All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.

Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas




The Catholic Church celebrates Christmas for twelve days.

While the Nativity of Our Lord is celebrated Dec. 25, the Twelve days of Christmas begins on Christmas Day, Dec. 25(beginning at sundown), and ends at sunrise on Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. During the Christmas season the priest’s vestments are gold to symbolize the sacredness of the Christmas season. The change in the color of vestments indicates that Advent is over. During Advent, the priest’s vestments are purple to symbolize the holy season of waiting and prayer.

According to legend, the song The Twelve Days of Christmas was actually written by Jesuit priests in England during the sixteenth century. It was a time of persecution and the song was used to secretly teach basic facts regarding the Catholic faith. If someone studied all the items represented in the song they knew the basics of the catholic faith.

Each number had a secret meaning:

Twelve represented the twelve teachings mentioned in the Apostles Creed;

Eleven represented the faithful Apostles;

Ten represented the commandments;

Nine represented the choirs of angels;

Eight represented the Beatitudes;

Seven represented the seven sacraments;

Six represented the six days of creation;

Five represented the first books of the Old Testament;

Four represented the four gospels;

Three represented the Trinity;

Two represented the two natures of Christ…human and divine;

and One represented Jesus himself, our Lord and our God.

The Pear Tree represented the cross we must carry when we follow Christ.

The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of the faith taught by the Apostles. When we pray the Apostles Creed we are professing our faith in the church begun by the Apostles.

The Apostles’ Creed

  1. We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
  2. We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
  3. He suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died and was buried.
  4. He descended into hell.
  5. On the third day he rose again.
  6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
  8. We believe in the Holy Spirit,
  9. The holy catholic Church,
  10. The communion of saints,
  11. The resurrection of the body
  12. and life everlasting. Amen

The Catholic Church has feast days throughout the year. Many of its feast days are in honor of the saints. The feast day given to a saint is usually the day he or she died and entered heaven.

Take a small amount of time each day during the twelve days of Christmas to meditate on the actual feast day we are celebrating.

 

Nativity

The Nativity of Our Lord;  December 25

The Word of God,

the Day whose light shines

upon the angels…

put on flesh and was born

of the Virgin Mary.

Quote of St. Augustine (Feast day August 28)

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Feast day of St. Stephen;  December 27

St. Stephen; First Martyr

Look! I see an opening in the sky,

and the Son of Man standing

at God’s right hand…

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Lord, do not hold

this sin against them.

Quote of St. Stephen

St. John the Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist;  December 27

Apostle and Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist was one of the twelve Apostles. He wrote the fourth gospel: The Gospel of John. He is also known as the ‘Beloved Disciple’.

In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word was God.

Gospel of John

 

The Holy Innocents

The Holy Innocents;  December 28

The Holy Innocents are the innocent children murdered by King Herod after the Magi told him about birth of the new King of the Jews, called the Christ child. The little children were murdered in an attempt to find and murder Christ, “The King of the Jews”.

The star of Bethlehem

shines

in the night of sin.

Quote of St. Edith Stein (Feast day August 9)

St. Thomas Becket

St. Thomas Becket;  Feast Day December 29

St. Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury.  He was also a martyr.  He was murdered with swords in the year 1170.

I feel as though I am with Mary and Joseph beside the Crib.

It is good to be there. Outside are the cold and the snow,

images of the world, but in the little cave,

lit by the light of Jesus, it is sweet and warm and light.

Quote of Bl. Charles de Foucauld (Feast day December 1)

St. Anysiz

St. Anysia;  Feast Day December 30

St. Anysia was a martyr in Greece. She lived from 284-309. She was killed with a sword after being accosted by a soldier. She used her wealth to help the poor.

The prayer of a good innocent,and obedient child is like dew from heaven falling upon his whole family.

Quote of Bl. John XIII

St. Sylvester I

St. Sylvester I;  Feast Day December 31

St. Sylvester I was the Bishop of Rome.  He died in the year 335 after helping to define doctrine at the Council of Nicea which proclaimed the Nicean Creed.

Call of Peter (Luke 5:20)

Do not be afraid;

from now on,

you will be catching people.”

Call of Levi (Luke 4:27)

“Follow me.”

Quote of Jesus Christ

Mary, Mother of God

Mary, Mother of God;  Feast Day January 1

Mary was the Mother of Jesus and wife of St. Joseph.  She was chosen by God the Father to bring Jesus into the world and raise him.

“Why should we be astonished if the God

who could work marvels in the scripture

and through His saints should choose to

reveal Himself even more marvelous

by means of His Mother?”

Quote of St. Bernard (Feast day August 20)

St. Basil the Great

Feast day of St. Basil the Great;  Feast Day January 2

St. Basil was the Bishop of Constantinople.  He was known for his preaching and defending the two natures of Christ…both human and divine.

Troubles are usually the brooms

and shovels that smooth the road

to a good man’s fortune;

and many a man curses the rain that

falls upon his head,

and knows not

that it brings abundance.

Quote of St. Basil the Great

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Most Holy Name of Jesus;  Feast Day January 3

Jesus in the soul’s abyss is sweeter far than earthly bliss.

A flower strong is that name mild. Ne’er disturbed by

tempest wild. far lovelier than a diamond bright.

That name adorns the soul with light.

The name of Jesus sweetly rings like rarest zither’s silver strings.

Ah, Jesus, for your names blest sake, forgive my sins,

exceeding great.

Grant, dear Lord, that your fair name may wound my

heart with holy pain. Jesus, choicest love be ever thine.

Bless me Jesus, God of power, now and in

death’s departing hour.

Quote of Bl. Henry Suso (Feast day March 2)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton;  Feast Day January 4

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first native born American to be canonized. She lived in New York, dying in 1821. She is the Founder and first Superior of the Sister of Charity in the U.S.

“Be attentive to the voice of Grace.”

Quote of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. John N. Neumann

St. John N. Neumann;  Feast Day January 5

St. John N. Neumann was born in Bohemia. He emigrated to the U.S. becoming a Redemptorist priest and the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. He is the first American bishop to be canonized.

A man must always

be ready for death,

for death comes

when and where God wills it.

Quote of St. John N. Neumann

The Epiphany

Feast of the Epiphany;  Feast Day January 6

The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the Three Kings following the star to visit Jesus. They brought the King of the Jews gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The simple shepherds

heard the voice of an angel

and found their lamb;

the wise men saw the light of

a star and found their wisdom.

Quote of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

 

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peter Canisius, Feast Day December 21




St. Peter Canisius

The feast day of St. Peter Canisius is celebrated on December 21.  He is the patron saint of the Catholic Press, a Jesuit priest and a Doctor of the Church.

St. Peter Canistius was born in Holland in 1521. He received his masters degree at the age of 19 from the University of Cologne. He studied art, law, and theology. He met Peter Faber, the first disciple of Ignatius, at a retreat. Soon after, he decided to become a member of the Society of Jesus, (the Jesuits). He was ordained in 1546. During the Council of Trent he was a delegate. St. Peter taught at several universities and established colleges and seminaries. He also wrote a catechism for lay people which was easy to understand. It was translated into twelve languages. He was an eloquent preacher, leading the counter reformation and renewing the faith in southern Germany. He also led reform in Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.

After Mass one day, he received a vision of the Sacred Heart. Afterward, he offered his work to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Prior to his death he suffered from a paralytic seizure. He continued preaching and writing until his death on Dec. 21, 1597.

 

“Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ.”

Quote of St. Peter Canisius

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

 

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Dominic of Silos, Feast Day December 20




St. Dominic of Silos

The feast day of St. Dominic of Silos is celebrated on December 20.  He is the patron saint of pregnant women, shepherds and prisoners.  He was a Benedictine monk and priest.

St. Dominic of Silos was born in Navarre, Spain. around the year 1000. He was a peasant, shepherding his father’s flock. His love of solitude led him to become a Benedictine monk. He was ordained a priest becoming the Master of novices and prior. Because of his opposition to the annexation of the monastery land he was driven into exile.

St. Dominic turned to King Ferdinand I of Leon for aid. King Ferdinand found him refuge in the town of Silos in a decaying Abbey occupied by six monks. Dominic became the abbot of the community. He rebuilt the monastery both physically and spiritually. The monastery became a center of book design and scholarship Its proceeds were used for charity.
St. Dominic raised funds to ransom Christians taken prisoner by the Moors. The membership in the monastery increased to 40 monks.

St. Dominic died on Dec. 20. Many healings were reported at the monastery, especially regarding pregnancy.  Almost one hundred hears after his death, Blessed Joan de Aza de Guzmán prayed at his shrine to conceive the child she named Dominic.

“Is it not reward enough to know that one is doing the will of God?”

Quote of St. Just Bretenie’res; Feast day September 20

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

 

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas De and Companions, Feast Day December 19




Japanese Martyrs

 

The feast day of St. Thomas De and Companions is celebrated on December 19.

St. Thomas was a tailor in Vietnam who entered the Dominican Order as a tertiary.  He was arrested and charged with giving aid and shelter to foreign missionaries.  He was strangled at the age of 26.

The companions of St. Thomas De were Dominic Uy, Augustine Moi, Xavier May and Francis Man.

Augustine was also a Dominican tertiary.  He was a day laborer.  He refused to trample a crucifix when he was ordered to do so.  He was strangled.

Francis Xavier was a native catechist and was also strangled.

Francis Man was a Dominican Tertiary working as a catechist when arrested.

St. Thomas De and Companions were among the 117 Vietnamese martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

“Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side;

Hope supports it on the other;

Experience says it must be

and Love says…Let it be.

Quote of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton;  Feast Day January 4

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Anthony Grassi, Feast Day December 18




Bl. Anthony Grassi

The feast day of Bl. Anthony Grassi is celebrated on December 18.  He was an Oratian priest and confessor.

Bl. Anthony Grassi was born in Ferma, Italy in 1592.   His father died when he was only ten years old.  From his father he received a devotion to Our Lady of Loreto.  At the age of 17 he joined the Oratorian Fathers.  Because of his impressive memory he was known as a “walking dictionary”.

Before he was ordained, Bl. Anthony suffered for a time from scruples, (fear of committing sin).  However, while celebrating his first Mass this fear was lifted and replaced with serenity.

At the age of 29, while on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loreto, he was struck by lightning and it was believed he would die.  He was temporarily paralyzed.   When he recovered after several days, he realized he had been cured of  his acute indigestion.  In thanksgiving for his new life he made a yearly pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loreto, which was only twenty miles from the Oratory.

As a priest, his spiritual father was St. Philip Neri.  They both had the gift of healing, and Bl. Anthony was credited with many healings before and after his death.    Father Anthony became known as a good confessor, hearing confessions for 5-6 hours daily.   Father Antony exercised his priestly ministry in instructing the ignorant, comforting the weak, visiting the sick and imprisoned, helping the troubled and encouraging youth in the ways of holiness.

Bl. Anthony died in1671  Antony was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on 30th September, 1900.

 

“Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.”

Quote of St. John of the Cross;  Feast Day November 14

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Olympias, Feast Day December 17




St. Olympias

The feast day of St. Olympias is celebrated on December 17.  She was a widow and deaconess from Constantinople.

St. Olympius was born in Constatinople in 368 into a wealthy family. She was left orphaned and raised by her sister Theodosia who was quite pious. She married at a young age to Nebridias who was the treasurer of the Emperor Theodosius the Great.  He died only 20 days after their marriage.

Turning down several offers of marriage Olympius insisted on remaining single. She was consecrated a deaconess by the Bishop of Constantinople. With several other women she founded a community. They established a hospital and an orphanage. They also sheltered expelled monks from Nitria.

St. Olympius became a friend and disciple of St. John Chrysostom. When he was expelled in 404 from Constantinople she continued to support him. When she refused to support Arsacius and his successor Atticus, she was fined and persecuted. Her community disbanded, bringing to an end her charitable works.

St. Olympius died in exile in Nicodemia on July 25.

 

You will be consoled according to
the greatness of your sorrow and affliction;
the greater the suffering,
the greater will be the reward.

Quote of St. Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi; Feast day May 25

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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