CORONATION CROSS FROM WALES

 

The second time in my lifetime, we will have a British Coronation. King Charles III of Great Britain  was presented with a relic of the True Cross by Pope Francis  as an ecumenical gesture on the occasion of the centenary of the Anglican Church in Wales. The two fragments came from a relic preserved in the Lipsanoteca Room of the Vatican Museums.

The fragments now are under glass in the center of the coronation cross, which is made of recycled Welsh silver bullion.  King Charles III  will walk into Westminster Abbey for his coronation behind a processional cross containing the relic.  

The beautiful Cross of Wales is inscribed on the back with the words in Welsh: “Byddwch lawen. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y pethau bychain,” meaning, “Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the little things.”  This message is part of the final sermon of St. David, the patron saint of Wales.

The cross  is made by master silversmith Michael Lloyd from the  silver b, a shaft of Welsh windfall timber and a stand of Welsh slate.  The cross will be officially received by the Church in Wales at a service to follow the Coronation. It will be shared between the Anglican and Catholic Churches in Wales. The gift of the cross was commissioned by the King, as Prince of Wales, to celebrate the centenary of the Church in Wales.

  Anglican Archbishop Andrew John of Wales blessed the cross during a service April 19.

"It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the chaos of life — or even our achievements — that we don’t always stay grounded in faith. So as the Cross of Wales makes its way into Westminster Abbey on May 6, we can take a look at its shining glory, and remember that there is so much happiness to be gained in our faith, and if we focus on all those little things, the bigger things will generally sort themselves out."

Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Church in Wales, the Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia, Mark O’Toole, said, “With a sense of deep joy we embrace this Cross...It is not only a sign of the deep Christian roots of our nation but will, I am sure, encourage us all to model our lives on the love given by our Savior, Jesus Christ."