Sixty Years of Service

It’s no secret, I suppose, that I’m something of an anglophile. So please forgive this foray into Great Britain.

This year, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee – 60 years on the British throne.

Today, her Majesty addressed parliament, saying in part,

As today, it was my privilege to address you during my Silver and Golden Jubilees. Many of you were present ten years ago and some of you will recall the occasion in 1977. Since my Accession, I have been a regular visitor to the Palace of Westminster and, at the last count, have had the pleasurable duty of treating with twelve Prime Ministers. …

We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which created it. I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr. John Bercow lauded the Queen for “Sixty years of stability. Sixty years of security. Sixty years of certainty. Sixty years of sacrifice. Sixty years of service.”

It’s hard to top that.

We have, each of us, a vocation. Rarely these days is it chosen for you, but that is certainly the case for her Majesty. We are all called to serve each other. Some do so in extraordinary ways, but all of us can do it in ordinary, everyday ways.

The Catholic bishops of England and Wales have urged parishes to mark the Diamond Jubilee at Masses on Trinity Sunday, and they have composed this prayer for use during the year:

V. O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen.
R. And hear us on the day we call upon you.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come before you.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may, with her consort and the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.