Epiphany Door and Home Blessing

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Epiphany Door Blessing
Pray this prayer, and then write:
20+C+M+B+21
In chalk over your front door
Blessed are you, God of all creation;
By the guidance of a star, you led seekers To your Son, and by the light of faith, you bring us to know Christ as our Redeemer, the Messiah you have sent .
We ask that this home be a dwelling place of Kindness, humility, self-control, mutual respect for one another, and hospitality to strangers.
By the light of your star, protect our home and guide all who walk through this door.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Epiphany Blessing of Homes
The church has a custom of blessing homes on the feast of the Epiphany and the week following. Family and friends gather to ask God’s blessing on their homes and those who live in and visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our homes, our coming and our goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.
The ritual calls for the inside of the main door to be marked in chalk with the initials of the Magi, the numbers of the New Year, connected with Crosses:
20+C+M+B+21
The initials of the legendary names of the Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar also stand for the Latin motto: Christus Mansionem Benedicat,
“May Christ bless this home.”