December 27, 1998Feast of the Holy Family |
This Christmas carol is a song with different levels of meaning. On the simpler level it refers to the twelve days from the Feast of Christmas to the Feast of the Epiphany, which formerly always occurred on January 6th.
Most of us today celebrate Christmas during Advent and end the celebration of Christmas on December 25th! And the Church, at least in this country, has placed Epiphany on the Sunday closest to January 6th so more people can celebrate the feast. We have lost a little of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas.
Even so, the composer of this carol intended a deeper meaning of the Christmas carol than simply a twelve day celebration. I would like to encourage you to consider this meaning whenever you sing or hear this beautiful carol.
To understand the carol you need to understand some history. For almost three centuries, from 1558 to 1829, Catholics in England were persecuted and forbidden by civil law to practice their religion openly. During this period The Twelve Days of Christmas was written as a catechism song for the young Catholics. The hidden meaning of the song's gifts were intended to help the children remember lessons of their Faith.
The TRUE LOVE mentioned in the song refers not to some earthly lover or spouse but rather to God Himself. The ME who receives the present is every baptized person. The PARTRIDGE IN THE PEAR TREE is Jesus Christ. Our Lord is presented in the symbol of a partridge, a bird which gathers its own under its wing and even permits itself to be injured in order to decoy predators from its helpless nestlings.
The meanings of the other symbols are as follows: TWO TURTLE DOVES represent the Sacrifice of the Jewish family at the birth of a son or the Old and New Testament, the THREE FRENCH HENS symbolize the Gifts of the Magi, the Trinity, or Faith, Hope and Charity, the FOUR CALLING (or CULLY) BIRDS remind us of the four Evangelists, and the FIVE GOLDEN RINGS represent the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The SIX GEESE A-LAYING stand for the six days of creation or the days on which we are to work, the SEVEN SWANS A- SWIMMING represent the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING are the people saved on the Ark, or the Beatitudes and the NINE LADIES DANCING stand for the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit or the Choirs of Angels, while the TEN LORDS A-LEAPING represent the Ten Commandments. The ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING are the eleven Faithful Apostles and the TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING are the twelve Articles of Faith in the Apostles Creed, the Gates of Heaven, or the Tribes of Israel. Perhaps this carol would be good to help your own children to remember these truths.
By the way, in case you need a refresher, the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (I used to think there were twelve!)
taken from a Bulletin by Fr. Denis, OSB
1) Sirach 3, 2-6.12-14
2) Colossians 3, 12-21
3) Matthew 2, 13-15.19-23
The Holy Family had to flee for their lives (3). They went to Egypt to escape Herod who was desperate to the point of murder to maintain his worldly position and possessions. By abandoning all but the love of God and each other, Mary, Joseph and Jesus saved not only their lives, but the meaning of their lives. Our greatest wealth is our love of God and neighbor. If we are God's chosen ones then we will bear with one another and surround ourselves with love (2). We call God "Our Father" because we see the central order of "family" as so essential to who we are. It may be possible to have more money or things than we know what to do with it. It is not possible to have more love than we can handle. Share your greatest treasure, your love, and the other talents and treasures will take care of themselves.
Next Sunday, the reading's will be: 1)Isaiah 60, 1-6; 2)Ephesians 3, 2-3.5-6; 3)Matthew 2, 1-12.
Scripture Readings:
The first reading for the various Christmas Masses communicates the same message: Today a child is born to us, a son is given us. It is the savior who comes to us. He brings peace and comfort, meaning and joy, protection and redemption.
The second reading likewise shares with us a consistent theme: This son who comes is the absolute and definitive revelation of God the Father, and hence he discloses to us in an unmistakable way God's love and mercy, liberation and grace, kindness and glory.
The Gospel tells us that the birth of Jesus Christ fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament, announces the Good News of salvation, provides understanding for all life's situations, and, most of all, manifests God to us in human form.
Message:
The Word of God on Christmas Day gives to us the most powerful piece of astonishing news: "The Word was made flesh." God is made visible and tangible! The Kingdom has arrived! The Messiah -- God-with-us -- is no longer a dream or a wish but a reality. God has made it possible for us mere mortals to touch God in history and in faith, in Word and in Sacrament, in other people and in all creation, in human events and in natural happenings, in one's imagination and in one's gut feeling.
Application:
Celebrating Christmas as a parish is much more than a "birthday party for Baby Jesus." It is an intricate yet almost automatic process of taking the reality of the feast and making it our own. We remember what God has done for us, and we give thanks. When we give thanks, we make the event happen in our lives. When we make our God real and actual in this way, we connect in an intimate way (this is called "communion") with the Word-made-flesh present to us. With this kind of bonding or communion we imitate or conform to Him and his ways. When we are filled with Christ in this manner, we overflow with His love and goodness and want to share Him with others. So we, in turn, make the Word flesh for other people, and the cycle starts all over again, which makes the ideal parish life a "perpetual Christmas" of celebrating and making present the Word made flesh.
So, my friends, Merry Christmas! May you be filled with the Word-made-flesh through your own openness and surrender. May you fill others with the Word-made-flesh by your own word and action.
Scripture Readings:
The first reading from the Book of Sirach tells us that people who revere their fathers will live a long life; they obey the Lord who bring comfort to their mothers. Kindness to a parent will take lasting root.
St. Paul -- in the second reading -- tells the Church at Colossae: "Clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility and patience. Bear with one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you." Moreover, the author relates, "Dedicate yourselves to giving thanks. Let Christ's word dwell in you."
In today's gospel passage Joseph was told in a dream to take the child and his mother to Egypt. In that way the prophecy would be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I have called my son." When they returned, they settled in Nazareth to fulfill another prophecy: "He shall be called a Nazarean."
Message:
The message of God's Word to us this weekend is that God makes his dwelling among us, and we are able to recognize the coming of the reign of God and the presence of God's only- begotten Son by means of the human dimension all around us. The convincing signs of the Word-made- flesh are the same characteristics of a healthy and holy family life: reverence and obedience, mercy and kindness, humility and patience, understanding and forgiveness, giving thanks and making others happy.
Application:
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a family. In our own way we are a "holy family" because within our faith community we have the ability to nurture and bring to maturity the presence and power of Christ dwelling in us.
We as a parish are a "holy family" also because we strive to embody those characteristics enumerated in the readings which constitute a healthy family.
We, moreover, are a "holy family" because we have the potential of being in our neighborhood a "sacrament" (that is, a visible sign constituted by Christ himself to demonstrate and make real God relating to us in human form) of the loving and compassionate presence of Christ himself.
So, we celebrate Christmas not just with fine liturgies and family traditions, but also with the commitment to work at making our parish more and more of a real family, exhibiting the consequences of those characteristics named above; namely, trust and courtesy, dialogue and collaboration, support and outward affirmation.
--Father Benet OFM
The reality of family is so strong, it gets called into service for every kind of human gathering. We speak of religious communities as families. We speak of the family of nations; the Christian family, the parish family. Whenever the word is said, we imagine an ideal. We imagine warmth and love and generosity. We all want this to be the story of our family of origin. We all want the families we found to be these centers of mutual love and responsibility. We all know what we want, what we long for, what we hope and pray to build. This is a good start.
It's a natural thing to make our connections with family during the Christmas season. As an integral part we focus today on the Holy Family. They are offered to us as a model to recognize the centrality of the family, as the Second Vatican Council highlighted, the domestic church.
When we pause and reflect in the context of faith we become more aware how this is the first school of love, acceptance and care. It is the basic unit of relationship that is ever emphasized by our faith tradition.
Let us give thanks for our family - parents - father and mother - sister, brothers and the privilege of extended family. God has called us into life. May the life that we have always be nourished.
Fr. Ron
We are in the season of Advent. A time of preparation and of waiting. The Church celebrates this time of preparation with the belief that God truly Is With Us. We celebrate believing that the reign of God begun is yet still to come.
The Church has dedicated this final year of preparation for the Jubilee as a time of reconciliation. It is a time for each of us to extend our hands to the inactive or fallen away Catholic, who may wish to be reconciled with the Church.
It is a time for ecumenical reconciliation, as we pray for the healing of divisions between the religions. Pope John Paul II holds out the hope that the Great Jubilee Celebration in the year 2000 will see the Christian churches closer to that full communion for which Christ prayed.
It is a time for forgiving debts, and for helping the poor obtain justice. Perhaps this is the year for your family to do something extra special for a worthy cause. How do you see your family involved in the area of social justice? What amount of good could possibly happen if every single family at St. Anne's parish chose to do something out of the ordinary to help the poor? How much good can you imagine?
It is a time for each of us to reconcile with someone we may have hurt or need to forgive. Our Christian faith is based on forgiveness. We know that forgiveness can heal, restore, and reunite. We also know that it is a conscious choice. Can you imagine the possibilities for the world if everyone would choose to forgive? Can you imagine the possibilities for world peace? Can you imagine more peaceful family life? Perhaps it is the time for you to forgive yourself and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Perhaps it is time for you to reconsider the blessings offered in this sacrament. Perhaps it is time for you to extend the hand of forgiveness.
Can you imagine the possibilities that the Great Jubilee presents to us?
The poor having enough food because everyone shared
what they had.
The unreconciled having peace because someone said
please forgive me.
The coming home to the Church because someone
invited them back.
The end to war because people chose to love and to
live justly.
The unity of the human family world-wide because we
see each other as our brother or sister.
A long time ago
When the world was so young
long before a Christmas
Song was sung;
Far away from all castles
and jewels to adorn,
far away from all royalty
a King was born.
For God loved His new world
and so gave them joy.
A gift for all people
this one little boy.
And up in the sky
a star shone out bright
it drew all the people
to a manger that night.
It was in that small manger
that His life did begin
born in a stable
near Bethlehem's Inn.
This gift was so precious
though no one knew
How could a small baby
be King of all men?
But within the child
was a special light,
the magic of heaven
came with Him that night
His future was written
before He began,
His life would be part
of a special plan.
So the reason for Christmas
is more than it seems,
it's more than just wishes
hopes, and dreams.
It's a time to remember
what we did receive,
this baby brought life
to those who believe.
Now sins can be cleansed
and souls can be won
all because of the gift God
gave us - His Son!!
Kris Fitzgerald,
Parishioner
The Christmas Season should always include a focus on Christ as the Prince of Peace. The Octave of Christmas January 1 is also a worldwide Church celebration that the Prince of Peace will reign more and more in our world, replacing conflicts and violence. The following commentary of Christmas as a feast of peace seems appropriate.
"Christmas is a feast of peace. The hope at every Christmas is that there be peace this night all around the world. Who wants to be worrying about their son or daughter on the other side of the world trying to stop hostility? Christmas is being home--home for the holidays--with family and friends, enjoying the peace and love of one another.
Christmas is a family holiday-a time of great peace and great joy-and when a family is falling apart or when people feel all alone, it can also be a time of depression and loneliness.
Christmas is a time to connect. We send Christmas cards and make phone calls to connect, to make peace, to say "Hello" to friends all around the world at least once a year.
We hear Christmas hymns and Christmas greetings of "Peace on earth, good will to all." Christmas is all about Christ being for all of us the Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace." (Markings)
Dec. 27, 1998
The number of those awaiting Christ is still immense: the human and cultural groups not yet reached by the Gospel, or for whom the Church is scarcely present, are so widespread as to require the uniting of all the Church's resources. As she prepares to celebrate the Jubilee of the year 2000, the whole church is even more committed to a new missionary advent. We must increase our apostolic zeal to pass on to others the light and joy of the faith, and to this high ideal the whole people of God must be educated.
We cannot be content when we consider the millions of our brothers and sisters, who like us have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, but who live in ignorance of the love of God. For each believer, as for the entire Church, the missionary task must remain foremost, for it concerns the eternal destiny of humanity and corresponds to God's mysterious and merciful plan. [RM n. 86]
'Twas the day after Christmas when alone in the church,
The pastor was wondering, "am I left in the lurch?"
The altar was circled with poinsettias with care,
In hopes that more people soon would be there.
But folks were still nestled all snug in their beds,
While memories of yesterday danced in their heads.
A bundled-up jogger was running a lap,
And Dad, Mom, and kids were taking a long Sunday nap.
When out by the Crib there arose such a clatter, the pastor rushed out to see what was the matter.
The Babe in the manger was wailing and crying,
"Where are the folks for whom I'll be dying?
Their faith, their hope, and their love, I do fear,
only show up here once or twice a year.
Now Michael! Now Daniel! Now Peter and Colleen!
On Eddy! On Freddy! On Rita and Maxine!
Don't let me lie here so lonely and forlorn.
It was for each one of you that I came to
be born.
So come every Sunday throughout the New Year,
and I'll fill hearts and souls with lots of good cheer.
I won't stay a baby, so fast I'll grow up,
but you won't get to know me unless you show up."
Daniel Durken, O.S.B.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They don't seem to be the typical Jewish or Catholic family ideal. The Blessed Mother was found to be with Child while she was engaged to Joseph, but before they married. Joseph was somewhat perplexed by the whole thing and wondered if he should quietly divorce her. And Jesus was a handful, even absenting Himself from the family when He was a small child. The Blessed Mother remained a Virgin and never had anymore children. Theirs was quite a small nuclear family by traditional Catholic standards.
Family life today has experienced the stresses and strains our society has placed upon it. There seems to be even in our own day very few traditional Catholic families. Because of death or divorce, we have have many single parent families. Because of remarriage after death or divorce, we have many Brady Bunch type families or even non-related people living in the same household. In addition, we have many people living alone with only a pet to take care of, such as myself. We even have a bunch of women living together on Laney-Walker Blvd. They call themselves the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
Fortunately, the real traditional Catholic family is the family of God, the Church. When we hear the Word of God and put it into practice, we become a real part of the Holy Family related intimately to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Jesus tells us that whoever hears His words and puts them into practice are mother (father), brother and sister to Him.
So as Catholics, we are all a part of the Holy Family. May our relationship with Jesus and each other bear much fruit. May God bless you and have a Blessed New Year.
Your Pastor,
Father Allan J. McDonald
A lot of people ask, why can't every day be like Christmas? Every day can be like Christmas if we do the work of Christmas.
For your reflection, the following poem was written by Herman Thurman.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
As we begin this New Year, perhaps we can include some of these works as part of our New Year's resolution. Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones.
Peace,
Father Jim and the Parish Staff
With this series of historical vignettes we review the history of the parish and archdiocese.
In the autumn of 1834 the cathedral was completed and ready for its solemn consecration. Some of the more pertinent specifications of the cathedral church are that the length of the church is 136 feet, width 84 feet, height 40 feet. The entire façade as also 27 feet of sides near the façade are of beautiful polished stone, much like marble. The portico is sustained in front by four columns of the same material 27 feet high, and 4 feet in diameter. The portico is 40 feet long and 12 feet deep, of Doric style. On the frieze of that portico and of the whole facade is written in relief the following inscription:
In honorem S. Ludovici. Deo Uni et Trino Dicatum.
A. MDCCCXXXIV.
(in honor of St. Louis.
Dedicated to the One and Triune God, 1834.)
Above the three doors are placed three slabs of Italian marble upon which is engraved the following text of the Apocalypse:
Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus, et
habitabit cum eis.
(Behold the Tabernacle of God with men, and He will dwell with them.)
This inscription is in Latin over the middle door,
In English over the door to the east, and in French
Over the other door. The Gospel text:
Domus mea Domus orationis vocabitur
(My house will be called a house of prayer)
is inscribed on two other slabs in French and English on either side of the facade. Over the parapet surmounting the outer cornice of the façade were placed six candelabra of stone, which have since been removed. The portico is crowned by a beautiful pediment in the center of which is engraved in large gilded Hebrew characters the ineffable name of God.
Back of the pediment rises the belfry, about twenty feet square and forth feet high above the apex of the façade which itself is fifty feet high; it is all constructed of polished stone, ornamented with two rows of pilasters and cornices. The octagonal spire is forty-five feet high, and is surmounted by a ball of gilded brass and cross, indicative of the salvation of the world through the cross of Christ. The roof of the church is covered with sheets of brass.
Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs. "I pray for a new bicycle...I pray for a new nintendo..I pray for a new VCR." His oldest brother leaned over and nudged the younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayer? God isn't deaf." to which the little brother replied, "No, but Gramma is!"
In Jesus' Love, Fr. John
