“On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me: Twelve Drummers Drumming“.

The 12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed. According to a fifth century tradition, each of the twelve apostles came up with one of the doctrinal points. For certain, heresy had crept into the church and the church leaders met in a council to establish what the non-negotiable basics were for the Christian faith. It became known as the Apostle’s Creed and was recited for centuries in liturgical churches over the world. Those points are, in the Catholic version:

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and life everlasting.

Amen.

These are the twelve Drummers Drumming their truth to a lost world.

If we totaled up all the gifts listed in The Twelve Days of Christmas, there are 364, nearly one for each day of the year.

Tags: Apostle's Creed, doctrine