From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practise their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholic Christians. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to believers of their Catholic faith. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
First Day - The partridge in a pear tree was the Lord Jesus Christ.
Second Day - Two turtle doves were the Old Testament(46 Books) and New Testaments(26 Books).
Third Day - Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love. - 1Cor. 13:13 -
Fourth Day - The four calling birds were the four gospels: (1) The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (2) The Gospel According to Saint Mark (3) The Gospel According to Saint Luke (4) The Gospel According to Saint John.
Fifth Day - The five golden rings recalled the "Torah" or the "Law". The Promise, the Choice, the Covenant, the Law - these are the golden threads, the warp and woof of the Pentateuch: the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Sixth Day - The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. - Gen. 1:1-31 -
Seventh Day - Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and fear of the Lord. - CCC 1831 -
Eighth Day - The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes. - Matt. 5:10 -
Ninth Day - Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Good Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. - Gal. 5:22 -
Tenth Day - The ten lords a-leaping were the ten Commandments. - Exodus 20:1-17 -
Eleventh Day - The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful apostles/disciples: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Jude son of James. - Acts 1:13 -
Twelfth Day - The twelve drummers drumming symbolished the twelve points of beliefs in the Apostles' Creed: I believe in God..., I believe in Jesus Christ..., He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit..., He suffered under Pontius Pilate..., He descended into hell, On the third day he rose again, He ascended into heaven..., He will come again to judge the living and the dead, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,...Amen.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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