Second Day of Christmas: December 26, Feast of St. Stephen. Saint Stephen is the first martyr of the Church, and is the patron of stonemasons, masons, bricklayers, deacons, headaches, and horses. His story comes from the Acts of the Apostles. He is usually pictured in deacons vestments, holding the symbol of martyrdom, a palm branch. Sometimes he has a stone in his left hand, to indicate his death by stoning. He is depicted in many images wearing a wreath, which refers to the origin of his name, the Greek word Stephanos meaning wreath. If you know what witness means, you understand why God brings St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents to the crib in the cave as soon as Christ is born liturgically. To be a witness is to be a martyr. Holy Mother Church wishes us to realize that we were born in baptism to become Christ — He who was the worlds outstanding Martyr. — Love Does Such Things, by Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Two turtle doves… The two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments which look to each other with admiration, and complement one another. According to others, the two turtle doves, also mean the two natures of Jesus Christ: His human nature and His Divine nature. The True Love one hears does not refer to a boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ Himself, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The me is who receives His love, which are all baptized persons. The partridge in the pear tree, represents Jesus Christ, because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators, but also much in memory of the expression of Christs sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so...
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 15:08:50 +0000
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