Epiphany Blessing for Our Homes

One German tradition for the Christmas season is that of the childrens' festival between January 1-6 (Three Kings Day). After a Mass the children go from house to house to gather offerings for the poor. They are dressed as the three kings and carry sticks with stars on the top. At the homes they sing songs and recite messages of Christmas. At each house they paint a series of letters and numbers of blessing over the door frame that remain until the next year.

The blessing is as follows;


All gather outside at the main entrance to the home (inside if it's too cold!)

Leader: Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who live here.

Leader: Bless, O Lord,
this household and family,
and allow all of us who live in this home
to find in it a shelter of peace and health.
Inspire each of us to develop
our individual talents
and to contribute wisdom and good works
for the benefit of the whole family.
Make our house a haven for us all,
and a place of warmth and caring
for all our friends who come to visit us.
Enlighten us with the brilliance
of your Epiphany star,
so that, as we go into the world,
we might clearly see our way to You
and discover You in our work and play.
This we ask to your glory
and in the power of your kingship.

All: For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory now and forever, Amen.

Bless the house with the sign of the cross.

After the blessing, the initials of the following Latin blessing are written over the main doorway in chalk (any color you like); Christus Mansionem Benedicat 'Christ bless this house' (The Initials also correspond to the traditional names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) The Finished blessing inscription would look like this: 20 + C + M + B + 11 (where the + is a cross and the "11" stands for 2011; change the year accordingly).