Randomness

Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Smooth and sweet, you fit in to almost any crowd. No one would suspect you of being a coffee tweaker!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

12 Days of Christmas

Did you know?

As we are in the 12 Days of Christmas (the time from Christmas to Epiphany, when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem), it is fitting for me to explain the depth behind the seemingly silly/pointless children's carol. During a time of hatred of Catholics in Anglican England (Anglicanism started with Henry VIII and wasn't supposed to be anything but a Catholic state religion and became Protestant and Catholic-hating...that's another topic), Catholics were persecuted and killed if they went against the Church of England. In order to promote Catholic theology without being found out, a simple carol was devised to remind people of our beliefs. The following is the song AND its REAL meaning.

12 Days of Christmas--Time from Christmas to Epiphany
"My true love gave to me"=God gave to me/us

A partridge in a pear tree=Jesus in the Virgin Mary (a pregnant woman is pear shaped and a partridge will wound itself to attract predators to it instead of its children--Christ allowed himself to be wounded to save us)
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)

Two turtle doves=the Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens= The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Four Calling Birds=Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are "calling" out to us with the Good News

Five Golden Rings=Pentateuch or 1st 5 Bible books, which give history of humanity's sin and God's response of grace

Six Geese A-laying=Six days of creation

Seven Swans A-swimming=7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, compassion (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:8-11)

Eight Maids A-milking=8 Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing=9 fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22)

Ten Lords A-leaping=The 10 Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping=11 faithful apostles who continued "piping the tune/message" despite Judas' betrayal

Twelve Drummers Drumming=12 points of doctrine in Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Hope you enjoyed that and learned something!! Forget Dan Brown's BS, Catholics have ACTUAL secret messages that support our beliefs!