EPIPHANY TRADITION - THE BLESSING OF THE HOME
EPIPHANY
(We gather round the crib with lighted candles and say:)
All: A child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia!
Full joyous sings Jerusalem, alleluia, alleluia!
From the Orient, behold the star, alleluia.
And holy kings come from afar, alleluia, alleluia.
The father reads the gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany, St. Matthew 2:1-12
All: From the East came the magi to Bethlehem to adore theLord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts gold to the Great King, incense to the True God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, alleluia.
While the father sprinkles the rooms with holy water, the mother and children recite the magnificat:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid,
for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
toward those who fear Him
He has shown might with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
Mindful of His mercy -
As He promised our fathers -
toward Abraham and his descendants forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
All: From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the Great King, incense to the True God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, alleluia.
Father: Many shall come from Saba.
All: Bearing gold and incense.
Father: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come onto Thee.
Father: Let us pray: O God, who by the guidance of a star didst this day reveal Thy Only-Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who know Thee by faith may be brought to the contemplation of the heavenly majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
All: Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come and upon thee is risen the glory of the Lord, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
Father: Nations shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brilliance of thy rising.
All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Father: Let us pray: O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Thy blessing remain forever. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
With chalk the lintels above the door are marked with the initials of the three kings and with crosses.
Father: Let us pray. O Lord God, bless this chalk to make helpful to man. Grant that we who use it with faith and inscribe with it the names of Thy saints Caspar, Melchior, and Baltassar upon the entrance of our homes, may through their merits and petition enjoy physical health and spiritual protection. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The father then writes the initials of the names of the Magi separated by crosses and the year above the door in this manner.
20 + C + M + B + (year)
In conclusion the following hymns are sung or prayed:
The star of Jacob leadeth them, alleluia!
From Saba to blest Bethlehem, alleluia, alleluia!
Gold, myrrh, and incense pure they bring, alleluia.
To Mary's Child, God, Man and King, alleluia, alleluia!
SING: We Three Kings of Orient Are
A coloring picture can be found below:
EPIPHANY
(We gather round the crib with lighted candles and say:)
All: A child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia!
Full joyous sings Jerusalem, alleluia, alleluia!
From the Orient, behold the star, alleluia.
And holy kings come from afar, alleluia, alleluia.
The father reads the gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany, St. Matthew 2:1-12
All: From the East came the magi to Bethlehem to adore theLord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts gold to the Great King, incense to the True God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, alleluia.
While the father sprinkles the rooms with holy water, the mother and children recite the magnificat:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid,
for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
toward those who fear Him
He has shown might with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
Mindful of His mercy -
As He promised our fathers -
toward Abraham and his descendants forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
All: From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the Great King, incense to the True God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, alleluia.
Father: Many shall come from Saba.
All: Bearing gold and incense.
Father: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come onto Thee.
Father: Let us pray: O God, who by the guidance of a star didst this day reveal Thy Only-Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who know Thee by faith may be brought to the contemplation of the heavenly majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
All: Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come and upon thee is risen the glory of the Lord, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
Father: Nations shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brilliance of thy rising.
All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Father: Let us pray: O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Thy blessing remain forever. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
With chalk the lintels above the door are marked with the initials of the three kings and with crosses.
Father: Let us pray. O Lord God, bless this chalk to make helpful to man. Grant that we who use it with faith and inscribe with it the names of Thy saints Caspar, Melchior, and Baltassar upon the entrance of our homes, may through their merits and petition enjoy physical health and spiritual protection. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The father then writes the initials of the names of the Magi separated by crosses and the year above the door in this manner.
20 + C + M + B + (year)
In conclusion the following hymns are sung or prayed:
The star of Jacob leadeth them, alleluia!
From Saba to blest Bethlehem, alleluia, alleluia!
Gold, myrrh, and incense pure they bring, alleluia.
To Mary's Child, God, Man and King, alleluia, alleluia!
SING: We Three Kings of Orient Are
A coloring picture can be found below:
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