Journey

12 Days of Christmas

Posted on by MSFriend

Almost 12 years ago, the Christmas carol “12 days of Christmas” took on a whole new meaning for me.  At that time, I sat listening to the priest’s homily during Christmas mass and in his homily he explained the history of the song.   I want to share that with you today.

As the story goes, between 1558 and 1829 Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly, so someone wrote the song, which for Catholics had hidden meaning.

True love – God

Partridge in a pear tree – represents Jesus Christ

Two turtle doves – Old and New Testament

Three French Hens – virtues of faith, hope and love

Four Calling Birds – four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Five Golden Rings – the first five books of the Bible called the Pentateuch

Six Geese a Laying – 6 days of creation

Seven Swans swimming – the 7 gifts of the spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety and wonder (fear of the Lord) and the 7 sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, Penance, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick, holy orders)

Eight maids milking – the 8 beatitudes given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God; blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are the meek; for they will inherit the earth; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied; blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy; blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God; blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God; blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.)

Nine ladies dancing – nine fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)  Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Ten lords leaping – the ten commandments

Eleven pipers piping – 11 faithful apostles

Twelve drummers drumming – the 12 points of the Apostle’s Creed:

  1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
  2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
  3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
  4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
  5. He descended into hell, on the third day he rose again from the dead.
  6. He ascended into heaven and is seated and the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
  7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
  8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
  9. The Holy Catholic Church;
  10. The communion of saints;
  11. The resurrection of the body; and
  12. Life everlasting.  Amen.

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post – the 12 days of Christmas (in most Christian traditions of the West) represents the time from December 25 through January 6.  For Catholics, the Christmas season goes a little longer, from December 25 to January 10 – the baptism of the Lord.  The Octave of Christmas represents the eight days from Christmas to New Year’s Day, which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a holy day of obligation for Catholics.

I hope you enjoyed these fun facts and that the song takes on new meaning for you as well.  God bless you!

 

St. Ambrose on The Visitation

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Another good one from St. Ambrose. I have taken a section of his commentary on the Gospel of Luke – Mary visits Elizabeth.  He speaks to us and says:

Elizabeth says:  “Blessed are you because you have believed.”

You also are blessed because you have heard and believed.  A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges His works. Let Mary’s soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord.  Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord.  Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ in faith.  Every soul receives the Word of God if only it keeps chaste, remaining pure and free from sin, its modesty undefiled.  The soul that succeeds in this proclaims the greatness of the Lord, just as Mary’s soul magnified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior.  In another place we read: Magnify the Lord with me.  The Lord is magnified, not because the human voice can add anything to God but because He is magnified within us.  Christ is the image of God, and if the soul does what is right and holy, it magnifies that image of God, in whose likeness it was created and, in magnifying the image of God, the soul has a share in its greatness and is exalted.

Something to aspire to!  God bless you!