DAILY CATHOLIC for December 30
volume 8, no. 63    
TUESDAY
December 30, 1997
Today is the Sixth Octave Day of Christmas
     We continue with the Twelve Days of Christmas as we reach the half-way point. These twelve verses were actually a secret "catechism" sung by Roman Catholics after the Reformation in countries such as England where they were not allowed to practice their faith. Thus, to communicate with fellow Catholics and truly celebrate the Birth of Christ as the Savior in the Catholic tradition without fear of reprisal, they formed this "carol" which represented "religious reality" in symbols. This was also used often during the French Revolution.

     The "True Love" is God the Father. The Partridge in a pear tree is the Holy Trinity - in particular the Holy Spirit (the Dove) and Jesus Christ Who is known as the "Second Adam". We all know that the fall of man derived around an apple tree. A pear tree ties into this analogy and elevates the redemption.

      In the last three issues we have detailed one through five visually and in text, today we bring you Day Six and continue up until January 6th, which was the traditional feast of the Epiphany, with the final six describing each day of Christmas and the hidden Catholic meaning to the song. Many do not realize that the Twelve Days of Christmas are after Christmas - not before.

Tuesday, December 30
"On the sixth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me, six geese a-laying."
=Creation of the earth
The six geese a-laying represent the six days God took to create the earth, the universe, and all creatures. It was a way for all Catholics to remind fellow faithful and be reminded that, despite persecution, they were not second-class citizens but rather first-class children of God and rightful heirs to His mansions in the Heavenly regions if they persevered in the One, True Faith. Thus the sixth day represents the sixth day octave of Christmas. Click on LITURGY OF THE DAY

Following is a review of the first five days of Christmas:
1Christ is the Partridge=Christ the King

2two turtle doves=Old TestamentNew Testament

3three French hens= FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY

4Four calling birds=Four Gospels

5Five golden rings=Five Decades of the Rosary

Persecution in our time calls for patience and perseverance
     Even though the times are different than the Reformation and French Revolution, many Catholics are still persecuted today in more subtle ways and must put up with the Catholic-bashing that intensifies in the media. The lesson of suffering persecution no matter the cost in these turbulent times of strife is the essence of today's Lesson/Meditation from Our Lord on THE ESSENCE OF THE EIGHTH BEATITUDE: "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.".Click on THE HIDDEN WAY
Love conquers all
Father John Hampsch, C.M.F..       In today's column by Father John Hampsch, C.M.F., he stresses the importance of "Loving the Revealer" by citing many references from Scripture and the Saints on how loving God is and how we need to reciprocate. He explains this in his overall work which we bring you entitled, "FAITH: KEY TO THE HEART OF GOD." Click on KEYS TO LIVING GOD'S WILL

PROVERB OF THE DAY
"My son, forget not My teaching, keep in mind My commands; for many days, and years of life, and peace will they bring you."

Proverbs 3: 1-2

Medjugorje Monthly Message for December 25th
The Gospa     Dear children! Also today I rejoice with you and I call you to the good. I desire that each of you reflect and carry peace in your heart and say: I want God in the first place in my life. In this way, little children, each of you will become holy. Little children, tell everyone, I want the good for you and he will respond with the good and, little children, good will come to dwell in the heart of each man. Little children, tonight I bring to you the good of my Son Who gave His life to save you. That is why, little children, rejoice and extend your hands to Jesus Who is only good. Thank you for having responded to my call!
For more on Medjugorje, Click on MEDJUGORJE
"On the Sixth Day, God finished the work He had been doing."

Genesis 2: 2

God the Father
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NEWS
& VIEWS
with a Catholic slant
HEADLINES:
    The Family that prays together stays together in the face of the culture of death
          As is his custom on the last week of the year just before Christmas Pope John Paul II talked about all that has occurred in the Church over this past year - the first of the trilogy leading to Jubilee 2000, reminiscing with the Curia on the joys and sorrows of 1997. Click on 1997 to read more.
    Caution intensifies as bomb explosion at Cuban church portends extreme security for Papal visit
         Speculation that terrorists will try to disrupt the papal preceedings when the Holy Father visits Cuba in a few weeks was heightened when a bomb went off near a Catholic church on this tiny island. Though Church officials played down the incident, they expressed fears that security must be tightened for the Pope's visit which the Cuban government has pledged it would do. Click on Bomb threat to read more.
    Meanwhile, Cuban Cardinal tells his countrymen not to hold out too much hope for change
          Despite the fact the Cuban government has softened considerably in preparation for Pope John Paul II's visit in January 1998, the head prelate of Cuba Cardinal Jaime Ortega warned the faithful not to get used to the freedoms and be prepared for tightening once the Holy Father leaves for the communist regime's track-record dictates it won't be any different. Click on letdown to read more.
Acknowledgment:
Catholic World News ServiceTo subscribe to Catholic World News Service, available daily by e-mail, click on the CWN icon .
PRAYERS & DEVOTION
Prayer to God the Father
by Saint Francis of Assisi

     God, Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ crucified, Your beloved Son, I beg You to forgive all my sins, all my negligences, and all the transgressions of my past life.

      God, Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ crucified, Your Divine Son, I beg You to grant me the grace to serve You in this life according to Your Holy Will.

     God, Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, Your only-begotten Son, I beg You to have mercy on me at the hour of my death and to receive my soul. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

DAILY CATHOLIC for Past Issues

To review past articles, click on Archives to read text or the following articles in graphics for November are available if you click on
NOVEMBER ISSUES

To read the graphics version of the December issues, click on
DECEMBER ISSUES

Coming
WEDNESDAY:
  • Some humor to finish up the year in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven"

  • The Meaning of the Seventh Day of Christmas

  • ...and more in our year-end issue!


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December 30, 1997       volume 8, no. 63
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December 1997