THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY; THE BLESSING OF HOMES DURING EPIPHANYTIDE - 6th JANUARY

 THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY

THE BLESSING OF HOMES DURING EPIPHANYTIDE

6th JANUARY

The feast of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Traditional Latin Rite and in certain countries. In traditional Latin Mass parishes, the eve of Epiphany, on the 5th January, sees the blessing of water and chalk at the Mass. The Mass on the 6th January incorporates the blessing of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The priest then blesses the houses and marks the front door with the blessed chalk, with the year on the outside, and the first letters of the three Magi - Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior, between the numerals signifying the year. The symbols for the coming year would be thus; “20+C+B+M+[last 2 numerals of coming year]”.

This year, the chalking is: “20+C+B+M+21”.

The letters stand for the blessing: “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” (Latin: May Christ bless this house”). The crosses represent the blessing of Christ. The blessing, marked with the blessed chalk over the entrance door, represents God’s blessing on the household throughout the year. If a priest is not available to bless the house, the family home can be blessed by the head of the household with responses by the family or household members by reference to this guide:

V: Pax huic domui

R. Et omnibus habitantibus in ea

[V: Peace be to this home

R. And all who dwell herein]

Antiphona:

Ab Oriente venerunt Dominum: et, apertis thesauris suis,

Pretiosa munera thus Deo vero, myrrham

Sepulturae ejus.

Alleluia.

[Antiphon: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord

And opening their gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Alleluia.]

CANTICUM BEATRE MARIAE VIRGINIS

Magnificat anima mea Dominum

Et exultavit spiritus meus:

In Deo salutary meo

Quia respexit humilitatem

Ancillae suae:

Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me

Dicent omnes generations

Quia fecit mihi qui potens est:

Et sanctum nomen eius.

Et misericordia eius in progenies

Et progenies timentibus eum.

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo:

Dispersit superbos mente cordis

Sui.

Deposuit potentes de sede:

et exaltavit humiles.

Ensurientes imple bonis:

et divites dimisit inanes.

Suscepit Israel puerum suum:

recordatus misericordiae suae.

Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros:

Abraham, et semini eius in saecula.

Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto Sicut erat in principio, et nunc,

Et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

CANTICLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because He hath regarded the humility of His slave.

For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.

Because He that is holy 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 shewed 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 empty away.

He hath received Israel His servant,

being mindful of His mercy.

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now,

And ever shall be,

World without end.

Amen.

The priest then sprinkles Holy Water throughout and then incenses the home. After he is finished, he repeats the Antiphon [above]:

“Ab Orient venerunt etc.,”

He then says the Pater Noster and recites it secretly until:

“V: Et ne nos in tentationem.

R. Sed libera nos a malo.

V: Omnes de Saba venient.

R: Aurum et thus deferentes.

V: Domine exaudi orationemen meum

R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

V: Dominus vobiscum.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

[V: And lead us not into temptation

R. But deliver us from evil.

V: Many shall come from Saba.

R. Bearing gold and incense.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.]

Oremus.

Deus qui hodierna die unigenitum tuum stella

Duce revelasti concede propitious ut qui jam

Te ex fide cognovimus usque ad contemplandam

speciem tuae celsitudinus perducamur.

Per eumdem Dominum Nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritu Sancti Deus;

per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

[Let us pray.

O God, who by the guidance of a star didst this day reveal Thy Sole-Begotten Son to the gentiles, grant that we who know Thee by faith may be brought to the contemplation of Thy heavenly majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.]

Illuminare, illuminare,

Jerusalem, quia venit lux tua: et

gloria Domini super te orta est,

Jesus Christus ex Maria Virgine.

[Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come; Lord, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.]

V: Et ambulant Gentes in lumine tuo:

et reges in splendore ortus tui.

R. Et gloria Domini super te orta est.

[V; Nations shall walk in Thy light and kings in the brilliance of Thy origin.

R. And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.]

Oremus.

Bene+die Domine, Deus omnipotens,

domum istam: ut sit in ea sanitas, castritas,

victoriae virtus, humilitatas, bonitas et mansuetudo,

plenitude legis et gratiarum actio Deo Patri, et Filio et

Spiritui Sancto; et haec benedictio maneat super hanc

domum, et super habitantes in ea.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

[Let us pray.

Bless+O Lord, almighty God, this home, that it be a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments and thanksgiving to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

May this blessing remain for all time on this dwelling and to all those who live herein. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.]

The priest then inscribes with blessed chalk the initials of the three kings over the lintels of the doors, denoting the year and century on either side: 20+C+M+B+ 21.

The following prayer is then said:

Hear us, O Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God and send Thy holy Angel from heaven to watch over, cherish, protect, be with and defend all who live in this house. I call upon Thy saints, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar to protect this family and this home from every harm and danger and I place the marks of their holy names over the doors of this home to remain there as a constant reminder to us and to all who enter here that this house is truly a house of the Lord.

O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need charity and companionship, narrow enough to shut out envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged enough to turn away the Tempter’s power.

O God, make the door of this house the gateway to Thy eternal kingdom. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord.

Amen.