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The Practice of Blessing Our Homes
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Even though this practice is customarily done during the week of Ephipany it is a beautiful practice that can be done any time. Contact Father Seth if you would like to have your home blessed!
Blessing the HomeIn commemoration of the visit of the Magi to the home of the Holy Family, there arose the custom of blessing homes during the week of Epiphany.
The four initials of the legendary names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) are marked at the top of the main door frame, along with the year, plus crosses in between the number and the letters.
20 + C + M + B + 22
The home of a Christian is a holy place—a place with Christian symbols and a place where prayers are said.The Church encourages the practice of lay people praying blessings—blessing food, children, and their homes. The bishops of the United States have published a book of Catholic household blessings, noting that if the Sunday assembly is to be a praying community, prayer has to happen in the “little churches” of households and families.
On the feast of the Epiphany, whether you live alone or with a family, pray a blessing on the place you call home. Here’s an example:
Be my shelter, Lord, when I am at home, my companion when I am away, and my welcome guest when I return. And at last receive me into the dwelling place you have prepared for me in your Father’s house, where you live forever and ever. Amen.
