NOW we begin the Christmas season – the 12 days of Christmas, to be exact, which precede the Epiphany of the Lord, which is supposed to be celebrated on January 6. Of course, in our current misguided liturgical calendar, the Epiphany will be celebrated on Sunday, January 8. God forbid we should ask Catholics to consider going to Mass more than once in a week!
And of course, Christmas season for Catholics (at least, those using the “old calendar”) lasts past Epiphany – a whole octave past it! And beyond! The FEAST of Christmas actually lasts the 12 days until the Epiphany, but the spiritual focus remains on Christmas until Candlemas (the Purification of Mary, or the Presentation of the Lord) on February 2. (See Fisheaters for some good information on all this.)
Many of these thoughts have been lost…more’s the pity. The liturgical life of our Church is incredibly rich! But few take advantage of it these days, it seems.
Oh well! Let’s celebrate this season of Christmas with a new rendition of that old favorite, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”!
On the first day of Christmas, the Pope did give to me
A Bishop for our local vacant see.
On the second day of Christmas, the Pope did give to me
Two maniples
And a Bishop for our local vacant see.
On the third day of Christmas, the Pope did give to me
Three corporals
Two maniples
And a Bishop in our local vacant see.
You get the idea; here’s the full meal deal:
On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Pope did give to me
Twelve cantors chanting
Eleven bells a-ringing
Ten priests in cassocks
Nine nuns in habits
Eight black birettas
Seven chapel veils
Six censers swinging
FIVE TLMs!
Four altar boys
Three corporals
Two maniples
And a Bishop in our local vacant see.
(Usquequo, Domine?!)
Merry Christmas!
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