Epiphany Blessings!

The Closing of the Christmas Season.

The Wise Men have arrived.

2024 Epiphany Home Chalk Blessing

Today, Saturday, January 6, 2024 is Epiphany. 

A part of church history is the custom of blessing homes at the New Year. 

A family would hold a short service of prayer to ask God’s blessing

on their dwelling and on all who live, work with and visit them.

Take chalk and mark above the entrance

or on the doorstep of your front door as follows:  

20 + C M B + 24. 

C M B above the door also stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, 

which is Latin for “May Christ Bless this House.

While doing the marking, someone says:

“The magi of old, known as Caspar (mark the C),

… Melchior (mark the M),

… and Balthasar (mark the B)

… followed the star of God’s Son who came to dwell among us

two thousand (mark the 20)

… and twenty-four years ago (mark the 24)

May Christ bless our home (mark the + after the 20)

… and remain with us throughout this coming year (mark the + before the 24). “

Prayer of Blessing

Holy God, you revealed your beloved Son to every nation

by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. 

Make it a place of welcome and peace to all who enter.

Fill us with the light of Christ, so that our concern for others

will reflect your love. We ask this through 

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

If you wish, you can also read a passage from Scripture

(John 1:1-14 is always good) and/or end with the Lord’s Prayer.

I Love this simple blessing of our home each year.

Thanks to Stacey Crosson for the reminder

and this writeup about

"chalking the door".