Queen Elizabeth II Requiescat in Pace
Thursday 8th September 2022The royal household has announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died.
The Diocese of Salford joins the nation in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II and praying for her eternal rest. We also pray for the Royal Family at this time.
Right Reverend John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, has released the following statement:
“We pray for the repose of the soul of Queen Elizabeth II.
“We give thanks for her years of unquestioned service and dedication to our country. She has been a permanent person of unity for our nation.
“An abiding presence, who stood above the daily politics, giving a sense of calm presence in the leadership of our nation, even in the most turbulent of times.
“We pray for the Royal Family as they grieve the loss of a dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother. May they take comfort in her Christian Faith as we commend her to God.
“We will remember her in our prayers and in the celebration of Mass. May she rest in peace.
We will be celebrating a Requiem Mass on Saturday 10th September at 10am at Salford Cathedral.
This service will also be live streamed on – https://www.churchservices.tv/salfordcathedral
Our Cathedral is open 7.30am – 6pm for quiet prayer. A book of condolence is also available to sign.
All are welcome to attend as we join the nation in mourning.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, also paid tribute to The Queen, to her service, and her inspirational faith.
He said: “On 21 April 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’
“Now, seventy-five years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration.
“Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
“At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence, because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.
“In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’
“This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith.
“Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation.
“Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace.
“We pray for His Majesty the King, as he assumes his new office even as he mourns his mother. God save the King.”
To read the full statement from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, please click here.
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