: The Prince and the new Duchess of Cornwall will join in, saying: "We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings."

Sources: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/charles-and-camilla-to-repent-their-sins-725.html and Vatican News