Epiphany is a day to make our homes glitter with the exuberance of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It's the customary day to bless the home for the New Year, although this blessing is fitting whenever you can gather the household in January. There are many variations of the Epiphany Home Blessing, one of the simpler ones is quoted below. It can be prayed as part of mealtime grace, and it can be embellished by writing with chalk above the front door "20 + C + M + B + 24" (the initials of the three holy kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, or the first letters of the Latin inscription: Christus mansionem benedicat—May Christ bless this home.). Then everyone walks from room-to-room sprinkling the home with holy water, a sign of the River Jordan. A twig from the Christmas tree makes a fine sprinkler. You can pray: God of Bethlehem and of Cana, God of Jordan's leaping waters in baptism you bring us into your family. You wed us, embracing us as your beloved. May we fill this home we have made with kindness to one another, with hospitality to guests, and with abundant care for every stranger. By the gentle light of a star, guide home all who seek you on paths of faith, hope and love, where we will join the angels in proclaiming your praise: Glory in heaven and peace on earth, now and forever. Amen.
Epiphany is a day to make our homes glitter with the exuberance of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It's the customary day to bless the home for the New Year, although this blessing is fitting whenever you can gather the household in January. There are many variations of the Epiphany Home Blessing, one of the simpler ones is quoted below. It can be prayed as part of mealtime grace, and it can be embellished by writing with chalk above the front door "20 + C + M + B + 20" (the initials of the three holy kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, or the first letters of the Latin inscription: Christus mansionem benedicat—May Christ bless this home.). Then everyone walks from room-to-room sprinkling the home with holy water, a sign of the River Jordan. A twig from the Christmas tree makes a fine sprinkler. You can pray: God of Bethlehem and of Cana, God of Jordan's leaping waters in baptism you bring us into your family. You wed us, embracing us as your beloved. May we fill this home we have made with kindness to one another, with hospitality to guests, and with abundant care for every stranger. By the gentle light of a star, guide home all who seek you on paths of faith, hope and love, where we will join the angels in proclaiming your praise: Glory in heaven and peace on earth, now and forever. Amen.