House Blessing on Epiphany 

It is an ancient custom to bless your home on the Feast of the Epiphany, which is this Sunday, January 5, and you are invited to adopt this Catholic tradition in your family. The family gathers to ask God’s blessing on their home and on those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in your home, your comings and goings, your conversations, your work and play, your joys and sorrows. A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s main entrance (either inside or outside) or another entrance: 20 + C + M + B + 24

The letters C, M, B have two meanings:

• They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, & Balthazar.
• They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat “May Christ bless the house.”

The “+” signs represent the cross and 2025 is the year. As you chalk “20 + C + M + B + 25” above the entrance to your home you can pray the following prayer:

The three Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty-five years ago. Fill this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love, and grant that we may show your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort and strengthen us in peace. In Jesus’ holy name we prey,

Amen. 

A package containing chalk, incense and ‘gold’ can be picked up at Mass this weekend!