The 10th Day of Christmas

 Today is the feast day of St. Titus-- St. Paul's friend and fellow missionary. St. Paul gets a reputation for being a bit hard and austere, but in his letters to and concerning Titus, we see a solicitous and human side of the great Apostle to the Gentiles. He advises Titus, "Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thy frequent infirmities." which is quite a gentle and kindly advice not only to his friend, but to those of us who are unable, for various reasons, to do bigger penances: it is perfectly acceptable to take care of the body, and keep it well. St. Paul even advises it. An even more human side of St. Paul is seen in his letter to the Corinthians, in which he says "And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened unto me in the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia." The stern and austere Paul was so saddened by missing a friend whom he expected to see, that he writes about it in a letter of instruction to the community at Corinth! If that isn't the most relatable sentiment, I do not know what is!

Today is also the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton-- an American saint (born in 1774, just as the young nation was fighting for its existence.) and a convert to the Catholic faith. She was a wife, a widow, and an educator, and my mom took her as a patron saint when she started homeschooling us. On the rare occasions we went out to do something (a field trip, participation in a reading club, etc.) that required a school name, she put us down as "St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy". I, therefore, have a soft spot for this saint, and thought that it might be neat to highlight a carol (albeit, a Protestant one) that was written in 1778, by an American composer, William Billings. It is called Boston for unclear reasons-- it has nothing to do with that city at all, but is merely a fine old, properly Christmas song. Those who would like to read a little more about its history can check out the information below this midi rendering of the song (quite a good rendering, as far as midis go). And here it is, sung by the Boston Camerata: