KING Charles has wished a “blessed and peaceful Easter” in his annual message for Maundy Thursday.
The King and Queen will attend a Maundy Service together at Durham Cathedral.
3
3
They will hand out coins to 76 men and 76 women – for recognition of the King’s age – during a ceremony that dates back to the 13th century.
This year’s Maundy Money includes a white purse with specially minted silver coin.
And a red purse with a £5 coin commemorating The Queen Mother, and a 50p coin which features stories of WWII.
The Royal Maundy gifts are given in recognition of recipients’ outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.
In his written Maundy message the King said: “One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness.
“This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others.
“A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion.
“On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him.
“His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.
“The love He showed when He walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others.
“The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.
“There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.
“It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.”
At the end of the ceremony the King and Queen will see a special exhibition of the Cathedral’s Magna Cartas, which are
on display for the first time in eight years.
3
