Encumbered To Serve

 12 June, 2023

Dear and gentle reader, how good it is to meet again, even if only online.  Since the coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III, I've watched the whole liturgy at least twice, examined pictures, listened to commentary by historians, and tried to soak in the pageantry and pomp.

One notable comment struck me, made by Dr. David Starkey, sometimes known as "Dr. Rude" for his acerbic wit and fearlessness for making controversial statements.  Dr. Starkey, a fellow curmudgeon and monarchist, remarked on how frail King Charles looked before his anointing, stripped down to his shirt and trousers; how he appeared as a man his age, stooped and somewhat frail.  How very human the King was and is.  This weak, fallible man was taking on the burden of being the Sovereign. 

Then, Dr. Starkey remarked on the vestiture of the King after the anointing, the cloth-of-gold supertunica, the stole and belt, and the great Robe Royal, and the weight of these garments.  As one who has worn cloth-of-gold vestments, I can say, yes, they do weigh quite a bit!  That aged man was wearing two full layers of them at his coronation.  

Even after the communion of the liturgy, once the King had changed out of the golden robes and into his state robes, exchanging the five pound-heavy Saint Edward's crown for the lighter State Imperial crown, he was still encumbered with his royal Robe of State that took four pages to manage the train.  Dressed in such a way, a person cannot move freely or quickly.

All of that got me thinking on the symbolism of it all.  For most people, they would look at it all and think that it is all about projecting power, glory, majesty - and yes, there is that.  But for me, I saw it as a weighty burden, limiting, and encumbering the monarch, quite literally reminding him that he cannot simply do as he pleases, that he's there to serve his people, albeit in a gilded cage.

The King, when he was Prince of Wales, did not shy from making controversial statements about art, architecture, the environment, farming, and even city planning.  Many times this was mocked by commentators as odd flights of fancy (however, now, we see that many of his complaints have merit).  Now as King, he must remain publicly impartial and non-political.  He cannot express his opinions on matters politic in public, since he is there for all peoples of his realms and territories, not for just one political party.  He is there to serve all.  It's not easy to be a servant.

Such thoughts led me to ruminate on how like the encumbrances of the clergy it all is.  Yes, the robes and coronation find its roots in the liturgies of ordinations of priests and bishops, as well as in the Old Testament Judaic kings.  But it's the symbolism that got me.  Like the King, a priest dresses a certain way at certain times.  The King does not wear his gold coronation robes and the Saint Edward's Crown but once, at his coronation.  He only wears the Robes of State, and the State Imperial crown at the annual opening of Parliament.  Just so, a priest dons the liturgical vestments only for the liturgy, and like the royal robes, they encumber; they literally humiliate a man.  I am one who sweats freely.  Perhaps it's due to my Canadian blood, but anything over 70 fahrenheit makes me sweat like a "whore at Mass" as they say in Ireland.  Imagine adding at least two layers of generally non-breathing, lined fabric over your usual two layers of underclothes, then shirt and trousers.  I think you get my meaning.

Vestments such as these chasubles are not worn for comfort, gentle reader.  Yes, they can be quite ornate and magnificent.  The more ornate they are in the fabric and decor, the heavier they get; the more unwieldy they are.  One cannot move easily or freely - and with good reason.  The liturgy is not the priest's personal prayer.  It is the prayer of Christ, entrusted to His Church, wherein the faithful and clergy join with Christ in the Spirit in prayer to the Father.  That is why the priest is limited in what he can do and say in celebrating the liturgy.

The priest is reminded in a very tangible way of his limitations by the vestments.  They originated in the ordinary dress of the Roman Empire during the First through Fourth centuries.  At the time, they were simply designed, very little, if any ornamentation, and most usually made of light woolen fabric.  As time went on, and secular fashions changed, the Church clung to these old-fashioned clothes as used for only the liturgy.  Partly, to show the antiquity of the rites, and partly to show the timelessness of the Faith.  As years went on, more ornate decorations were added, more ornate fabrics were used.  Pious symbolism was added to the meaning of each vestment, and even prayers were ordered to be said by the cleric as he donned each piece of the vestment set.

Some today look at the liturgical vestments and think only of majesty, glory, (or even power, on the part of some clerics).  I tend to look upon them, whether they are plain or ornate, as a weighty burden, limiting and encumbering the priest, reminding him that he is ordained to serve, and not do as he pleases.  The priest, more than a king, is quite literally transformed to serve by ordination.  Granted, we priests may not live in a gilded cage, but clerical cage usually comfortable enough for us.  But, it's not easy being a servant.

As this early summer season is usually the time of ordinations, remember to pray for your priests - the old veterans like me, the newly ordained, the sick ones, the troubled ones, the doubting ones, the holy ones, and even the criminal ones (who probably need our prayers most of all).  No priest can live his vocation  well without the help and prayers of his people.  It's not easy to be a servant.

Until next time, dear and gentle reader, God's blessing and grace to you and yours.

In Christ,

Father P