Faith, Hope and Love

Hello from my heart to yours....

 

Without charity, "I am nothing" and "I gain nothing." 

"So faith, hope, and love abide, these three; But the greatest of these is LOVE" (Cor 13:13).

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but the 12 days beginning on December 26th and ending on the Epiphany, January 6th....

 

Today is the 3rd day of Christmas... the three french hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity... these virtues allow man to share in God's nature and relate directly to God who infuses these virtues into the soul where they make the believers capable of living as God's children and meriting eternal life.....

 

By faith, we believe in God ....

By hope, we seek heaven....

By charity, we love God for his own sake and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God...

 

Faith is simply a belief that is not based on proof and for some, this can be a difficult virtue... however, into everyone's heart God has placed a search for happiness... Hope responds to this desire and sustains us.. hope frees us from discouragement, preserves us from selfishness, and leads to happiness on earth and in heaven..... Charity is benevolent, disinterested, and generous, bringing forth friendship and communion among God's people.... Love is the goal.... and once we reach it, we shall find rest....

 

The 12 days of Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me 9 years ago... My child was born on the First day of Christmas and because "True Love" refers to God, Giorgio's middle name is "Benito" (the Blessed One) ... and then, my beautiful childhood friend gave birth to her child on the 12th day of Christmas..... I know  this may be silly of me, but I feel that it is just another thing that binds our friendship... and binds our love as children of God..... I don't know.. I might be crazy... or I might just have Faith, Hope and Love in my heart....

 

Anyway, this 3rd day of Christmas does not only to pertain to Christians... All people of every religion have FAITH... it may not be the same God you believe in, but none-the-less, it is some Higher Power... all people have HOPE ..maybe not all the time, but it's there in our hearts when we truly desire happiness... and all of us have LOVE and are loved beyond measure.... we are cherished blessings to the world... be the person you were destined to be and spread faith, hope and love...above all things, love... around the world....

 

May your day be filled with all things good,

With love,

Elena

 

P.s. for those interested in the meaning of the 12 days of Christmas song....

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed