Epiphany Water Blessing Kit for Your Home

Three Theophanies

We typically associate Epiphany with the arrival of the magi (wise men) from the east to adore the Christ child. But traditionally this is one of three “epiphanies” or “theophanies” — manifestations of the divinity of Christ. The other two are Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan and his first public miracle, turning water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana. There are many special traditions observed on this day, including the blessing of chalk, the blessing of homes, and a very special blessing of holy water.

Special Blessings

There is a long-standing tradition of marking churches, homes, schools and other buildings by using blessed chalk to inscribe a sacred formula over the doorways including the numerals of the current year plus the initials C, M and B. These initials represent the names of the three magi, Casper, Melchior and Balthazar, and also the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat which means, “Christ bless this house.” Blessed chalk, as well as take-home instructions for how to bless your homes, will be available after all Masses on Epiphany Sunday. 

Epiphany Water

Because of the connection with Christ’s baptism and His miraculous transformation of water into wine, there is a very special blessing of Holy Water associated with Epiphany. This ancient rite of blessing includes powerful prayers of exorcism, including the addition of exorcised salt to the water — Epiphany Water is one of the most powerful sacramentals of the Church. (We will have epiphany blessing packets with prayers, chalk, and mini-water bottles in the narthex (until they run out). If they run out before you are able to get one, please feel free to bring your own bottle to fill with Epiphany Water from the large Holy Water Dispenser in the church, (over by the Sacristy).  The prayers for the Epiphany blessing can also be easily found below.

Epiphany Water & Epiphany Home Blessing Kits will be available from Friday, January 6 onward.

Upon Entering the House (or at Front Door)

Head of Household: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.

Head of Household: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

While All Say the Magnificat (below), the Room is Sprinkled with Epiphany Water

All: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name.

He has mercy on those who fear Him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of His servant Israel
for He has remembered His promise of mercy,
the promise He made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
(Bow) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Head of Household: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.

Head of Household: All they from Seba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Head of Household: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto You.

Head of Household: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star did on this day manifest Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know You by faith may also attain the vision of Your glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Head of Household: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in your light and kings in the splendor of your rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Head of Household: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Your law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house, and bless each room, sprinkling it with Epiphany Water.  Take the Blessed Chalk, and first write the initials of the three wise men, connected with crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible).  Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year, so that they fall on both sides of the initials.

It should look like this: 20   C    +   M    +   B     23

With the "20" being the millennium and century, the "C" standing for the first wise man, Caspar, the "M" standing for Melchior, the "B" standing for Balthasar, and the "23" standing for the decade and year.  It is also believed to stand for "Christus mansionem benedicat" (Christ bless this house).