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i just got this e-mail from a friend. i am passing it on. in case you want to know.
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 religious reality > which the children could remember. The partridge in the pear tree was > Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and the New testaments. Three > French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were > the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and 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 seven fold 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 disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve > points of belief in the Apostles Creed. So, there is your history for > today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and > enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas > Carol? so pass it on if you wish. >
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