How to Bless a Home During Epiphany

To bless the home can be meaningful for the Christian at any time. But the blessing of the home during Epiphany is a very special and specific ceremony. Some families even include the three kings themselves, who worshiped the infant Jesus and brought him gifts at this time. Both Catholics and Protestants have a form of this ritual.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Chalk
• Advent candles
• Bed sheets
• Crowns
• Holy water (optional)
• Copy of the blessing
• Purple cloth
• Crèche

Bless A Home During Epiphany

1. Prepare for the processional by placing the lighted Advent candles around the crèche (manger scene). Drape a piece of purple cloth over the manger and, if possible put a tiny crown on the baby Jesus. During this, sing "Away in a Manger."
2. Recite the first Scripture: "Behold, the Lord, the Ruler is come, the Kingdom is in His Hand, and power and dominion."
3. Begin the processional in which, dressed as the three kings (bed sheet capes, and paper crowns will do) the family parades through the house led by the father or head of the household, or for a larger ceremony, by a priest or minister. During this they sing "We Three Kings." The processional will end outside the front door.
4. Recite the home blessing liturgy led by the head of the household or priest. A Catholic ceremony can be found at e-Catholic 2000 and a Protestant version at Worship, Seasonal Features (see Resources below).
5. Take out the chalk.
6. Let each individual help mark this inscription over the door: 20 (the first two digits of the year), C M B (standing for either the names of the three kings--Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar--or Christus mansionem benedicat ("May Christ bless this house"). Finish with the last two digits of the year.
7. Sprinkle holy water over the door if you are Catholic.
8. Finish with either the Catholic prayer invoking the three kings or the Protestant prayer asking for the light of Christ to fill the home.

Tips & Warnings

• The processional may be omitted from the blessing ceremony.
• A large ceremony (for a dormitory or workplace) conducted by a priest or minister may include the blessing of the chalk as symbolic of the dust from which man was made.
• Make sure the Epiphany ceremony goes smoothly by practicing the blessings and prayers in advance.