"Chalking of the Doors" Epiphany Home Blessing

It's appropriate to bless the lintel of the home (the horizontal frame above the door) - or any adjoining wall - in January because Janua means "door" and the first month is the door to the new year. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this service, we mark our doors with blessed chalk and cleanse and guard them with Holy Water as a sign that we have invited God's Presence and Blessing into our homes.

It should be noted that the Blessing of Homes may occur at any time throughout the year. Completing them during the Epiphany/Theophany Season -- and before the beginning of Lent -- is the custom, but not the requirement. (There is also a special blessing when moving into a new home; a home and dinner table blessing on Holy Saturday - or home only during Paschal Tide.)

Saint Alexander 1st (Roman Pontiff: 105 - 115 A.D. during the reign of the Spanish Roman Emperor Trajan. NOT to be confused with his contemporaries St. Alexander the Patriarch [or Coptic Pope] of Alexandria or "St. Alexander the Charcoal-Burner.") initiated the blessing of homes with water mixed with salt. This pious tradition was started in order to purify Christian homes from evil influences. He also introduced the Asperges before Mass and the Qui Pridie prayer that recalls the memory of Christ's Passion said before the Consecration. He was decapitated on May 3rd (his Feast Day, together with that of Sts. Eventius and Theodulus), 115 or 116 A.D. on the Via Nomentana within seven miles of the city of Rome .

Chalk, a common element from the earth, is used by teachers in instruction and by children in their recreation. Fittingly, we utilize blessed chalk in this service as an ordinary substance applied to holy use. Further, chalk will not permanently mar the dwelling. As its image fades from view over time, those who participated in its original inscription will remember it and the purpose for which it was intended. In doing so, they may rededicate themselves to that purpose. After that year passes and a new Epiphany arrives, they would again to celebrate the multiple themes of this Epiphany Season and once again seek God's blessing upon their homes and on those who come and go through it.

The blessing of homes by these holy waters (within the rite as explained below) maintains the spiritual association between the family "church" and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God's spiritual gifts. The service performed by the priest to bless the new dwelling is somewhat similar to the consecration of a church in that holy water, holy oil and incense are used and a lesson from the Holy Gospel is read.

....In representation of St. John the Baptist, who came before Christ, proclaiming His coming and enlightening the world about Him, a family member leads the priest through the house with a candle as he is performing the blessing... All the rooms of the house are sprinkled with holy water and each of the four outer walls are anointed with the sign of the Cross with holy oil, a candle placed before them, and after the censing of the house, the lesson from the Holy Gospel is read. At the conclusion of the blessing, the inhabitants are blessed with holy water: the husband first, followed by the wife and then the children — the oldest first. Relatives and friends present are then blessed.

The blessing of the home is often given by pastors, either individually or if the parish is so large that this is impossible, from the church steeple in the four directions. If there is no blessing of houses in your parish on Epiphany, the father may go through the various rooms of the home sprinkling the Theophany water or with ordinary holy water if the other has not been blessed. If the pastor is going to bless the homes from the church, the father of the family should perform the ceremony for his home at the same time. As the various rooms are sprinkled, the father reads the prayer:

Bless, O Lord, almighty God, this home so that in it there may be health, chastity, victorious strength, humility, goodness and mildness, obedience to God's laws, and acts of thanks to God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and may this Blessing remain upon this house, and upon all who dwell in it. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Stay mindful that unless God protects and blesses our homes, "we labor in vain who build it." (Ps. 127:1) If there is no priest available and you are praying for a devotional blessing upon your home yourself* then say this prayer after inscribing your doorway as suggested above:

God of Bethlehem and Cana,
God of Jordan's leaping waters,
in baptism You bring us into Your Family.
You wed us and embrace us as Your Beloved.
May we fill this place with kindness to one another,
with hospitality to guests, and with abundant care
for every stranger.

By the light of a star
guide home all who seek You
on paths of faith, hope and love.
Then we will join the angels in
proclaiming Your praise:

Glory in heaven and peace on earth,
now and forever. AMEN.

* It is wrong to consider commissioned blessings without efficacy when the layman reads them. By our Baptism we have a share in Christ's Priesthood. If we are part of Christ in His Mystical Body, and He is High Priest, we share this with Him. Ours is not the same as the power of the consecrated priest, but it is our right and privilege to ask God's blessing on the things we use in daily life, and we should exercise this privilege often.

"....We are accustomed to hear that the sacramentals work 'ex opere operantis,' which would mean in virtue of the intensity of devotion in those who use them. Yet this is only part of the truth. The thing is cast in an altogether different light when it is stated in full precision, namely, that the sacramentals work 'ex opere operantis Ecclesiae,' which means that their efficacy is in first place dependent on the power of the Church's intercession, and only secondly on the devout dispositions of the subject concerned. Back in the Middle Ages, William of Paris stated: 'The efficacy of the sacramentals is rooted in the nobility of the Church, which is so pleasing to God and so beloved by Him that she never meets with a refusal from Him.' The matter could hardly be expressed better. Owing to the resurgence of the doctrine of the mystical body, it has been granted to our times to view The Church once more in Her true nature as the body of Christ, flesh of His flesh, bone of His bone, more intimate a part of Him than a bride is of her bridegroom. Therefore, it is not exactly improper to speak of an efficacy 'ex opere operato' in the case of sacramentals. For example, an altar that receives the consecration of the Church is consecrated and remains consecrated, no matter how fervent and devout was the bishop who performed the consecration. ....Although we have stressed the truth that the sacramentals derive their efficacy chiefly from the intercessory power of The Church, we may not minimize the role played by man's own subjective dispositions... ("De sacramentis," Translated by Philip T. Weller, S.T.D., 1964)

Traditional Invocative Blessing

of a Home on Epiphany

PRIEST: Peace be to this house.
ALL: And to all who dwell herein.

PRIEST: Let us pray. O God, Who on this day revealed Your only-begotten Son to all nations by the guidance of a star, grant that we who now know You by faith may finally behold You in Your Heavenly Majesty; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

ALL: Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for your light is come; and upon you is risen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

PRIEST: Nations shall walk in Your Light, and kings in the splendor of Your Birth.

ALL: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

PRIEST: Let us pray: Gracious God, as a shining star once guided the Magi to the birthplace of the infant Jesus, so enable those who dwell here to be Your Light in the world; through Jesus Christ we pray.

READOR: A reading from Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures ." (PROVERBS 24:3.)

ALL: Antiphon: From the East the Magi came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia.

PRIEST: A reading from Isaiah: "The effect of righteousness is peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and quiet places." (ISAIAH 32:17-18.)

Using chalk blessed in Holy Theophany Water, (hence, “Chalking the Door”) the priest and/or family members inscribes the lintel of the home (the horizontal frame above the entry door) with the inscription shown below. The letters C+M+B come from the traditional (9th century) names for the “three kings” — Caspar, Melchior & Balthazar. Some also suggest that it means “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” which translates to “May Christ Bless this House.”

20 + C + M + B + 05

Then, while the home is then being incensed and sprinkled with Holy Water, ALL follow him and read the Canticle of The Magnificat (LUKE 1: 46-55)

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify The Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid:
for behold from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me:
and Holy is His Name.
And His Mercy is from generation unto generations,
to them that fear Him.
He hath showed might in His arm:
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things:
and the rich He hath sent away empty.
He hath received Israel His servant,
being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers:
to Abraham and to His seed for ever.

PRIEST: Lord, remember Your children and teach us to pray:
The Our Father is prayed TOGETHER. The laity may join hands or extend their hands outward and upward (orans) for this prayer.

PRIEST: When You in Jordan for Your baptism were come, 0 Lord, then was revealed unto us to worship the Trinity, for lo, the Father's voice spoke to bear witness of You, by Name, declaring You His well beloved Son; and the Spirit in form like a dove appeared to confirm the sure truth of the spoken Word; 0 Lord made manifest and Light of the world, we give glory to You, 0 Christ our God.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, our True Light and Savior, Who deigned to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist to renew all men by the cleansing water of regeneration (Tit. 3:5) and to enter under the roof of Zacchaeus, the Publican, bringing salvation to him and his house (Lk. 19:9), now, You, O Lord, protect also (NAMES) and all who dwell in this house from all evil, aggression, harm and injury; grant them Jordan’s blessing +, all that is good and beneficial for them, purification of soul and body, and good health; and hear all their supplications, which are for their salvation and life eternal. For blessed are You, O Lord, together with Your Eternal Father and Holy Spirit, now and forever, unto the ages of ages. R. Amen.

ALL:
Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and upon thee is risen the Glory of The Lord, Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

V. Nations shall walk in Thy Light, and kings in the splendor of Thy Birth.
R. And the Glory of The Lord is risen upon thee.

PRIEST: Let us pray. Grant, 0 Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation, and the furtherance of all good things to all Your servants (Names) who dwell herein, and preserve them for many years. R. AMEN.

Bless, O Lord, almighty God, this home that it be the shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the commandments, and thanksgiving to God the Father, Son +, and Holy Ghost. May the blessing remain for all time upon this dwelling and them that live herein. Through Christ our Lord. R. AMEN.

PRIEST: May the Lord watch + over our going out and our coming in, from this time forth and forevermore. R. AMEN.

The Theophany Blessing of Homes on Epiphany

Today we celebrate the Feast of The Epiphany of Our Lord. The Greek word "epiphany" means manifestation. When pertaining to the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it specifically meant the manifestation of His Divinity*. For Traditional Old Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians ("Revised" Julian Calendar), it especially commemorates The Theophany** (Baptism) of Our Lord (commemorating Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan).

The Feast of the Epiphany was established as a solemn feast in The Church in the middle of the IV century as proclaimed in the ancient Apostolic Constitutions: "Let the Epiphany, in which The Lord manifested to us His Own Divinity, be to you the most honored festival and let it be celebrated on the sixth day of January." (cf. Apostolic Constitutions V, 13)

* "Why do we call this day Epiphany? Because Jesus Christ manifested Himself to all people, not when He was born, but, rather, when He was baptized. Until that time He was unknown to the people, as testified by St. John the Baptist, saying: ‘There stands among you One, Whom you don’t know!’ (John. 1:26.) -- (St. John Chrysostom, 407 A.D., "Homily on the Epiphany")

The Epiphany, one of the most ancient and venerable festivities, originated in Palestine where it was celebrated with a vigil and special services on the spot where, according to Christian tradition, Our Lord was actually Baptized. St. Gregory the Wonderworker of Pontus (d. 270 A.D.) is the first witness to present the Epiphany to us as the "saving proclamation of Christ’s Baptism. (cf. "Homily on Christ’s Baptism")

** The Greek word "Theophany" means the manifestation of the Godhead and clearly reflects the manifestation of the Blessed Trinity at Christ’s Baptism. In his Gospel, St. Mark writes that as Our Lord Jesus Christ was coming out of the River Jordan, the "heavens opened and the Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. And a voice came from heaven, saying: ‘You are my Beloved Son and my favor rests on You!’ (The lighted triple candle, called "Trolca," which is held in front of the celebrant during the Gospel, is a reminder of that mystical manifestation of the Blessed Trinity at the Baptism of Christ.)

Adding to our liturgical confusion, the RC New Rite celebrates the Baptism of Christ separately from the Epiphany on the Sunday following, while many Latin "traditionalists" do so a week later on the 13th. And the Julian Old Calandarists (Greek & Russian Orthodox) do so on the 19th. However, for us TORCs, it's today.

Since the solemn blessing of the water takes place on Epiphany, the feast is also known as the Feast of the Blessing of Water. Thus, today the priests bless the living waters. In these petitions we implore God to sanctify these waters by the "descent of the Holy Spirit" in order that they may bring to us the "blessing of the Jordan," defend us against the snares of the devil, heal our spiritual and physical weaknesses, sanctify our homes, and fill us with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It ends with the long prayer of the consecration of the water in praise of the mysteries of the Epiphany and the regeneration of all creation through Jesus Christ. (The Apostolic Constitutions, VIII, 39, attribute the authorship of the first prayer for the blessing of water to St. Matthias the Apostle.)

Afterwards, we sprinkle new Holy Water upon each room of our home and family member. We also share a sip *** to imbibe good health for the New Year and for the "purification of their souls and bodies and cure of their weakness. Therefore, the Solemn Blessing of Water, in commemoration of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan, is the main feature of the Feast of Epiphany.

*** This custom is very ancient and came to us with the ritual itself. As the first thing taken into the body, holy water (together with a piece of holy bread, if available) may be drunk in the morning. It is drunk at times of temptation and in times of illness, in fits of anger; it may be used to sign the Cross on sores and cuts. Holy water and holy oil are both restorative and protective when they are used with faith and belief in the grace of the Holy Spirit that sanctified them. The reservoir of Holy Water within homes is a fount of continued blessings and protection against all evil. Holy water may be used in cases where a person falls under the power of evil spirits. The individual should be encouraged to drink some of the sanctified water and be sprinkled with it. At times when members of the family feel an especially evil force within the home, the head of the family should sprinkle the inside walls of the family temple with holy water in the same manner as is done by the priest. Other members of the family, bearing candles or icons accompany him during this sprinkling. The evil spirits should be exorcised by this sprinkling of sanctified water; however, if their force persists, the priest should be asked to come and bless the family temple.

Today is also or "Three Kings" a.k.a. to many of us as "Little Christmas" and "The Chalking of the Doors" (see the Blessing Rite ABOVE). The Holy Gospel tells us that the Magi traveled from Persia (modern day Iran) and found Christ, "on entering the house." The door to your home is a holy threshold. We bless those who come and go from it by inscribing above the door in chalk the first two numerals of the year + C + M + B + the last two numbers of the year. (20+C+M+B+05). Tradition tells us that the letters stand for the names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, (these 9th century names are not found in Scripture). It also means "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" or "May Christ Bless this Dwelling."

Among the various petitions during the blessing of the water is the sanctification of homes. Therein, The Church imposes a clerical duty and obligation upon the priests to bless the homes of the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care at the beginning of the New Year. This invocative blessing rite commonly takes place on "Twelfth-Night" (of Christmas) and is a sacramental of The Church when bestowed by a priest.

Just as our souls do, so also our homes become tainted by the sins of those living in them. Consequently, they lose God’s protective power. That's why they should be reblessed annually, at the Feast of the Epiphany, to secure for them God’s blessings and protection.

Just as the faithful cleanse their soul of sin at least once a year during the Paschal Season, and The Church is blessed with the newly blessed water every year, so should the homes of the faithful be yearly blessed to invoke God’s blessings and protection on it and its inhabitants.

Just as we renew our home insurance annually, so too should we renew our insurance of God’s protection and His blessing which is of more paramount importance and very effective.

The home is the place where people spend a great deal of their time; therefore, the environment of the home is important if we wish to keep in contact with our Faith and eventually attain eternal salvation. For this to happen, the home must be converted from an ordinary home into something more—the family temple. The family temple provides us with an environment in which we can grow and develop into mature Christians. With this in mind, it only makes sense that we would dedicate to God one of our most prized and valuable possession: our homes.

Our domiciles, whether they be houses, apartments, collage dormitories, SRO's, hospital rooms, offices, or even caves in the earth, are an important part of who we are. By inviting the priest into our homes to perform the rite of blessing with holy water, we invite God to transform them into little temples, places where the Lord comes to dwell. This is so appropriate, since traditional Catholicism teaches that the family is a little church, a small Kingdom of God.

It's also for this reason why our covenant community of St. Anthony's Bread Mission Apostolate often meets, prays and worships in domestic home chapels or priestly oratories which we call cenacles****. The very first Christian church was the "Upper Room" (a.k.a. "The Cenacle") which hosted the Last Supper and the arrival of Pentecost.

**** Latin: Dining Room; cenaculum, 2nd fl. Old Roman dining room) In Church terminology, a cenacle is understood to be wherever God's people gather in unity of mind and heart for intercessory prayer. Commonly referred to as "The Upper Room", St. Mark records that Jesus referred to the Cenacle as: "My guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples... a room spacious, furnished, and all in order." In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke speaks of the "Upper Room" where Jesus' followers were staying, "joined in continuous prayer".

In November, 1994, Pope John Paul II, released his Apostolic letter "On the Coming of the Third Millennium" which outlined The Church's preparation for the Jubilee Holy Year 2000. In it he addressed communities in the Catholic Fraternity with these words: "As Cenacles of prayer, evangelical witness and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, your communities have a role to play in the renewal of God's people in holiness."

As Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Prayer is the mortar that holds our house together.” America’s greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), explained: "The reality of the house is order. The blessing of the house is community. The glory of the house is hospitality. The crown of the house is Godliness!" ....When the prayer or icon corner is in order, the priest should be called so that the home can be sanctified and dedicated. The icon corner is the center for family prayer. It is before the icons that the Christian family should pray together as one unit. "For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).

Today we laud The Most Holy Name of Jesus - It is NOT Epiphany yet!

Calm down everybody! Although the ultramontane Roman Catholics are celebrating the "epiphany" today, that does not make it so. Ever since the New Rite modernists lost touch with us, I don't know why the Conciliar Church does what it does. However, as usual, the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord will indeed be celebrated this coming Thursday, January 6th. At least if you don't - we will...

Today we Traditional Old Roman Catholics are celebrating the Feast of The Most Holy Name of Jesus. It is a totum duplex feast of the first class. It is also the name and Feastday of the TORC Diocese which I transferred from. So Happy Diocesan Feast Day, brethren.

These are today's readings as contained within our Tridentine Liturgy: Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 4. 8-12; Gospel: St. Luke 2:2, Exodus 34:1-8; Psalm 8; Romans 1:1-7; Luke 2:15-2. Please meditate upon them if you are attending a Novus Ordo Mass this Sunday.

(Indulgences, one hundred days each day if the devotion is made privately, three hundred days each day, if the devotion be in a public church or chapel, plenary indulgence for daily assistance at the public functions, under the usual conditions (Leo XIII, "Brief", 21 Dec., 1901; "Acta S. Sedis", XXXIV, 425). From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913

This feast is the central feast of all the mysteries of Christ the Redeemer; it unites all the other feasts of the Lord, as a burning glass focuses the rays of the sun in one point, to show what Jesus is to us, what He has done, is doing, and will do for mankind. It originated towards the end of the fifteenth century, and was instituted by the private authority of some bishops in Germany, Scotland, England, Spain, and Belgium.

The Office and the Mass composed by Bernardine dei Busti (d. 1500) were approved by Sixtus IV. The feast was officially granted to the Franciscans 25 February, 1530, and spread over a great part of the Church. The Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians kept it on 14 Jan.; the Dominicans 15 Jan. At Salisbury, York, and Durham in England, and at Aberdeen in Scotland it was celebrated 7 Aug., at Liege, 31 Jan., at Compostela and Cambrai, 8 Jan. (Grotefend, "Zeitrechnung", II, 2. 89). The Carthusians obtained it for the second Sunday after Epiphany about 1643; for that Sunday it was also extended to Spain, and later, 20 Dec., 1721, to the Universal Church.

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - January 2

Lord Jesus, we humbly pray You to give us all a great reverence and respect for Your Most Holy Name. Forgive us for ever having used the Name of Jesus in vain, or without due respect.

Help us remember how reverently and lovingly Your Mother Mary used the Name of Jesus, and how humbly Saint Joseph called You and spoke to You by Name.

Your Name, dear Jesus, is above every other name in heaven or on earth, because You are the Jesus, the Savior of all men. You have saved us, and You have told us to ask God anything in Your Name, and it would be granted.

We ask You, humbly and confidently, to bless us and our work, and give us the rich treasures of Your divine grace, without which we cannot even so much as pronounce the Name of Jesus. Amen.

(National Catholic Rural Life Conference)

"Therefore God also highly exalted Him

and gave Him The Name

that is above every name,

so that at the Name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

(Phillippians 2, vs 4-13.)

O LORD our Governor, *

how exalted is Your Name in all the world!

Out of the mouths of infants and children *

Your majesty is praised above the heavens.

You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *

to quell the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers, *

the moon and the stars You have set in their courses,

What is man that You should be mindful of him? *

the son of man that You should seek him out?

You have made him but little lower than the angels; *

You adorn him with glory and honor;

You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *

You put all things under his feet:

All sheep and oxen, *

even the wild beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *

and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

O LORD our Governor, *

how exalted is Your Name in all the world!

(Psalm 8)