Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is traditionally celebrated on the 12th day after Christmas. The feast is one of the oldest Christian celebrations. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning - to reveal. It commemorates the visit of the Three Kings to worship the Baby Jesus. According to the Gospel narratives, the Three Kings brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold signifying that Jesus is King. Frankincense, the symbol of prayer, signifying that Jesus is the Son of God. Myrrh, which was used to anoint the dead, signifying that Jesus would die for the salvation of all.

There is an old custom of blessing of our homes on Epiphany that commemorates the time the Three Kings visited the home of the Holy Family. Traditionally after the blessing, the initials of their names are written in chalk on the back of the door in this way: 20+C+M+B+24. The "20" stands for the millennium and century, the "C" standing for the first Wise Man, Caspat, the "M" standing for Melchior, the "B" standing for Balthasar, and the "24" standing for the decade and year. It is also popularly believed that the Kings' initials also stand for Latin words - "Christus mansionem benedicat" ("Christ bless this house").

I invite you to take a piece of blessed chalk today with you after Mass, gather your family and as you are marking the lintel of your front door, say this prayer:

"Lord our God, bless this household. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and the keeping of your law. May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us, and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is Lord, forever and ever. Amen."

God Bless,
Fr. Gregg