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3rd Day of Christmas

December 27: 3^rd Day of Christmas

Three French Hens - The 3 Virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity

On The third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.

Song of the Day: Hark! The herald angels sing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tN27FKrKlA

Two Warrior Women

Catholics pray “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord’s is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus . . .”

Did you know that “Blessed art thou among women” was a Jewish reference to two women of the Old Testament? The Jews admired Jael (or Yael – Judges 5,24) and Judith (Judith 13,1), two warrior women who strove to save Israel from its enemies But, who are Jael and Judith? Their stories are rather brutal from our modern day perspective. Today, we might call them murderers.

Jael (or Yael)

During the period of the Israelite Judges, Sisera commanded nine hundred iron chariots and oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. After the prophetess Deborah persuaded Barak to face Sisera in battle, Barak, with an Israelite force of ten thousand, defeated Sisera at the Battle of Mount Tabor. After losing the battle, Sisera fled to the settlement of Heber the Kenite, where he was received by Jael, Heber's wife. Jael received him into her tent with apparent hospitality and "gave him milk...in a lordly dish." Jael promised to hide Sisera and covered him with a rug, but after he fell asleep, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple with a mallet. The blow was so forceful that the peg pinned his head to the ground.

Here is Artemesia’s painting “Jael and Sisera:” It is always interesting to see Artemesia’s portrayal of scenes more commonly painted by men. You can see the cool, peaceful way in which Jael hammers the spike through the enemy’s head as he sleeps.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/12/benedict-xvi-two-old-testament-warrior-women-and-peaceful-mary/

Judith

The story revolves around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her Jewish countrymen for not trusting God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors. She goes with her loyal maid to the camp of the enemy general, Holofernes with whom she slowly ingratiates herself, promising him information on the Israelites. Gaining his trust, she is allowed access to his tent one night as he lies in a drunken stupor. She decapitates him, then takes his head back to her fearful countrymen. The Assyrians, having lost their leader, disperse, and Israel is saved.

A detail from Artemesia’s painting “Judith.” Workman-like, getting the job done.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/12/benedict-xvi-two-old-testament-warrior-women-and-peaceful-mary/

Wishing You a Happy Sol Invictus

"Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the official sun god of the later Roman Empire.

In 274 the Roman emperor Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. Scholars disagree whether the new deity was a refoundation of the ancient Latin cult of Sol, a revival of the cult of Elagabalus or completely new.

The god was favored by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine. The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 AD and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them.

It is commonly claimed that the date of December 25th for Christmas was selected in order to correspond with the Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun", but this view is not unchallenged . . "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

Things to do in London on Christmas Day

"London isn’t often described as quiet, but Christmas Day is the one day of the year when the capital can feel that way. But there’s actually no shortage of things to do and Christmas Day is a rare chance to explore and experience a different side of London.

There’s no public transport on Christmas Day, but you could opt for a Boris bike to explore Central London with much less traffic around. There will also be a few taxis and mini-cabs for hire.

With limited transport options, and thousands of Christmas calories consumed, walking might be your best bet. You’ll have London’s beautiful architecture, street art and Christmas lights largely to yourself, and walking is the best way to experience it. Take a look at these photos of London on Christmas morning by IanVisits, which include Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Hyde Park Corner. . ."

http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/things-to-do-in-london-on-christmas-day-2012/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook-ongoing

Obama Praises Himself During Eulogy for Sen. Daniel Inouye

“Sen. Daniel Inouye was a War hero who spent his entire life serving his country. Yet, when President Barack Obama delivered his eulogy for Inouye at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, it seemed he was talking more about himself than about the late Senator. In his address, Obama used the word ‘me’ 12 times; ‘my’ 21 times and ‘I’ 30 times. All toll, in a speech of only 1,600 words, Obama managed to refer to himself 60 times.

I took speech class in high school and we had to prepare and deliver a eulogy. We were taught that a eulogy is a speech that praises the deceased person you are talking about. It’s not about you or anyone else. It’s about the dearly departed.

But just like his Thanksgiving Day address, or Veteran’s Day address or every other time the President has spoken lately, it’s all about him and how wonderful and great he is. Election season is over and he no longer needs to keep trying to sell himself to the nation.

If I was a member of the Inouye family, I would be irate and incensed about Obama’s self-centered eulogy. It was definitely inappropriate, unprofessional and uncaring. But what do you expect from our self-proclaimed tyrant?”

"O Holy Night" - Who Sings The Best Version?

Which is the best version?

Nat King Cole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSeLzsl8xsU

Johnny Mathis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yHHbJt85-M

Josh Groban (at least the best video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

Andy Williams:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-RAnkH8Jxc

A Christmas Eve Tradition

It’s Christmas Eve.

Enliven your Christmas eve celebration with a Hispanic tradition called Las Posadas (from the Spanish word meaning shelter), which recreates the Holy Family’s search for lodging.

Have two children play the roles of Mary and Joseph. Other family members are innkeepers and go to different rooms, waiting behind closed doors until “Mary” and “Joseph” knock. Each innkeeper turns them away, but joins the procession. The last innkeeper says yes, all proceed to the manger, Jesus is placed in the crib, and the Nativity story is read.

Remind the children to speak either Spanish or Aramaic!