Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Epiphany

We went to Mass today. It wasn't the Mass for Epiphany. That was celebrated last Sunday. But in our hearts, we were celebrating Epiphany anyway.

Tonight we made our annual Epiphany procession through the house.

We begin by marking the front door with chalk: 20 + C+M+B + 10. This is for the year, 2010, with CMB in the middle standing for the names of the wise men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, and also for the Latin, Christus Mansus Benedictus (Christ Bless this House). [Hopefully, I have the Latin right ;)]

We proceed to each room, singing "We Three Kings", led by Patrick carrying the Easter candle we made last spring and Tommy with the censor from our miniature Mass set. John blesses the rooms, sprinkling holy water and praying,

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 us with the light of Christ that our concern for others may reflect your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

-Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, USCCB, 1999

When we have blessed the house, we gather again at our home altar and sing more carols.

The youngest children dress in kimonos as the kings and carry gifts.

I love this devotion. The house smells like incense for a day or so afterwards and it reminds us that we are a domestic church, a small house of God.


We also opened the last of our Christmas gifts today. Gifts from friends of the family and everything that arrives in the mail after Christmas Eve, we save to open as part of our Epiphany celebration. We talk about the Christmas story again and the gifts that the Wise Men brought to baby Jesus on this day.



Happy Epiphany! Merry Christmas!

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