Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell.
–Anonymous
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.
-Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-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 & Mercy.
-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.
-Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
Merry Christmas!!
A Blessed Christmas to you & yours, my friend.
Thank you NFO, and bless you.
wv- plimp
Yes I am…so?
[how does it know..sigh]
I’m personal friends with one of the ladies responsible for placing those wreaths on the graves every Christmas. Great lady.
Merry Christmas my Navy friend.
I hope there is nothing but smiles and laughter on the agenda for you today!
Good Christmas, my friend.
Blessings of the season to you and yours, my friend.
DT- Thanks, and same to you!
Skip- Thanks
GB- Thanks and same to you and yours!
Carteach0- Thanks and to you and yours!
Peter- Thank you and same to you and Wing!
Merry Christmas, Shipmate, to you, yours, and your Navy of readers. . .
Merry CHristmas, old son. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Best wishes for this Christmas and the coming year. Thanks for the photo.
Merry Christmas, NFO! I’m so glad you got to spend yours with your family this year!
Timely and touching. Thanks … and a belated Merry Christmas to you and yours. Hope it was a good one.
Thanks for this lovely explanation. Crucis posted this on FB, & I thought I’d swing by to say Merry Christmas!
Great Post
A Belated Merry Christmas
All- Thanks! Christmas with family is always a good thing! 🙂
I don’t know how I missed this post, but it’s a great one. I hope your Christmas was a GREAT one.