Ephiphany Blessing of the Home

What is the Feast of the Epiphany?

This year the Feast of the Epiphany falls on Sunday January 3rd. Traditionally celebrated on January 6th, this Feast is moved to the nearest Sunday for the church in the United States. This feast commemorates the visit of the Magi, the three wisemen, who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. The Epiphany is the manifestation of the savior to the gentiles. It shows that the promises made to Israel are now extended to all peoples in Christ.

Epiphany Blessing of the Home

You can commemorate this event in your own home with a centuries-old tradition, the blessing of the home on Epiphany. This traditional blessing consists in writing the following in chalk above the lintel of the front door of your home.

20 + C + M + B + 21

The 20 stands for the first two digits of the year and the 21 stands for the last two digits of the year. The letters in between are the initials of the traditional names of the wisemen, Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar, but the letters are also an abbreviation of the Latin Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The plus signs in between each character are little crosses.

This blessing commemorates the visit of the magi, for like Mary and Joseph we welcome the Magi and call on their intersession, but more importantly, like the Magi, we welcome the Christ Child and ask for his blessing on our home and all who visit there over the year. After the challenges of 2020, I think it will be good to ask for many blessings in 2021.

How to do the Epiphany Blessing

There are many ways to do this blessing, and while the chalk used can be blessed it does not need to be blessed, any chalk can be used. Below are three different blessings ranging from the simplest to the most elaborate.

Blessing 1:

From Jamie Skojec

May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.

God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten One to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Loving God, bless this household. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and abiding in your will. We ask this through Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Blessing 2:

From the book The Twelve Days of Christmas by Elsa Chaney.

Prayer: On entering the home,

Leader (Priest, if present, or father of the family): Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who dwell herein.

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

All Pray: The Magnificat.

During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed (if available). (After this is completed,

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Leader: Our Father. . .

And lead us not into temptation

All: But deliver us from evil.

Leader: All they from Saba shall come

All: Bringing gold and frankincense.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry come to You.

Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee—Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Leader: Let us pray.

Bless, + O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, each room of the home is sprinkled with Epiphany water and incensed. The initials of the Magi are inscribed upon the doors with the blessed chalk. (The initials, C, M, B, can also be interpreted as the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" which means "Christ bless this house".)

Example: 20 + C + M + B + 21

Blessing 3:

Adapted from USCCB

When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply, “Amen.”

The leader greets those present in the following words:

Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and homes with peace.

Blessed be God forever.

R/. Blessed be God forever.

In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us. It is Christ who enlightens our hearts and homes with his love. May all who enter this home find Christ’s light and love.

One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Matthew 2:1-12

Listen to the words of the holy Gospel according to Matthew:

Text of Matthew 2:1-12 (The Visit of the Magi)

The intercessions are then said:

Leader: The Son of God made his home among us. With thanks and praise let us call upon him.

R/. Stay with us, Lord.

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, with Mary and Joseph you formed the Holy Family: remain in our home, that we may know you as our guest and honor you as our Head.

We pray:

R/. Stay with us, Lord.

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you had no place to lay your head, but in the spirit of poverty accepted the hospitality of your friends: grant that through our help the homeless may obtain proper housing.

We pray:

R/. Stay with us, Lord.

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, the three kings presented their gifts to you in praise and adoration: grant that those living in this house may use their talents and abilities to your greater glory.

We pray:

R/. Stay with us, Lord.

After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the Lord’s Prayer.

The leader says the prayer of blessing with hands joined:

Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill them (us) with the light of Christ, that their (our) concern for others may reflect your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R/. Amen.

The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying:

May Christ Jesus dwell with us, keep us from all harm, and make us one in mind and heart, now and forever.

R/. Amen.

It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song, for example, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings.”

—From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers