GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSING
with this free eBook, Epiphany House Blessing
Through the Epiphany house blessing, we are welcoming the Christ Child into our hearts and our homes as He blesses our upcoming year. May you have a blessed Epiphany, and may the Lord always reign in your house.
Where is Epiphany in the Bible?
In the New Testament, Matthew 2:1-12 says,
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
There are also Old Testament prophecies concerning the Epiphany.
Isaiah 60:6 says, “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.”
And in the Psalms,
Psalm 72:10–11 says, “May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!”
“Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.” — St. Peter Chrysologus
What is the origin of the feast of Epiphany?
In his book Spirit of the Liturgy, the future Pope Benedict XVI wrote,
It is hard to say how far back the beginnings of the Christmas feast go. It assumed its definitive form in the third century.
At about the same time the feast of the Epiphany emerged in the East on January 6 and the feast of Christmas in the West on December 25.
The two feasts had different emphases because of the different religious and cultural contexts in which they arose, but essentially their meaning was the same: the celebration of the birth of Christ as the dawning of the new light, the true sun, of history.
What is the significance of Epiphany in Christianity?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 528) says,
The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worthy of the heritage of Israel").
"How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and shed, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child? And at this the evangelist was hinting when he said, 'Lo, the star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.'" - St. John Chrysostom
Who were the Magi or Wise Men?
The word “magi” is of Persian origin, and refers to a class of men who were priests-scientists-philosophers rolled into one. Different ancient societies used different names but all had some intellectual class which sought knowledge and truth, even though much of what they possessed was corrupted by sin and error. Nonetheless, through the means to which they were accustomed, such as reading “signs” in nature, God drew them to true knowledge, in this case, the knowledge of Himself and of the Christ.
According to tradition, their names were Balthasar (from Arabia), Melchior (from Persia), and Caspar (from India).
Was there a "Fourth" Wise Man?
No, Scripture tell us of only three Wise Men. A “fourth” Wise Man is a literary creation, that has been popularized in books, plays, and film.
What are the three gifts of the Three Kings?
The Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Baby Jesus.
St. John Chrysostom said, “For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man.”
Which King brought which gift?
According to tradition, Melchior brought the gold; Caspar gave frankincense; and Balthazar brought myrrh.
When did the Three Kings arrive?
We are not sure of the exact timing. However, we know that the Wise Men were not present at the Nativity, when Jesus was born. Some scholars believe that the Holy Family remained in Bethlehem for some time before fleeing to Egypt, but given that Herod had all newborns under 2 years of age killed, Jesus was certainly under two.
Is the Three Kings a true story?
Yes. We have the testimony of Matthew to support its truth.
Why do we give Christmas gifts?
Different cultures have different explanations for the giving of gifts. Some base it on the story of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who secretly gave bags of gold to cover the doweries of the daughters of the poor. His feast day is December 6th and this is often the occasion for giving gifts to children. He is also the origin of the Santa Claus tradition associated with Christmas itself. Other cultures give gifts at Christmas or Epiphany in imitation of the Three Wise Men, who gave gifts to the Child Jesus, as we see in Matthew 2:1-12.
Whichever tradition a family follows, we should always keep in mind that we are the recipients of the greatest Gift, Christ Himself, and the Salvation He provides.
What gifts can we give to Jesus?
Jesus wants us to grow closer to Him, so our gifts should reflect this goal. We can pray more, read Sacred Scripture, go to Confession, forgive someone, or break a sinful habit.
What does “epiphany” mean?
Epiphany has several meanings, including “manifestation” or “sudden insight.” In the context of the feast it means that the God-man Jesus Christ was manifested to the world, as represented by the Magi and the different peoples from whom they came.
Is Epiphany the 12th day of Christmas?
Yes, but this is not the final day of the Christmas season. The Twelve Days between Christmas and the Epiphany complete the celebration of the Nativity and the events directly connected to it.
When is the last day of Christmas?
In the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite the last day of the Christmas Season is the Baptism of Our Lord, when His hidden life ended and His public ministry began. The following day the Church begins “Ordinary Time.”
However, the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite which uses the traditional liturgical calendar and forms, continues the celebration of Christmas through February 2nd, the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple and Purification of Mary, also called Candlemas.
What is the spiritual meaning of Epiphany?
On the Solemnity of the Epiphany in 2019, Pope Francis said,
It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did, if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter him. When his place becomes our place, when his time becomes our time, when his person becomes our life, then the prophecies come to fulfilment in us. Then Jesus is born within us. He becomes the living God for me. Today we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look, but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the centre, but bow down before the One who is the centre. They do not remain glued to their plans, but are prepared to take other routes. Their actions reveal a close contact with the Lord, a radical openness to him, a total engagement with him. With him, they use the language of love, the same language that Jesus, though an infant, already speaks. Indeed, the Magi go to the Lord not to receive, but to give. Let us ask ourselves this question: at Christmas did we bring gifts to Jesus for his party, or did we only exchange gifts among ourselves?
“What are you doing, O Magi? Do you adore a little Babe, in a wretched hovel, wrapped in miserable rags? Can this Child be truly God? … Are you become foolish, O Wise Men? … Yes, these Wise Men have become fools that they may be wise.” — Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Was there really a Star of Bethlehem?
The Scripture provides only the historical fact and its significance without offering an explanation of its cause. Was it a supernatural event, or did God use a natural event to providentially convey a spiritual meaning to the Magi? Either explanation is theologically acceptable, as the Church does not command supernatural faith in any particular explanation.
Surprisingly, throughout most of Church history the Fathers and Doctors who commented on it did not hold it to be a “star” in the astronomical sense, at all. Thus, St. Thomas Aquinas, following earlier ecclesiastical writers like St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, and arguing from the historical account of Scripture, stated,
ST III, q36, a7, I answer that…it is clear, for many reasons, that the star which appeared to the Magi did not belong to the heavenly system. First, because no other star approaches from the same quarter as this star, whose course was from north to south, these being the relative positions of Persia, whence the Magi came, and Judea. Secondly, from the time [at which it was seen]. For it appeared not only at night, but also at midday: and no star can do this, not even the moon. Thirdly, because it was visible at one time and hidden at another. For when they entered Jerusalem it hid itself: then, when they had left Herod, it showed itself again. Fourthly, because its movement was not continuous, but when the Magi had to continue their journey the star moved on; when they had to stop the star stood still; as happened to the pillar of a cloud in the desert. Fifthly, because it indicated the virginal Birth, not by remaining aloft, but by coming down below. For it is written (Matthew 2:9) that "the star which they had seen in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was." Whence it is evident that the words of the Magi, "We have seen His star in the east," are to be taken as meaning, not that when they were in the east the star appeared over the country of Judea, but that when they saw the star it was in the east, and that it preceded them into Judea (although this is considered doubtful by some). But it could not have indicated the house distinctly, unless it were near the earth. And, as he [Chrysostom] observes, this does not seem fitting to a star, but "of some power endowed with reason." Consequently "it seems that this was some invisible force made visible under the form of a star."
What “star” was the Star of Bethlehem?
Similarly, those who have investigated what the Star of Bethlehem might have been in the natural order, likewise conclude that it was not a star, or even a stellar event, like a supernova. Rather, for those who have taken this approach the best case is made for a conjunction of planets – their apparent merging from our perspective. The ancients attributed great significance to the planets, and their conjunction conveyed meaning about the history of kings and nations. What we take as superstitious astrology today, the ancients saw as divine action in the heavens conveying knowledge to mankind. For the Christian, God's Providential use of an otherwise erroneous worldview to bring these Gentile Kings or Magi to Bethlehem would be a possible explanation of the star. On this basis, it is not uncommon for planetariums to have Star of Bethlehem presentations at Christmas time, to illustrate what the “star” might have been.
How do we celebrate Three Kings Day?
There are many ways to celebrate Epiphany, including blessing your house (see next question and answer), eating King cakes, and having a Twelfth Night party on the eve of Epiphany. It is still appropriate, even encouraged, to sing carols and celebrate the Christmas season on Epiphany. The best way, of course, is to participate in the liturgy, receiving Christ’s gift of Himself in Holy Communion, and offering ourselves to Him in return.
What is the Epiphany Blessing
In years past, priests would often visit their parishioners during the Christmas season to bless their homes. Since this is virtually impossible for most priests today, someone in the family–ideally the father or head of household–sprinkles holy water in each room of the house and says a blessing prayer, such as this one:
Bless, O Lord, almighty God, this home so that in it there may be health, chastity, victorious strength, humility, goodness and mildness, obedience to God's laws and acts of thanks to God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, and may this Blessing remain upon this house and upon all who dwell in it. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Normally, the house blessing is coupled with the blessing of the doorway. Some churches will provide parishioners with blessed chalk after the Epiphany Masses. Otherwise, the faithful can bring chalk to their parish, asking the priest to bless it.
With the blessed chalk, the priest or head of the household writes the year and the initials CMB above the door as illustrated for 2024:
20+C+M+B+24
The initials have two meanings. Historically, they refer to the names traditionally attributed to the Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Spiritually, they refer to the blessing itself, represented by the Latin prayer: “Christus mansionem benedicat” (May Christ bless this house); the crosses recalling our salvation in Christ.
For an eBook that provides the House Blessing, see above.
