Enumerate

One God, eternal, one book, one church,
One lord: one kingdom given on the earth,
One Word, under two testaments,
One church, given two (or seven) sacraments
(Whether effectual or semiotic,
Ask Johnny first, then Huldrych),
In the Godhead, three persons,
At the watershed (which worsens
Or betters, as you see fit,
The church—we could argue for a bit)
Three loud dissenting voices
Making relatively low-churchly choices,
Three days complete the ministry,
Three persons amounting to a mystery,
Four gospels revealing our salvation,
Five cries to summarize the revelation,
Six centuries (and a bit) between dear Constantine
And the cataclysm they call the East-West Schism,
Eight days before the covenantal sign
(Male children only submit to it—
Girls in this are fortunate),
And the fruit of the Spirit numbers nine.
For all seasons, God gives a time—
Even (perhaps) for a foolish rhyme.