IV
We come now to the final recension of the French rite, which is represented by the order of Charles V, who was crowned in 1364[101]. This recension, like the corresponding fourth recension of the English rite, returns to the older rite anterior to the Romanized third recension in so far as it is a conflation of the second and third recensions, containing nearly everything that had appeared in all previous rites, and therefore much matter that was originally alternative.
There is the short preliminary service. At the end of the prayers said at the king’s entrance into the choir, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Veni Creator was sung. The king enters the church between Prime and Terce, and while waiting for the arrival of the Sainte Ampoule Terce was sung. The rite begins as usual with the bishop’s petition and the king’s reply, and then follows the oath Haec populo christiano, in which is inserted, in this order, a clause, which vanishes finally in 1484, promising to maintain the rights of the French crown (doubtless against English claims). Te Deum is then sung, though a note remarks that this should be sung, according to Roman use, after the enthroning. Deus inenarrabilis is now said, and the Buskins are put on and the Spurs. Then follows the investiture with the Sword in the position it occupies in the Roman orders, with a benediction, and a conflate form combining the old French Accipe gladium with the Roman Accipe gladium per manus nostras. Then follow the anthem Confortare and the prayers Deus qui providentia, Prospice omnipotens, Benedic Domine quaesumus hunc principem, and Deus pater aeternae gloriae. While the unction is preparing, a series of versicles and responses peculiar to the French rite, and beginning Gentem Francorum inclitam, and a collect are said. The Chrism was miraculous. Brought down from heaven by an angel for the coronation of Clovis, it was carefully preserved in the Abbey of St Rémi, and brought in solemn procession from the Abbey at the time of the coronation. A tiny particle of the contents of the ampoule was mixed with Chrism. The Litany is now said, closing with the prayers Te invocamus, Deus qui populis, (alia) In diebus eius. Then comes the consecration. The king is anointed during the prayer Omn. sempiterne Deus creator ac gubernator, which is followed by the prayers Deus electorum fortitudo and Deus Dei filius, the anthem Unxerunt Salomonem being sung during the anointing. He is anointed on the head, breast, between the shoulders, and at the bend of both arms. The king’s hands are then anointed with the form Unguantur manus, and he then puts on gloves blessed with two forms adapted from the benediction of a bishop’s gloves. The investitures follow; the Ring, with a benediction and the old form Accipe anulum restored in place of the Roman form introduced into the last recension, and the prayer Deus cuius est omnis potestas; the Sceptre, with the usual form and the prayer Omnium Domine fons bonorum; the Verge, with the usual form; the Crown, with the prayer Coronet te Deus, and a conflate form combining the French Accipe coronam and the Roman Accipe inquam coronam, which is followed by Deus perpetuitatis. A series of benedictions are now said, all of which are found elsewhere. After the enthronisation with the usual form the anthem Firmetur manus is sung and the Roman prayer Deus qui victrices Moysi is said, and finally the archbishop kisses the king, saying Vivat Rex in aeternum, and the cry is taken up by the Peers. The Mass, as in the English corresponding rite, is a Mass for the king, and before the Pax the benedictions Benedicat tibi Deus custodiatque, Clerum ac populum and Quatenus divinis monitis are said over king and people. The king communicates, as did the French kings always at a coronation, in both kinds[102].
The queen’s coronation begins with the prayers Adesto Domine supplicationibus, Omn. aeterne Deus fons et origo, Deus qui solus habes and Omn. semp. Deus hanc famulam. She is anointed on head and breast as of old, In nomine, etc., and then follow Spiritus sancti gratia and Deus Pater aeternae gloriae. The Ring is given with the form Accipe anulum, as in the second recension, followed by Deus cuius est omnis potestas; the Verge with the form Accipe virgam and the prayer Omn. semp. Deus affluentem. Lastly she is crowned with the form of the second recension, and the prayer follows Omnium Domine fons bonorum.
After the sacring of the queen the benediction of the Oriflamme takes place.
This order remained in use, with small and unimportant variations, as long as the monarchy lasted in France. But the coronation of the queen was dispensed with for some reason. The last queen to be anointed and crowned was Marie de Médicis in 1610, and probably a sacring took place in her case only because there was every prospect of her being left Regent and so virtual monarch.
V
Napoleon
The rite by which Napoleon[103] was crowned stands by itself. The arrangement was that he should be crowned according to the rite of the Roman Pontifical, but at the last moment changes were introduced from the French rite itself.
Napoleon came into church already clad in the imperial robes, the Pope having already heard Terce. According to the Roman order the metropolitan should, after certain questions, address the monarch on his duties, and then the oath should be taken. But in place of this Veni Creator was here sung, as in the French rite, and after the versicle Emitte Spiritum and its Response, and the Whitsunday collect Deus qui corda fidelium, Napoleon took the oath. This was much modified, for the Emperor refused to confirm the Church in property which it did not possess, and indeed refused to recite the oath itself, simply saying Profiteor when it was read. Then followed, as in the Pontifical, Omn. semp. Deus creator omnium with the necessary alterations, such as imperatorem for regem, and the addition of et consortem eius whenever the Emperor was named. During the Litany the Emperor and Empress remained seated, and only knelt at the special petitions. According to the Pontifical the anointings should be on neck and right hand, but Napoleon ordained that it should be on the head and hands, and he was so anointed with Chrism with the prayers from the Pontifical, Deus Dei filius and Omn. semp. Deus qui Hazael super Syriam, the anthem Unxerunt Salomonem being sung the while. Josephine was anointed in the same places immediately after the Emperor with the prayer Deus pater aeternae gloriae. At the Mass, at the Emperor’s request, a collect of the Blessed Virgin as patron of the Church was used instead of the proper collect. After the epistle the benediction and delivery of the ornaments took place. As the Pontifical has no forms of benediction of ornaments, the forms for the blessing of Sword, Rings, and Gloves were taken from the Cérémoniel françois, and from the same source were derived forms for the delivery of Main de justice (Verge) and Sceptre, while forms for the benediction of the Orb and the delivery of the Mantles were composed for the occasion. The form for the delivery of Ring and Mantle were used in the plural for Emperor and Empress at once. At the time of the crowning the Emperor ascended to the altar and taking from off it the imperial Crown crowned himself, and then crowned Josephine, the Pope saying Accipe coronam regni and Coronet vos Deus corona gloriae. At the enthronisation the French form of the Sta et retine was used instead of the Roman, as affirming the independence of the sovereign. Te Deum was then sung, followed by the anthem Firmetur manus and the prayers Victrices Moysis and Deus inenarrabilis, and Mass proceeds. Neither Emperor nor Empress communicated. After Mass, while the Pope was unvesting in the Chapelle du Trésor, Napoleon took the constitutional oath at which the Pope had refused to be present, and was proclaimed ‘Le très glorieux et très auguste Empereur Napoléon Empereur des français, sacré et intronisé.’ The Emperor and Empress then proceeded to the Archevêché whither they were followed by the Pope, during whose procession the anthem Tu es Petrus was sung.