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Treasures of the Church-
Devotions |
EPIPHANY
HOUSEHOLD BLESSING
(On Epiphany, custom has us bless
the front doorway of our households with chalk, inscribing the
initials of the three wise men (Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar) and the
year. This custom is found in many cultures. You will need a
piece of chalk and a small container of holy water, sign of our
baptism and consecration to the Lord. Gather with family
members, fiends, an perhaps some neighbors at the front door.)
Leader: In the (+) name of the Father, and of the Son, an of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let the glory of Emmanuel be upon this household!
Legend gives these names to the Lord's visitors:
Caspar, Melchoir, and Balthasar.
Wish chalk, their initials sign this doorway, along with four
crosses, and the numerals of the new year.
[20 + C + M + B + 07]
Let us pray: Christus
mansionem benedicat, "May Christ bless this house!" May Chirst bless
us all, now and forever.
All: Amen!
Leader (or the
reader):
A reading from Paul's letter to the Ephesians:
S o then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints. You are of God's household, having been
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God!
(In each room of
the house, the leader prays for God's blessing and invites someone
to sprinkle the room with holy water.)
Living Room:
In you we live and move and have our being. Bless this
room, O Lord. we pray through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen!
Kitchen:
You crown the year with bounty and goodness. Bless this room, O
Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen!
Dining Room:
Holy wisdom, you call us to your banquet. Bless this room, O
Lord.
All: Amen!
Bedrooms:
Keep watch over us as we sleep. Bless this room, O Lord. We pray
through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen!
Bathroom:
You cleanse us by water and your word. Bless this room, O Lord.
We pray through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen!
All return to the
front door to pray together.
Leader: Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father...
The leader
sprinkles all present with holy water and concludes:
Lord our God, we ask you to bless this household through all the
days to come. We praise you and thank you, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, now and forever.
All: Amen!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
