The Seventh Day of Christmas

The Seventh Day of Christmas

December 31, 2012

Although the end of the year falls in the middle of Christmastide, it has no particular relationship to the Feast. In fact, January 1st has not always been observed in Christian countries as the first day of the new year. In ancient Rome, the year began on March 1st. Later, in many countries of Europe, the year began on March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation. The change to January 1st was gradual. Scotland changed in 1600, and England changed when the Gregorian calendar was adopted there in 1752. While the beginning of the secular year has no direct connection to Christmas, it is, traditionally, a time of celebration and hospitality, themes which are familiar and entirely appropriate to the Twelve Days. The traditional English drink for this season was Wassail (from the Saxon Was haile, meaning "to your health"). When your friends and family come "wassailing," whether on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, have a bowl of this traditional punch ready for them to drink to their health and yours. The website Catholic Culture provides two recipes: Wassail and Wassail Bowl.     Twelve Days

Christmas is for children

I look around at the decorations I have accumulated over the years. The green garland swagged along the ceiling's edge ( I do not put up a tree - with four cats, it would be rather stressful couple of weeks) is a reminder that life abounds in this world, at every level. The ornaments teach us the meaning of the celebration of the birth of Jehoshua, Jesus, the Messiah: The stars remind me of the star at Bethlehem which shone the way for the Magi. The angels remind me of the angelic hosts which announced his birth. The harps speak of the music of heaven, our true home. The beautifully crafted and sparkling orbs and shapes remind me of the riches the Magi brought to the child Jesus. Other ornaments: snowmen, teddy bears, fruit, and other sundry themes (I even have a lovely outhouse ornament) do not tell the story of Christmas, but have wedged their way into the story of the modern Christmas via clever marketing.

I have often heard said that Christmas is for children, meaning for the child of the family. This is a product of the capitalist agenda - to sell products.  This thought dilutes the true meaning of Christmas - to celebrate the memory and the life of a prophet and teacher whose message is true for every generation: If you seek happiness, joy and peace, learn to respect, to love, and to have compassion for one another (forgive as you want to be forgiven). We are all children of God - and if you do not become like a little child, you shall have difficulty entering into the kingdom of heaven, where the attitude of the moment is wonder and joy, thankfulness and praise.  So then, Christmas really IS for children - for us -  God's children. 

The Sixth Day of Christmas.....

The Sixth Day of Christmas - December 30th

The Sixth Day of Christmas is a quiet day in the calendar. If you have not already written your Christmas cards, this would be a good day to do that. Friends who receive a card sent today will be reminded that Christmas continues for twelve days. The next two days could be quite busy with lots of guests. Today would also be a good day to begin preparing some of the refreshments that will be needed on those days.       Twelve Days

In the high Christian sects, this is the Feast of the Holy Family. Of course, it refers to Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But it is also a celebration of family as we know it. Who is in YOUR family? We often think of our blood relatives as family, or those who are brought together by design to create a nuclear family and extended families.

Jesus teaches us to love one another, to treat one another as if we are all family, to go the extra mile, respect and help the stranger, give the extra shirt and feed the hungry, as if that person in front of you IS your family.  Our Father/Mother is God, and we are all brothers and sisters. We belong to a huge family, the family of man. Thank goodness I am not expected to buy Christmas gifts for ALL my family! But I do offer a gift of prayer for every soul, for an awakening of every soul to our true essence and purpose: I am a child of the living God, and I am here to experience the wonders of this dimension for the benefit of  all my family here and in every dimension of creation. Sela.

The Fifth Day of Christmas...

The Fifth Day of Christmas - December 29th

The Feast of St. Thomas Becket

The Martyrdom, site of the murder of St. Thomas

In 1170, on the Fifth Day of Christmas, four knights from the court of King Henry II burst into Canterbury Cathedral as the Archbishop was on his way to Vespers. Just inside the cloister door, they murdered Thomas Becket, whose defense of the rights of the Church had angered his onetime friend, the King. Within three years, Thomas was canonized, and the shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury was set to become one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims from all over Europe. In his play, "Murder in the Cathedral," T.S. Eliot reconstructs from historical sources the Archbishop's final sermon, preached in the cathedral on Christmas Day. It is a remarkable meditation on the meaning of Christmas, martyrdom, and the true meaning of "peace on earth." The Fifth Day of Christmas, the anniversary of Becket's death and his feast day, is an opportunity to reflect on the broader meaning of Christmas by reading the Archbishop's sermon. You can also sing your reflection with this hymn for the martyr's feast. The Becket Panel at Wymondham Abbey offers a visual meditation on the life of the Archbishop. The red bill and legs of the chough are unique to this member of the crow family. In heraldry they are known as "beckits" and three choughs were found on the coat of arms of Archbishop Thomas. The chough was a popular symbol of his resistance to the King. In Britain today they are found only on the western side of the islands, but efforts are being made to restore them to Kent. An outdoor activity for this day might include ensuring that the bird feeder is full and spending some time watching the many varieties of birds that visit it.   Twelve Days

The Fourth Day of Christmas

The Fourth Day of Christmas - December 28th

The Feast of the Holy Innocents - "Childermass"

In some places, it was the custom on this day to beat children, in order to remind them of the sad and unjust end of the innocent children whom King Herod ordered to be slaughtered in his attempt to destroy Jesus. We seriously doubt the wisdom or the effectiveness of such a discipline today. There are other, more positive, traditions that we recommend. Holy Innocents' Day (another Prayer Book Holy Day on which attendance at the Eucharist is proper) is the traditional day for the installation of the Boy Bishop (learn more about this custom by clicking here). This is a day when children should have the preeminence in family life, leading the family prayers, making decisions about family activities for the day, having the place of honor at meals, and so forth. Households that do not have children might "adopt" a neighborhood family or two with their children and make a party at which the children are the guests of honor.

The story of the Holy Innocents is one of the most poignant stories in all of Scripture, "Rachel weeping for her children... because they are no more." It is a day to give thanks for the children in our lives, whether in our own families or in the larger family of the Church. And it is a good day to revive the ancient custom of parents blessing their children at the end of the day, as part of their nightly prayers.          Twelve Days

How can we not think of the tragedy in Newtown, CN, as well as other past horrors of mass killings of children? Pray for peace. Pray for healing -- of the souls passed, of the families left, of the broken souls who even contemplate such hatred and frustration. May they, too, find peace, and may the Love of God transform their hearts and minds.

The Third Day of Christmas....

The Third Day of Christmas - December 27th

The Feast of St. John

The Feast of St. John the Evangelist is the second of three Prayer Book Holy Days immediately following Christmas Day. The third and final Mass of Christmas, the "Mass of the Day", has as its Gospel the beginning of St. John's Gospel which proclaims the mystery of the Word made flesh. Today would be a particularly good day to spend some time reading and meditating on John 1: 1-14.

Tradition tells us that John was once given a cup of poisoned wine, but drank it with no ill effect. A chalice with a serpent signifying the powerless poison is one of his symbols. In spite of exile and attempts to kill him, John lived to a great old age. In his last years it is said that he had to be carried to the assembly of the Church and, when he was asked to speak, he would say, simply, "My dear children, love one another.

It is the custom to bless wine on St. John's day, and to drink a toast to the love of God and to the saint.

Chalice of St. John

Hans Memling

1430-1495 

The Blessing of Wine on St. John's Day

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou didst call Thyself the vine and Thy holy Apostles the branches; and out of all those who love Thee, Thou didst desire to make a good vineyard. Bless this wine and pour into it the might of Thy benediction. Grant that every one who drinks of it may, through the intercession of Thy beloved disciple the holy Apostle and Evangelist John, find courage and strength to pursue the Way, be renewed in the Truth of the Word made flesh, and at the last enter into Life everlasting, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

A glass of wine is then passed around the table. 

As it is passed, the giver says: Drink to the love of St. John.

And the recipient answers: For where love is, there is God.

I'll drink to that!                                                                       Twelve Days

On the Second Day of Christmas....

December 26^th   -The Feast of St. Stephen

This day has the additional title "Boxing Day", and it is a holiday in several countries.  There are various explanations for this name, but they all boil down to the idea that this is a day to be generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself.  The day celebrates the first person to give his life for the sake of Christ, St. Stephen, who was also one of the first deacons ordained to serve the poor.  Archbishop Thomas Becket has something to say about him which you can read today, or save for the 29th. Another saint who is closely associated with this day is St. Wenceslas of Bohemia whose charity to the poor is remembered in John Mason Neale's wonderful carol. The day after Christmas is a particularly good day to put the fabled "spirit of giving" into practice.  Take time today to perform an act of charity.  If you make end-of-the-year gifts to charities, write the checks  today.  Remembering  St.  Stephen, as well as our Lord's own sacrifice, this would be a good day to give blood, if the donation center is open.  Charity can take many forms.  Whatever form yours takes, make sure to sing or whistle "Good King Wenceslaus" while you are doing it!  St. Stephen's Day is a Prayer Book Holy Day, a day on which one should also participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  From:  Twelve Days

O Happy Day!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given, 

and the care of the nations 

will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas!!

O Antiphon - Dec. 23

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio, privatus Dei Filio.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

We too often wait until someone ELSE comes to our rescue. But Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is within us -- Be proactive!! The Love which is the Kingdom needs to be discovered and radiated from within each of us to be manifested. Make it so!

O Antiphon - Dec. 22

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart;
O Keystone of the mighty arch of man:
Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

I believe salvation has already been accomplished through Jesus of Bethlehem -- now it only takes a confirmation of belief to manifest it in the heart and mind of everyone, and to change this world to mirror the Kingdom, where Holy Love is the only law to live by.

O Antiphon - Dec .21

Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae et sol iustitiae:
veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death.

To know the Light of God,

one must disrobe the transitory ego 

and journey naked into the depths of the soul,

which is the Light of God --- 

where there is no darkness,

and death is an illusion.

O Antiphon - Dec. 20

O Key of David,
opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

The key to the Kingdom (another dimension) is Love. That's it -- but love which perfect - totally self-sacrificing in the joy of bliss.  Wake up! Leave the darkness of your own mind and enter the sparkling, effulgent, light-filled mind of God.

O Antiphon - Dec. 19

O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God's love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

Jesus, sign of God's love for all souls -- has already come -- has already taught -- has already left a legacy for all generations - Love one another, as I have loved you.

O Antiphons - Dec. 18

O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times didst give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Shma, Israel, Adonai Elohenu,

Adonai Echad

Hear, O Israel, the Lord is God,

the Lord is One.

When will the religions finally agree that there is only One God, known by many names and manifestations? Is it not our work here to realize that we share, at least on a subdimensional plane, the Oneness which we call God? God is All. Know this, and the games we play become easier.

O Antiphon - Dec. 17

O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Wisdom - a rare commodity usurped by opinions, biases and judgments. Knowledge is Wisdom only when Understanding and Compassion are its guides.

Get the Message

Everything happening, great and small,
is a parable whereby Life speaks to us,
and the art of Life is to get the message.

Pray for the children and adults killed in CT, and pray for their families and all the children and teachers of that school... and pray for the perpetrators.