The Archbishop of Canterbury on the Royal Wedding

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Posted On : April 21, 2011 12:02 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/4/21/ACNS4852
Related Categories: Lambeth

The Archbishop of Canterbury on the Royal Wedding

Speaking in a short film produced by Lambeth
Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury talks about
the sense of hopefulness and generosity which lie
at the heart of marriage, and what this also
tells us about the ?mystery? and ?delight? which
can be found in this life-time commitment. Dr
Williams, who will be conducting the marriage
ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29th,
also describes the sense of privilege he feels
about his own role in the royal wedding:

?Any priest or minister conducting a wedding is
bound to feel a huge sense of privilege. You?re
invited into some intimate places in people?s
lives. You?re invited to take part in a very
significant moment, a moment of hope; a moment of
affirmation about people?s present and future.
And I?ve felt very privileged to be part of this
event for those reasons. Here are young people
sending a message of hopefulness, sending a
message of generosity across the world. And it?s
my privilege to be able to bless that in the name
of God, to witness it in the name of God?.

In describing his impressions of the way in which
the couple have approached their marriage, Dr
Williams says: ?I?ve been very struck by the way
in which William and Catherine have approached
this great event. They?ve thought through what
they want for themselves, but also what they want
to say. They?ve had a very simple, very direct
picture of what really matters about this event.
I think that they have a clear sense of what they
believe they?re responsible to. They?re
responsible to the whole society; responsible to
God for their relationship. And I think it?s
impressive that they?ve had that simplicity about
it, they?ve known what matters, what?s at the
heart of all this? ? because I think they are deeply unpretentious peop le?

Finally, the Archbishop urges all those who will
be watching on the day to offer their support and
prayers to the couple as they take this significant step:

?William and Catherine are making this commitment
very much in the public eye and they?re sensible,
realistic young people. They know what the cost
of that might be. They?ve thought that through.
And because of that they will need the support,
the solidarity and the prayers of all those who
are watching today. We have to be witnesses in an
active sense: the kind of witnesses who really
support what?s going on. To be a witness is more
than to be a spectator and I hope that?ll be part
of people?s experience at the time of the wedding.?

> ENDS

Notes to editors: The short film and transcript
is available here: www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

Broadcast quality versions are available to

download here: http://www.torpedofactoryfilms.co.uk/lambeth-palace