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.
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 areon display for the first time in eight years.
What is Maundy Thursday? Meaning explained
By Natalie Keegan and Danni Scott
MANY of us think Easter starts on Good Friday but celebrations actually start the day before – on Maundy Thursday.
Marking the end of Lent and start of Easter, is an oft forgotten Christian holy day called Maundy Thursday, which is when Jesus’ last supper took place.
Maundy Thursday is known by many names, such as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries.
It is a Christian holy day that falls on the day before Good Friday.
It honours the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles in Jerusalem before he was betrayed by Judas and put to death.
Maundy comes from the Latin “mandatum”, meaning command, used in the ceremony of the washing of the feet which forms part of some church services.
According to St John’s gospel, before the Last Supper Jesus washed his followers’ feet to show his humility.
He then said: “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Until 1689, there was a custom of the monarch washing worshippers’ feet in Westminster Abbey.
Feet washing is still a tradition in Catholic churches and the Pope will wash and kiss the feet of 12 of the congregation
These days, the Queen attends a Royal Maundy service at one of Britain’s cathedrals or royal chapels.
The sovereign hands out “Maundy money” to deserving pensioners from local communities.
Food and clothing would also be handed out to those in need.
Christians often eat a supper of bread and wine in honour of the Last Supper.
Maundy money is made up of coins that have been specially minted for the occasion – they are legal tender and are highly collectable.
The image of The Queen on ordinary coinage has transformed over the years, but Maundy coins remain unchanged.
By Mary Gillick, Maundy money depicts her in the same likeness as the first coins, which were issued in the year of her coronation in 1953.
In a tradition dating to the 15th century, as many elderly men and women as there are years in the Queen’s age receive the Maundy money.
This year, it has been confirmed that the Queen, 95, will not attend a Royal Maundy service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Instead, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles will take her place as they have been regularly since the Commonwealth service.
Some 95 men and 95 women will receive the Maundy money from Her Majesty.
PAThe King and Queen will hand out coins to 76 men and 76 women – for recognition of the Monarch’s age[/caption] Read More Details
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