Christmas Blessings, Contact First Name,
 from Jane
Remembering Fondly
Randy the Cat 
Hello and Christmas Blessings to you!

    After my Sabbatical I had hoped to get a newsletter out to you in the Fall.   Several programs and a seemingly endless kitchen renovation challenged these plans.     A January-February issue will be prepared and sent.  I plan to make some revisions in content and format which I hope that you will enjoy.  But I could not let Christmas go by or 2013 come to a close without dropping in to give you holiday greetings.

    In honor and remembrance of Randy, my cat who was newsletter co-writer with me until his passing last summer, I'm sending his Christmas greeting from 2012.  If you read it before I hope you enjoy it again and if it's new to you, that it brings a smile.  And for those of you who lost loved ones this year be they people or animal, I send prayers of healing for your heartache and courage for the journey through your loss.

                                                                             Peace in the New Year and always.

                                                                                               Jane                                 
Randy's Christmas greeting reprinted from december 2012 
Randy
Jane insisted I put on Christmas trimmings!

 

 

I asked Jane if I could send you a Christmas greeting with a special gift enclosed.  I've already mewed my greeting and trust that you are having a wonderful Christmas tide.  Please continue to celebrate through the entire twelve days of Christmas.  Here's a gift to help you do just that!  

 

 I pawed a special Benedictine version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for you to enjoy.  The text is below and even a link to an audio version sung by Jane who felt that not many would understand it sung in "Feline."   Just to show you that I haven't been "Whistling Dixie" with my version, you'll see below the references I found in the Rule to make each of the twelve days of this very special Benedictine Christmas.  

 

There is also a lovely Christmas poem from Ann Weems.

 

May the joy of this season of hope shine in your heart to comfort and inspire.  Please keep praying with me for all those in sadness and hardship that we may extend our hearts and paws in love.

 

 

Mewing my most earnest wish for a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to you and to all my animal friends, too,

 

Randy's Signature  

 

For Jane's audio rendition, click right here and enjoy!   2012 Christmas
 
The Twelve Benedictine Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - a Rule to set my life free.

                The entire Rule

 

On the second day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - two types of cooked food

                RB 39.1

 

 On the third day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - three solid vows

                RB 58.17

 

 On the fourth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - four kinds of monks

                RB 1

 

On the fifth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - five ways to spend my day!.... work,                                 prayerful reading, Opus Dei, rest with silence and meals!!

                RB 48

 

On the sixth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - six ancient readings

                RB 73 - Old and New Testaments, Conferences, Institutes,

                Lives of the Holy Fathers and Rule of Basil

 

On the seventh day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - seven nays on grumbling

                RB 4.39, 5.14, 5.17-18. 23.1, 40.8-9

 

On the eighth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - eight Opus Dei

                RB 8-18

 

On the ninth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - nine ways to treat guests

                RB 53.1-- as Christ, announce and meet with courtesy of love, pray, kiss of peace, bow or            prostrate to guest, sit with guest, Rule read, every kindness shown, wash guest hands and feet

 

On the tenth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - ten monks in a deanery

                RB 21.1-2

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me - eleven views on chastening

                RB 23-28, 30, 44, 46, 69, 70

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas St. Benedict gave to me  -   twelve steps of humility!

                RB 7

 

©December 2012 Jane Tomaine

All rights reserved

 


Into The Night
 
By Ann Weems
 

                                                Into this silent night

                                                        as we make our weary way
                                                            we know not where,

                                                just when the night becomes its darkest

                                                        and we cannot see our path,

                                                just then

                                                       is when the angels rush in,

                                                           their hands full of starts.

 

From Kneeling in Bethlehem

 

 

"Sky Watching" by artist Dawn Eggenberger 

For more information about this painting and the artist, visit here.

 

 

 
2012 Christmas  
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