Epiphany House Blessing

The manger is decorated regally, containing the enthroned Christ Child. All gather around the manger while the father of the family leads:  

P:   God’s peace be in this home,

All: And in all who live here.  Antiphon: P:  The star burned like a flame, pointing the way to God, the King of kings; the wise men saw the sign and brought their gifts in homage to their great King.  

Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat, Luke 1:26-55:

 All:   My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant.   From this day all generations shall call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.   He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit.   He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.   He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.   Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.  

All: The star burned like a flame, pointing the way to God, the King of kings; the wise men saw the sign and brought their gifts in homage to their great King.  

P:  Many shall come from Sheba. All:  Bearing gold and incense.

 P: O Lord, hear my prayer. 

All: And let my cry come unto Thee.

P:  Let us pray.  O God, who by the guidance of a star did this day reveal your Only Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who know You by faith may be brought to the contemplation of the heavenly majesty, through the same Christ, Our Lord. 

All: Amen.  

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

P:  Nations shall walk in your light, and kings in the brilliance of your rising.  

All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Take blessed chalk home from Mass this weekend and pray the following house blessing as a family:

Let us pray.  O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house  that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Your blessing remain forever, 

through Christ our Lord. 

Then write the following above the entrance of your home with blessed chalk: 

(available after Mass this weekend) 

20 + C + M + B + 25

The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “25” at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.