You can celebrate Epiphany at home with a blessing using the initials of the magi’s traditional names (Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar), four crosses, and the new year’s numerals. Gather a piece of chalk, a small container of Holy Water and your family at the front door. Sprinkle your door with Holy Water and mark the area just above your front door on the exterior of your house as follows:
20 + C + M + B + 23
Praying Together
As you chalk this inscription above the door to your home, pray these words (or pray with a similar intent in your own words):
God our Father, the three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed Your Son’s star over two thousand years ago. Please open our eyes to see Jesus’ presence, and give us courage to seek Him — just as the three Wise Men recognized, believed, and journeyed toward the light of His birth.
Jesus, we invite you into our home and into our family. Be near to us in our joys and sorrows, in our successes and failures, and in our extraordinary and ordinary moments. Please bless our family and all who pass through this doorway into our home.
Bless all who dwell here with the gift of Your love. Help us to extend Your love to each other, and to all who enter our home. This year, may we experience Your love more fully, and may we share your love more generously—both behind and beyond the doors to our home. Amen
Understanding the Symbols
“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of your family and home. The numbers stand for the year; the letters stand for the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The letters also stand for the abbreviated Latin phrase, “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means, “May Christ bless the house.”
The inscription is made above the front door so that all who enter your home will pass beneath God’s blessing. The blessing also serves as an outward sign (literally!) of your faith. Of course, with time the chalk will fade. As it does, let the meaning of the inscription sink into the depths of your heart and be shown through your words and actions.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words … Write them on the doorposts of your houses… —Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 9