Epiphany House Blessing
Many Christian households gather together on the Day of Epiphany (January 6th) to bless
their homes for the new year. You will need a piece of chalk, or piece of cardboard and
art supplies, to mark the lintel above the doorway with symbols of blessing.
All make the Sign of the Cross (in remembrance of their baptism).
Head of Household Peace be to this house and to all who dwell here, in the name of the
Lord.
All Blessed be God forever.
Reader In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and
the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did
not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his
glory, the glory as of a Father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5, 14)
Using chalk, or a piece of cardboard that has been decorated with crayons or colored
markers and designs, write on the outside of your house, above or next to the front door,
these symbols: the date, abbreviation of the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat,
“Christ bless this home” (which is also the initials of traditional names for the three
Magi—Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar), and four crosses.
Order the symbols in the following way: 20 + C + M + B + 10 (the current year), with the
four crosses representing the four seasons.
In the new year, this marking serves as a blessing over the entire household.
Head of Household: Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when
we are away, and our welcome guest when we return. Bless this house and all who
inhabit it, with health, goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill us
with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen