Posted on 12/08/2005 1:02:02 PM PST by Wrangler22
I am writing to tell you about an article that appeared in my Church’s Sunday bulletin that explains the meaning of the Twelve Days of Children. In this time in our country when the Left is trying to stamp out all reference to God, I find this song, and its meaning, to be particularly significant.
In England during the years 1528 to 1829, Catholics were not allowed to openly practice their faith. The song the Twelve Days of Christmas was written as a Catechism of learning for children and served as a reminder for adults. The symbolism in the song represents the very basic truths of the Catholic faith.
During this time in England, Catholic churches were closed and Catholics openly practicing their faith were persecuted. The song represented a sacred Catechism for those Catholics who wished to continue to be reminded of their beliefs and pass them on to their children. The phrase “True Love” is understood to be the love of God.
• On the first day of Christmas, my True Love(God’s love for me) gave to me: “A Partridge in A Pear Tree” (representing God’s gift to me, his only begotten son) • On the second day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Two Turtle Doves” (representing the Old and New Testaments) • On the third day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Three French Hens” (representing the Holy Trinity, also taken to represent Faith, Hope, and Charity) • On the fourth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Four Calling Birds” (representing the writers of the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) • On the fifth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Five Golden Rings” (representing the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) • On the sixth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Six Geese a Laying” (representing the six days of creation) • On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Seven Swans a Swimming” (representing the seven sacraments) • On the eighth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Eight Maids a Milking” (representing the eight Beatitudes) • On the ninth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Nine Ladies Dancing” (representing the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, and Faithfulness) • On the tenth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Ten Pipers Piping” (representing the Ten Commandments) • On the eleventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Eleven Lords a Leaping” (representing the eleven faithful Apostles without Judas) • On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: “Twelve Drummers Drumming” (representing the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed)
Whether you are a Catholic or not, reflect on this song this Christmas season. Think about the persecution that lead to its writing by the Catholics of the time. Then, think about the ongoing attack by the Left on religion in this country and consider that someday it may be all Christians who practice their faith through the hidden meanings of song.
12 pack of bud 11 wrestlin' tickets Tin a' copenhagen 9 years probation 8 table dancers 7 packs of redman 6 cans of spam 5 flannel shirts 4 big mud tires 3 shot gun shells 2 huntin dogs and some parts to a Mustang GT
That works too. Reminds me of my days growing up in Lubbock.
ping
Complete crap. There is not one of these supposed Romanish beliefs that was not held by the Established Church of England.
OK, sounds like a typical anti church liberal reaction.
Does the aChurch of England have the same 7 sacraments as the Catholic Church? Confession specifically?
Look in some very old English carol books and you will see "4 colly birds," not "4 calling birds." The word "colly," meaning "black," is not well known in America.
Check out:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp
The snopes response was redictable. I appreciate the response though. Even if it is just a story, as a Catholic and a Christian, the parrallel to today's on going persecution of Christinity in this country is worth considering. Someday we may all be practicing our faith in secret if the Left has their way.
These don't seem to hang together to me. I can't really see how, for example, 6 geese a-laying has anything to do with the 6 days of creation.
I suspect that someone's trying to sanctify this song after the fact.
I would be open to reading any kind of evidence that this was written for the purposes stated in the thread. But, I didn't see any such evidence in the article itself.
Could be. It makes for interesting discussion. A break from the political sniping going on in Washington.
Read the thread I just linked. Catholics were brutally treated in Britain.
Read the thread I just linked.Right back at you. It appears I told you back then this was nonsense too
Catholics were brutally treated in Britain.Cry me a river. You planning to protest about the brutally treated people in Gitmo too?
Mohammendan terrorists are locked up not because they are Mohammedan, but because they are terrorists
In the case of England, In 1558, despite that the country had had just gone through a reign of terror by a insane Catholic Queen, there was no significant persecution of Catholics.
Until
The megalomaniac Pope Pius V issued a fatwa against Elizabeth R.
That was what made English Catholics traitors, on pain of excommunicatiom.
And if any agents of the Pope who tried to enter England were hunted down and subject to the penalty of the law -16th Century Patriot Act
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.