Author: DeSoto Redeemer

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Dear Redeemer Family:
By the time that you receive this, Christmas will be over. I say this because I am writing it on Christmas Eve. But I need to correct something. Christmas Day will be over, but the Season of Christmas will still be going on. Christmas is not just a day. It is also a season of the Church calendar. And, it runs for 12 days, hence the Christmas carol’s title.

That Christmas carol has some significant symbolic meanings. It carries meanings not just for this season of Christmas, but for the whole of the Church year, and for the understanding of the Christian faith. Ergo, I now enclose a brief history of the song, and the meanings of its symbols.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote the carol as a catechism song for young Roman 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, specifically, Jesus on the cross.

The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

The 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.

The 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 of the Sermon on the Mount.

The 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.

And the twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
Pastor Rose

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Dear Redeemer Family:
I wasn’t going to do this this month. But, the commemorations for September include some very important witnesses to the faith. So, I give you who, what and why.

On September 13th, we commemorate St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, who died on this date in 407. He is very important to western culture, yet many have never heard of him. John was a priest in Antioch, and famous for his preaching. His preaching earned him the nickname “Chrysostom” which means “golden mouthed.” It also got him in trouble. As bishop of Constantinople, he preached against corruption among the royal court. The empress, who had been his supporter, sent him into exile. In fact, he was in exile so much, that he was only actually Bishop in Constantinople for a couple of months. Why is he important to us? He is the one who wrote the original liturgy. His full liturgy is still used by the Orthodox Churches. If you attend one, his worship service runs about 3 to 4 hours.

Remember that when you think that my sermons are running over. The Roman Catholic Church took John’s liturgy and simplified it. Remember that if you are ever attending a High Mass. Martin Luther took the Roman Catholic liturgy and simplified it, and on and on. Basically, all worship liturgies go back to his. And, when the Church allowed the theater again (after a several century ban on it), the first plays were the Passion Plays. They based the acts of the Passion Plays on the parts of the liturgy. That practice continued to virtually all western playwrights. The screenwriters for movies continued the process. So, virtually anyone who has attended a worship service, a play or a movie have been affected by St. John!

September 17th, we commemorate Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, who died on this date in the year 1179. I’ve mentioned Hildegard before. She is absolutely fascinating. I have several of her books. She lived virtually her entire life, from age 10 on, in convents. Yet, she was widely influential within the Church, and beyond. Becoming abbess, she reformed her community as well as other convents. She also began having visions, which she had recorded in a book which she called Scivias. But, her importance goes well beyond being a mystic. She was an advisor to princes, kings, and popes. And quite often she would, in interestingly diplomatic ways, chew them out for any wrong doing. She wrote religious poems, plays and hymns. In fact, the first hymn that we have that we know was written by a woman is from her pen. She wrote 9 books, more like chapters to us, on Medieval medicine, some of which is still used. She also wrote on theology, unheard of for a woman in her time. She also wrote on natural history. She was also a musician and artist. I have seen several of her pieces of art, very interesting.

These are two very important witnesses to Our Lord who we remember this month. May we learn from their faith!

Pastor Rose