The Twelve days of Christmas
Have you ever wondered about where the 12 Days of Christmas comes from, I recently received an email with what looks like a reasonable explanation.
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.
Fr. Philip Adm. (John Kelly, eat your heart out!!)
Thank you for last Sunday’s Offertory Collection of €1,461 and the Share Collection which amounted to €1,034.
The loss of music at our Saturday evening Mass has been noted by many. With this in mind we are appealing to any parishioner who can play the organ or help in anyway to contact Fr. Philip re the possibility of playing at our evening Masses.
Christmas Eve Mass on RTE
Christmas Eve 'Midnight' Mass is being broadcast live on RTE radio and television from the Church of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners, Rathmines at 11.15pm. Music will be led by Cantairi Oga Atha Cliath conducted by Briain O'Dubhghaill.
The Volunteer Missionary Movement would like to thank the parishioners of Milltown for their generous donation of €2,150 which they collected here last weekend.
PARISH CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS
Christmas Day
Sunday 25th December
Morning Mass: 10am & 11.30am
No evening Mass on Christmas Day
St. Stephen’s Day
Monday 26th December
Morning Mass: 11am
Feast of the Epiphany
Friday 6th January
Vigil Mass: Thursday 6pm.
Morning Mass; 10am & 11.30am
Evening Mass: 5.30pm
PARISH PASTORAL CENTRE
The Parish Pastoral Centre will close on Friday December 23rd.
Tea & Coffee will be available between 10.30 – 11.30 am on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th.
Volunteers are required to look after tea / coffee after morning Masses on Sunday January 1st.
The Centre will fully reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Softlight Photography DSLR Beginners Photography course.
A photography training course will take place in the Parish Pastoral Centre from 10-12 am on Saturday 14th January. This two hour course teaches you the basic principals of SLR photography. This is a hands on course with lots of practical experience. The course costs €45 per person. For further details call 087 6866026 or log onto www.softlight.ie/courses to register.
Milltown Parish / Foroige Youth Club
This club will re-commence in January. New members are welcome. Please leave your name and contact details in the Parish Office if your children would like to join this group.
A copy of the Radharc film on St. Columbanus & Gall is available on loan from the Parish Library.
A six week Yoga course will commence in the Parish Pastoral Centre on the 12th Jan,. These hour long classes will start at 9.30am.on Thursday mornings. The course costs €90. For further details contact Orla at 087, 9340839.
Date for your Diary
Please note that the New Year Liturgy Seminar will be on Saturday morning 28th January in Clonliffe College. Details of courses and booking forms will be available in January.
THIS CHRISTMAS
Mend a quarrel
Seek out a forgotten friend
Share some treasure
Give a soft answer
Encourage youth
Keep a promise
Find the time to listen
Apologise if you were wrong
Be gentle
Laugh a little, laugh a lot more
Express your gratitude
Welcome a stranger
Gladden the heart of a child
Take pleasure in the beauty
And wonder of the earth
Speak your love, speak it again
Speak it still once again.
