Chalking the door for Epiphany January 3

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SAVINGRACE

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JANUARY 3, 2016 - Aletia

A beautiful Epiphany tradition will continue at my parish this morning, as a priest will bless chalk and scrawl markings over the door of the church at the start of our 10 a.m. Mass, carrying forth an ancient custom practiced in many homes around the world.

Some background:

The family gathers to ask God’s blessing on their home and on those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, 20 + C + M + B + 16. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2016 is the year.

Blessing the Chalk

V. Our help is the name of the Lord:
R. The maker of heaven and earth.
V. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:
R. From this time forth for evermore.

Let us pray.
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 16 while saying:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and fifteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

Then offer the following prayer: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus mansionem benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.”

aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/chalking-the-door-blessing-your-home-for-epiphany/
 
I have never heard of this tradition. thank you for sharing!
 
SAVINGRACE said:
A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, 20 + C + M + B + 16. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2016 is the year.
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Just a but of levity – You need refreshments for such a celebration.
tee_eff_em said:
It also stands for "20 Cases of Monastery Beer (and
Code: 
-]06/-] 16
singles)" :rotfl:

(Taught me by my father, raised in the shadow of a benedictine monastery, so it must be true)
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:rotfl:
tee
 
The Franciscans at Mother Angelica’s have always done this.
It’s common around here. The children love it!
 
Great tradition, thanks for sharing.

I always thought Epiphany was 6 Jan, not 3?
 
ProVobis said:
Depends on whose calendar you follow. Actually one calendar has it on a Sunday.
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It still is the sixth but celebrated on the Sunday closest to it. It used to be celebrated the sixth and was a Holy day of Obligation in the US until Vatican 11 changed it. I ithink some countries gifts are exchanged that day rather than Christmas.

That is a lovely tradition with the chalk. I’ve heard of it before but not sure which ethnic group observed it.
 
My Parish Church does this every year on the Epiphany Solemnity. The Parishioners are given blessed chalk packs with instructions to bring home & mark their entrance door the same way.
 
utah_rose said:
It still is the sixth but celebrated on the Sunday closest to it. It used to be celebrated the sixth and was a Holy day of Obligation in the US until Vatican 11 changed it. I ithink some countries gifts are exchanged that day rather than Christmas.

That is a lovely tradition with the chalk. I’ve heard of it before but not sure which ethnic group observed it.
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The blessing and chalking was not observed by any one ethnic group. It is a Catholic custom spread across many countries. Here in the U.S., the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa has a nice page with the current ritual. davenportdiocese.org/lit/liturgylibrary/Calendar/litEpiphanyChalkBlessing.pdf

Epiphany was not a holy day of obligation in the United States, before or after Vatican II. When the Third Plenary Council met in Baltimore in 1884, the bishops approved the uniform calendar of six holy days now observed: Mary, Mother of God; Ascension: Assumption of Mary; All Saints; Immaculate Conception; Christmas. The decision of the bishops was approved by the Holy See in 1885.
 
tawny said:
My Parish Church does this every year on the Epiphany Solemnity. The Parishioners are given blessed chalk packs with instructions to bring home & mark their entrance door the same way.
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wow that is neat! I wish our parish did that.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I have never heard of this tradition. thank you for sharing!
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I grew up with this tradition and the CMB was written in chalk not just at church, but in every home.

I am not certain if the custom is still widely maintained, but my parents still do it to day.
 
My mother would use chalk from a small box which contained incense. She wrote K+ M+ B+ for the Three Kings on one wall in our home. This was a Polish Tradition.

Ed
 
for those who grew up with the tradition - you were blessed! a lovely tradition!
 
Tradition like this brought God into our home. He was not just in the Church building.

Ed 🙂
 
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