The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
4th January 2015

Epiphany House Blessing with Chalk

The Church has a custom of blessing homes on the Feast of the Epiphany and the week following. Beyond providing a blessing and protection to our homes, it is an invitation for Our Lord to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

The traditional manner of doing this is to use chalk blessed during the Epiphany liturgy and write above the home's entryway, 20 + C + M + B + 15. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, "May Christ bless the house." The "+" signs represent the cross and 2015 is the year.

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 15  while saying:
 

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God's Son who became human two thousand and fourteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the New Year.  Amen.

Then offer the following prayer: Visit, O blessed Lord, 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 manifest 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, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever.  Amen.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart ... and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 9.)

"Chalking the door" is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God's blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions.