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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

System of Counting by Faith


You've probably heard or read this before, but I use a similar method to memorize numbers.  For example, to memorize my license plate, which is 525 43LC, I think: Five foolish virgins-two natures in one God-five wise virgins-four Gospels-three persons in One God-Loves Christ.  

So here are the twelve Catholic numbers and Faith's numerology.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and especially the partridge who
won't come out of the pear tree have to do with
Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England
were not permitted to practice their faith
openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol
as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has
two levels of meaning: the surface meaning
plus a hidden meaning known only to members of
their church. Each element in the carol has a
code word for a religious reality which the
children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.                                                                                  One God
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New                                                                      Two natures in one God
Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and                                                             Three persons in one God
love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of                                                                      Four Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
- The five golden rings recalled the Torah or                                                                       Five foolish virgins
Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of                                          God made man on the sixth day.
creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold                                    Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving,
Teaching,Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership,
and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight                                                                        Eight Beatitudes
beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the                                                  Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace,
Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten                                                                            Ten Commandments
commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven                                 I don't go beyond 10.  I repeat one-ten.
faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the
twelve points of belief in the
Apostles' Creed.

Galilean Fish Broil

BIBLICALLY BROILED FISH This Lenten recipe comes from “A Continual Feast.”  Note the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to the apostles on t...