Ordo ad regem benedicendum
by Anonymous
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://migne.app/pl/138/ordo-ad-regem-benedicendum/
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## HERE BEGINS THE ORDER FOR BLESSING THE KING, WHEN A NEW ONE IS RAISED BY THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE INTO THE KINGSHIP.[n: (Ex cod. Vindobon. theol. 277. saec. XII vel XIII.)]

[1111C]

*First, as he comes forth from the chamber, let one of the bishops intone the oration.* Almighty everlasting God, who hast deigned to raise thy servant to the summit of the kingdom; grant to him, we beseech, that in the course of this age he may order the salvation of all in common, so that he may not withdraw from the path of thy truth. Through.

*Afterward let two bishops receive him, at his right and his left, honorably vested, having relics of the Saints hanging at the neck; but let the rest, the [sic: phaphones], be adorned with chasubles; and, the holy gospel going before, and with two crosses, with incense of good odor, let them lead him to the [1111D] church, singing this antiphon with loud cries:* Behold, I send an Angel. *With the verse,* Israel, if thou shalt hear me. *At the door of the church let the clergy halt, and let the archbishop intone the following oration.* O God, who knowest that the human race can by no virtue subsist, grant propitiously that thy servant, whom thou hast willed to be set before thy people, may so be stayed by thy help, that he may avail to profit those over whom he has been able to be set. *And as they enter, let the clerics going before chant the antiphon* O Lord, save the king. *As far as the entry of the choir. Then let the metropolitan bishop say the [1112C] oration.* Almighty everlasting God, governor of things heavenly and earthly, who hast deigned to advance thy servant to the summit of the kingdom, grant, we beseech, that, freed from all adversities, he may both be fortified with the gift of ecclesiastical peace, and, by thy giving, merit to attain to the joys of eternal peace. Through.

*But there, before the choir, let the prince designate lay down his mantle and arms, and, led between the hands of the bishops into the choir, let him advance as far as the steps of the altar; and, the whole pavement being covered with carpets and small palls, let him there lie humbly, prostrated whole in a cross, together with the bishops and priests prostrated on either side, while the rest in the choir sing the litany briefly, that is, twelve apostles, and as many martyrs, confessors, and virgins. And among the rest are to be brought in these things which [1112D] follow.* That thou wouldst deign to choose this thy servant N. as king. *We beseech thee, hear us.* That thou wouldst deign to bless and to raise him. *Te rog.* That thou wouldst deign to lead him to the summit of empire. *We beseech thee. And let the prince, being lifted up, be questioned by the metropolitan bishop in this manner*. Wilt thou hold the holy faith handed down to thee by catholic men, and observe it with just works. R. I will. Wilt thou be guardian and defender to the holy churches and to the ministers of the churches. R. I will. Wilt thou rule and defend the kingdom granted to thee by God according to the justice of thy fathers. [1113A] R. I will. I will; and in so far as I shall prevail, stayed by divine help and by the solace of all his own, so I promise that I will act faithfully in all things. *Then the lord metropolitan himself addresses the people in these words.* Wilt thou subject thyself to such a prince and ruler, and make firm his kingdom, and establish it with firm faith, and obey his commands, according to the apostle: let every soul be subject to the higher powers, to the king as excelling. R. I will. *Then, therefore, let it be said by the surrounding clergy and by the people with one mind.* Be it done. Be it done. Amen.

*But afterward, he having devoutly bowed his head, let there be said by one bishop.* Bless, O Lord, this our king, who governest all kingdoms from of old, and glorify him with such blessing that he may hold the scepter of Davidic [1113B] sublimity, and, glorified, be received forthwith in his merit. Give to him, O Lord, by thy breathing, with mildness so to rule the people as Solomon to obtain a kingdom of peace. To thee may he ever be subject with fear, and for thee may he soldier with quiet. May he be protected by thy shield together with the nobles, and everywhere stand forth victor by thy grace. Honor him before all the kings of the nations. Happy may he be lord over the peoples, and happily may the nations adorn him. May he live great-souled among the throngs of the nations, may he be singular in the judgments of equity, may the most rich right hand enrich him, may he obtain a fruit-bearing fatherland, and to his children mayest thou grant things that shall profit them. Grant him length of life through the times, and in his days may justice arise, and may he hold robust the throne of rule, and with jocundity and gladness glory in the eternal kingdom. Through.

[1113C] *Oration*.

Almighty everlasting God, creator of all things, emperor of angels, king of those who reign, and Lord of those who lord, who madest Abraham thy faithful servant to triumph over his enemies, gavest manifold victory to Moses and Joshua, set before the people, didst raise the humble David thy boy to the summit of the kingdom, and didst enrich Solomon with the ineffable gift of wisdom and of peace; look, we beseech, upon the prayers of our humility, and upon this thy servant N., whom in suppliant devotion we have chosen as king, multiply the gifts of thy blessings, and encompass him always and everywhere with the right hand of thy power: so that, made firm by the fidelity of the aforesaid Abraham, leaning upon the mildness of Moses, [1113D] fortified with the fortitude of Joshua, exalted by the humility of David, adorned with the wisdom of Solomon, he may please thee in all things, and ever advance along the path of justice with unimpeded [sic: *in offenso*] step; and may so nourish and teach, fortify and instruct thy Church thereafter, with the peoples annexed to it, and against all visible and invisible enemies may he mightily and royally administer for it the rule of thy strength, and, by thy aid, may reform their souls to the concord of the true faith and of peace: that, stayed by the due subjection of these peoples, glorified with condign love, [1114A] he may merit by thy mercy to ascend becomingly to the paternal throne; and, defended by the helmet of thy protection, and ever guarded by the insuperable shield, and encompassed with heavenly arms, may happily seize the triumph of a desirable victory, and bring in the terror of his power upon the unfaithful, and gladly bring back peace to those who soldier for thee; through our Lord, who by the virtue of the holy cross destroyed Tartarus, and, the kingdom of the devil being overcome, ascended victor to the heavens, in whom all power, the victory of kings, consists, who is the glory of the humble and the life and salvation of the peoples. Who with thee.

*Then by the other bishop let this oration be said.* O God, unutterable author of the world, founder of the human race, governor of empire, confirmer of the kingdom, who from the womb of thy faithful friend our patriarch [1114B] Abraham didst fore-choose kings to profit the ages, then this present king, with his army, through the intercession of all the saints, enriched with rich blessing, and join him to the throne of the kingdom with firm stability. Visit him as thou didst visit Moses in the bush, Jesus Nave in battle, Gideon in the field, Samuel in the temple; and pour over him that starry blessing and the dew of thy wisdom, which David in the psalter, Solomon his son, by thy rewarding, received from heaven. Be to him a battle-line against enemies, a breastplate in adversities, a helmet in prosperities, patience in protection, his everlasting shield; and grant that the nations (illius) may keep faith with him, that his nobles may have peace, may love charity, abstain from covetousness, speak justice, keep truth. And [1114C] so may this people under his rule sprout, [sic: *coaluus*] ( *an* coalitus?) with the blessing of eternity, that they may ever remain, dancing in peace, victors. Which may he himself deign to grant, who with thee liveth.

*Then by the metropolitan bishop let the hands be anointed with sanctified oil.* Let these hands be anointed with sanctified oil, wherewith kings and prophets were anointed; and as Samuel anointed David to be king, that thou mayest be blessed and constituted king in this kingdom over this people, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and to govern. Which he himself to grant. Look, almighty God, upon this glorious king ill. with serene regards, and as thou didst bless Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as [cj: *sicut*; read *sic*, "so"] deign to water him with the large blessings of spiritual grace, with all the fullness of thy power, [1114D] and to pour them forth upon him. Grant to him, O Lord, of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of grain, of wine, and of oil, and of all fruits through the times, that, while he reigns, there may be health of bodies in the [sic: *pata*] (patria), inviolate peace may be in the kingdom, and the glorious dignity of the royal palace may shine before the eyes of all with the greatest splendor of kingly power, may grow bright with most clear light, and may be seen with splendor, as if most splendid, suffused with light in greatest blaze. Grant to him, almighty God, that he may be the strongest protector of the fatherland, and consoler of the churches and of the monasteries [1115A] of the saints, with the greatest piety of royal munificence; and that he may be the strongest of kings, a triumpher over enemies, for the crushing of rebellious and pagan nations. And may he be terrible enough to his enemies in the utmost royal fortitude. To the magnates also and the exalted, and to the nobles and the faithful of his kingdom, may he be magnificent and lovable and dutiful, that he may be feared and loved by all. May kings also go forth from his loins through the successions of future times, to rule this whole kingdom; and, after the glorious and happy joys of this present life, may he merit to have everlasting joys in perpetual blessedness. Which he himself.

*But afterward by the metropolitan pontiff let there be anointed with sanctified oil the head, the breast, and the shoulder-blades, both joinings.* I anoint thee king with sanctified oil, in the [1115B] name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May the grace of the Holy Spirit, by the office of our humility, descend upon thee in abundance: that, as by our unworthy hands thou art made fat outwardly, smeared with material oil, so, bedewed with his invisible ointment, thou mayest merit to be made fat inwardly; and, ever most perfectly imbued with his spiritual unction, mayest learn, or avail, to decline unlawful things with the whole mind, and to spurn them, and mayest be able continually to think, to desire, and to work the things useful to thy soul; our Lord Jesus Christ helping, who with the Father. *Then let the oration be said.* O God, who art the glory of the just and the mercy of sinners, who didst send thy Son to redeem the human race with his most precious blood; who breakest wars in pieces, and art the champion of all who hope in thee, and under whose judgment the power of all [1115C] kingdoms is contained: we humbly entreat thee, that thou bless this present thy servant N., confessing in thy mercy, in this present royal seat, and deign propitiously to be near him; that he who seeks to be defended by thy protection may be stronger than all enemies. Make him, O Lord, to be blessed, and victor over his enemies. Crown him with the crown of justice and of piety, that, believing in thee with the whole mind, he may serve thee, may defend and exalt thy holy Church, and may justly rule the people committed to him by thee. Let no one, evils lying in wait, turn to injustice. Kindle, O Lord, his heart to the love of thy grace by this oil of unction, wherewith thou hast anointed kings and prophets: that, loving justice, leading the people familiarly along the path of justice, after the completed [1115D] courses of years disposed by thee in royal excellence, he may merit to attain to eternal joys. Through.

*Another.* May God the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, who by the Father was anointed with the oil of exultation before his fellows, himself, through the present infusion of sacred unction, pour out upon thy head the blessing of the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, and make the same penetrate even to the inward parts of thy heart: that by this visible and handleable gift thou mayest merit to perceive things invisible, and, the temporal kingdom with just governances — execution [n: ( f. exsecuto, exsecutus)], [1116A] — to reign with him eternally, who alone without sin, King of kings, liveth and is glorified with God the Father in the unity of the Spirit through all.



## HERE BEGINS THE ORDER FOR BLESSING THE KING, WHEN A NEW ONE IS RAISED BY THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE INTO THE KINGSHIP. (cont.)

*Afterward let him receive the sword from the bishops, and with the sword let him know that the whole kingdom has been faithfully committed to him to rule according to the words said above, the metropolitan pontiff saying.* Receive the sword, laid upon thee royally by the hands of the bishops, unworthy though they be, yet consecrated in the stead and by the authority of the holy apostles, and by the office of our blessing divinely ordained for the defense of the holy Church of God: and be mindful of that whereof the Psalmist prophesied, saying: Gird thyself with thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty; that in this thou mayest by the same exercise the force of equity, and mightily destroy the mass of iniquity, and [1116B] fight for and protect the holy Church of God and her faithful, and no less mayest execrate and destroy the false under the faith than the enemies of the Christian name; mayest clemently aid and defend widows and orphans; restore things made desolate, preserve things restored; avenge things unjust, confirm things well disposed: that, in doing these things, glorious in the triumph of the virtues, and an excellent cultivator of justice [sic: *institiaeque*], thou mayest merit to reign without end with the Savior of the world, whose type thou bearest in name. Who with God.

*And girded with the sword, let him likewise receive from them the armlets and the mantle and the ring, they saying.* Receive the ring of dignity, and by it acknowledge in thyself the seal of the catholic faith: for as today thou art ordained head and prince of the kingdom and of the people, so an enduring author [1116C] and establisher of Christianity and of the Christian faith; that, happy in work, rich in faith, thou mayest glory with the King of kings, through him to whom is honor, glory unto the ages.

*But afterward let him receive the scepter and the staff, the metropolitan saying to him:* Receive the rod of virtue and of equity, whereby thou mayest understand to soothe the godly and to terrify the reprobate; to open the way to the erring, to stretch forth a hand to the fallen; and mayest thou scatter the proud, and lift up the humble; and may Jesus Christ our Lord open to thee the door, who saith of himself: I am the door: by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and he himself, who is the key of David and the scepter of the house of Israel: who openeth and no man shutteth, who shutteth and no man openeth. And may he be the author, who leadeth out the bound from the house of the prison, and him that sitteth in darkness [1116D] and the shadow of death; and in all things mayest thou merit to follow him, of whom the prophet David sang: Thy seat, O God, is unto the age of the age; a rod of equity, the rod of thy kingdom. And, imitating him, mayest thou love justice and hold iniquity in hatred; for therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee, after the example of him whom before the ages he had anointed with the oil of exultation before his fellows, Jesus Christ.

*Afterward let the metropolitan reverently set the crown upon the head of the king, saying.* Receive the crown of the kingdom, which, though by unworthy hands, yet by the hands of bishops, is set upon thy [1117A] head; and mayest thou understand it expressly to signify the glory of sanctity, and honor, and the work of fortitude; and be not ignorant that through it thou art a partaker of our ministry: so that, as we in inward things are understood to be pastors and rulers of souls, thou likewise in outward things mayest ever appear a true worshipper of God, and a strenuous defender of the Church of Christ against all adversities, and a useful executor of the kingdom given to thee by God and committed to thy rule through the office of our blessing in the stead of the apostles and of all the saints, and a profitable reigner: that, among the glorious athletes, adorned with the gems of the virtues, and crowned with the prize of everlasting felicity, thou mayest glory without end with the redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ, whose name and stead thou art believed to bear, who liveth and commandeth, [1117B] God with God the Father, unto the ages of ages. R. Amen.

*And by him straightway let the oration or blessing be said over him, which is also to be said at the time of a synod.* May the Lord bless thee, and keep thee; and as he hath willed thee to be king over his people, so in the present age may he grant thee to be happy, and a consort of eternal felicity. R. Amen. May he make the clergy and the people, whom by his own aid he willed to be gathered in thy sanction, to be happily governed, by his dispensation and thy administration, through long-enduring times. R. Amen. That, obeying the divine admonitions, lacking adversities, abounding in all good things, following thy rule with faithful love, they may both enjoy tranquillity in the present age, and with thee may merit to obtain the fellowship [1117C] of the eternal citizens. Amen. Which he himself to grant.

*Then let him, crowned, be led with honor through the choir, from the altar by the bishops as far as the throne, the clergy singing the Responsory* The desire of the soul. *Then let the metropolitan say to him.* Stand and hold from now the place which until now thou hast held by paternal succession, delegated to thee by hereditary right, through the authority of Almighty God and our present tradition — that is, of all the apostles and of the rest of the servants of God; and the nearer thou seest the clergy to the sacred altars, so much the more remember to pay them the greater honor in fitting places: that the mediator [1118A] of God and men may confirm thee, mediator of the clergy and of the people ( *in this place let the lord metropolitan make him sit, saying* ), in this throne of the kingdom, and make thee to reign with him in the eternal kingdom — Jesus Christ our Lord, King of kings and Lord of those who lord. Who with God the Father.

*Then of God to them the kiss of peace. But let the whole company of the clerics, rejoicing in him as ruler, with sounding hymns sing together with loud voice this hymn* Thee, God, we praise. *Then let the metropolitan bishop celebrate the mass with full procession.* O God, who disposest all things in wondrous order, and ineffably governest them, grant, we beseech, that thy servant N. may discern these things to be fulfilled in the course of this age, whereby he may prevail to please thee in perpetuity. Through.

[1118B] *Secret.*

Grant, we beseech, almighty God, appeased by these saving sacrifices, that thy servant N. may always be found [sic: *indoneus*] for carrying through the office of royal dignity, and may be rendered accepted to the heavenly fatherland. Through.

*Episcopal blessing.*

May almighty God, who hath willed thee to be the ruler of his people, himself, sanctifying thee with heavenly blessing, make thee to be a consort of the eternal kingdom.

*Oration.* And may he grant thee, against all the enemies of the Christian faith, visible and invisible, triumphal victory, and thee, to himself, a most happy founder, far and wide, of ecclesiastical peace and quiet. Amen. That, while thou holdest the helms of the kingdom, the people [1118C] subject to thee, keeping the laws of the Christian religion, safe on every side, may fully enjoy tranquil peace; and, thou being placed in the council of the blessed, may merit that thou rejoice there together with thee equally in eternal felicity. Which he himself to grant.

*At the Completion.* May this reception of the saving sacrifice, O Lord, wash away the stains of the sins of thy servant N., that it may render him fit to rule the people according to thy will; that by this saving mystery he may be rendered unconquered against visible and invisible enemies — through which the world, by divine disposition, was redeemed. Through.
