Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Merry Christmas! ? On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Twelve drummers drumming! ? Most of our stores and some of our neighbors began their Christmas season back in October, wrapping it up as soon as possible at the arrival of December 26th. However, we Catholics were just really getting started at that point and have the blessing of celebrating for 12 days leading us to the feast of the Epiphany this weekend. So if your Christmas decorations are still shining brightly around your home like ours, enjoy!
In our house we enjoy the many different versions of the Twelve Days of Christmas song. Our kids like a fun Sesame Street version sung by Cookie Monster and friends and we tend to enjoy a neat rendition performed by the group Straight No Chaser. Catholic lore tells that this well-known Christmas carol was used to teach children some of the core teaching of the faith during times of persecution.
- A partridge in a pear tree - Jesus on the cross
- Two turtle doves - the Old and New Testaments
- Three French Hens - the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love
- Four Calling Birds - gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
- Five Golden Rings - the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy)
- Six Geese A-Laying - the six days of creation
- Seven Swans A-Swimming - gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord
- Eight Maids A-Milking - the Beatitudes
- Nine Ladies Dancing - fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
- Ten Lords A-Leaping - the Ten Commandments
- Eleven Pipers Piping - the Faithful Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, and Jude
- Twelve Drummers Drumming - twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed
As I reflect on the readings for today, one of the most striking aspects of the twelve days of Christmas song is the line “my true love gave to me”. There is no love more true than that of Christ for his church, of God for humanity. “Beloved: This is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another…The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers [and sisters]” (1 Jn 3:11,16).
As we wrap up the season of Christmas, I pray that you have experienced and been reminded of the true love of our good God. May we continue to rejoice with the heralds of Angels from that most holy night: ‘A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.’ Alleluia, alleluia. “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (Jn 1:49)
Peace,
Brandon Meyer