Epiphany Sunday

Blessing of Chalk/Blessing of the Homes of the Parish

Since the Middle Ages there has been a tradition that on (or near) the feast of the Epiphany we pray for God’s blessing on our homes, marking the entrance with chalk (an incarnational image reminding us of the dust of the earth from which we were made). We mark the main door of our home with the initials of the Magi and the numerals of the new year, connected with crosses:

20 + C + M + B + 14

The initials remind us of the legendary names of the Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar – and also stand for the Latin motto: Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.” In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this ritual, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes.

It is traditional to write the inscription on the lintel, above the door, but it can be written anywhere near the entrance. The following prayer may be said while the entrance is marked:

 

The three Wise Men,

C Caspar,
M Melchior,
B and Balthasar followed the star of God’s Son who became human
20 two thousand
14 and fourteen years ago.
++ May Christ bless our home
++ and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Date of Easter

 

The Proclamation of the Date of Easter on Epiphany dates from a time when calendars were not readily available. It was necessary to make known the date of Easter in advance, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on its date. The number of Sundays that follow Epiphany, the date of Ash Wednesday, and the number of Sundays that follow Pentecost are all computed in relation to Easter.

 

Three Kings/Epiphany Cake

 Following Mass, please join is for the traditional Epiphany cake. A nut is baked into the cake and whoever gets the nut in her or his piece of cake brings the cake the next year.

 May this Epiphany Blessing be a reminder that Christ is incarnate in the love and care we manifest to each other in our ordinary daily lives together.

 Even if you are unable to make it to the Epiphany Mass this year, the chalk will be available for anyone who would like to use it to bless their homes.