off subject the 12 days of Christmas carol

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P PM (Polymositis) 12/98, UIP 8/00, o2 24/7 9 LPM 8/04, PH 3/06, ILL yo 60> There is one Christmas Carol that baffles many people. They wonder what inthe world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially thepartridge 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 topractice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as acatechism song for young Christian's . It has two levels of meaning: thesurface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Eachelement in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the childrencould remember.> > ⤢ The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.> ⤢ Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments .> ⤢ Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.> ⤢ The four calling birds were the four gospels of , Mark,Luke & .> ⤢ The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first fivebooks

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 HolySpirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, andMercy.> ⤢ 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 SelfControl.> ⤢ 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 ofbelief in The Apostles' Creed.> I know some of you already know

that information but I find it worthreminding you anyway.Genesis 28:15> > "I am with you, and will protect you wherever you go. I will be withyou constantly until I have finished giving you all I am promising."____________________________________________________