The queen, who turns 94
this month, sent commemorative coins in special purses to 94 men and 94 women,
reflecting her age, Buckingham Palace said.
Queen Elizabeth II has sent
alms by post to 188 elderly people to mark Maundy Thursday, after this year’s
royal service was cancelled amid Britain’s near-lockdown to curb the spread of
the novel coronavirus.
She normally hands out the
purses personally at an annual Royal Maundy service in a British church.
“Recipients of Maundy Money
are usually at least 70 years old and are nominated by their local dioceses for
their outstanding contributions to their local church and community life.
“To mark the occasion this
year, a letter from Her Majesty along with the Maundy Gift of the purses and
money has been posted to all 188 recipients to allow recipients to mark the
occasion from their homes,’’ the palace said.
The palace said this year’s
oldest recipient was Thomas Brock, 101, a bell-ringer who started his hobby 94
years ago.
Maundy Thursday falls one
day before Good Friday, the day of Christ’s crucifixion.
The ceremony has its
origins in the commandment Christ gave his disciples to love one another, and
maundy comes from the Latin mandatum or commandment.
An annual Royal Maundy
service commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, or Apostles, at
the Last Supper.
No comments:
Post a Comment