The Feast of the Epiphany was once considered the second most important holy day on the Church calendar after Easter. It was deemed as more important than Christmas itself, and it was Epiphany that included the tradition of the giving of Gifts. The traditional date of Epiphany is January 6, but in the United States it is celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8 (USCCB.org). But if you count back from January 6th to Christmas, you get 12 days. Thus, Epiphany was considered the 12th and final day of the Feast of Christmas. If you are unfamiliar with the feast, it is the celebration of the historical event recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12), when the Magi come to visit the Christ child.
Interestingly enough, we have no idea how many magi came to visit the Holy Family. History has always assumed there were three because of the three gifts they brought, but Matthew seems to leave out how many there were. What we can understand from this passage is that these men were not Jewish. It is unclear what faith they were from, perhaps they were from the Zoroastrian faith in Persia, another monotheistic religion. What is clear, is that they came from the East following some type of celestial event they call a star. A careful reading may also show us that they were not coming to visit an infant. When he finds out about the Magi and their visit, Herod wants to kill every child under 2 years of age, indicating the Magi were likely looking for a toddler! This means their journey to get to Bethlehem may have taken some time.
So why so much importance placed on three pagan mystics coming to visit Jesus? For the Church, this is the first instance of gentiles (non-Jews) recognizing the importance of Jesus. The appearance of Jesus was not just important for one nation, but for every nation! The perilous journey undertaken by these men proves it. It is this event that indicates that while Israel was the chosen nation, their role was to reveal the teachings of the Lord to all people. God is not just the God of the Jews but for all humanity!
On this day, it is tradition to bless our homes! When the Magi came to visit Jesus they were blessing the holy family by their visit. They brought wise council to Joseph and Mary about Herod’s foul intentions, protecting the family and allowing them safe passage to Egypt. They brought gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh, but the Gold they brought likely allowed the family the funds they needed for the journey ahead. It is our hope that these saints will bless our homes as well, keeping our families safe, and procuring God’s blessings for those temporal necessities for our families.
The following blessing for your home is taken from the USCCB website. While it is always preferable to have a priest or bishop offer a blessing because of their conformity to the person of Christ, or a Deacon because of his role in service to the Church, this particular blessing is open to anyone to lead, but preferably the head of the family who dwells in the home (i.e. the parents or grandparents). If you attend Mass that day, you can ask your priest to bless the chalk you might use to write the blessing on your doorpost. You can then sprinkle holy water around your home, blessing every room!
The Blessing takes place as follows:
When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply, “Amen.”
With the chalk we write on the door (Usually at the top but wherever you can reach): 20+C+M+B+24 while reciting the words “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” or “May Christ bless this home.” Some like to point out that the “C” represents Caspar, the “M” represents Melchior, and the “B,” Balthasar, the names given later to the three. The 20 and 24 are for the year, 2024.
The Blessing continues:
The leader greets those present in the following words:
Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and homes with peace.
Blessed be God forever.
R/. Blessed be God forever.
In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us. It is Christ who enlightens our hearts and homes with his love. May all who enter this home find Christ’s light and love.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Luke 19:1-9:
Listen to the words of the holy Gospel according to Luke:
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.”
The intercessions are then said:
Leader: The Son of God made his home among us. With thanks and praise let us call upon him.
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, with Mary and Joseph you formed the Holy Family: remain in our home, that we may know you as our guest and honor you as our Head.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you had no place to lay your head, but in the spirit of poverty accepted the hospitality of your friends: grant that through our help the homeless may obtain proper housing.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, the three kings presented their gifts to you in praise and adoration: grant that those living in this house may use their talents and abilities to your greater glory.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the Lord’s Prayer.
The leader says the prayer of blessing with hands joined:
Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill them (us) with the light of Christ, that their (our) concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying:
May Christ Jesus dwell with us, keep us from all harm, and make us one in mind and heart, now and forever.
R/. Amen.
It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song, for example, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings.”
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