Hello my name is Mimi and I love you.

I thought I’d educate you a bit on religious persecution.

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. 

*Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. 

*Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.- 

*The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke     & John. 

*The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. 

*The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

*Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy    Spirit … Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

*The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

*Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit … Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,   Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

*The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

*The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

*The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

Today, this is a Christmas carol that everyone sings, regardless of religious affiliation.  I don’t have to be in the pew every Sunday to know that when you say “Christians”, you don’t include Roman Catholics.  

While you have your nose stuck in a Bible for help with a failing presidential campaign, I’m going to go to midnight Mass with my family and celebrate what Christmas REALLY means.

Love,

Mimi