Epiphany House Blessing

Did you pick up your House Blessing kit at church?  We distributed them at Christmas so parishioners could bless their homes for the Solemnity of the Epiphany.  (There still may be some left in the back of church.)  The kits include a piece of blessed chalk, as well as the prayers and instructions for the blessing.  Many Catholics bless their homes with the following inscription, written in chalk, above their front door:
 
20 + C + M + B + 26
 
This combination of letters and numbers holds a special meaning.  The numbers represent the year.  The letters represent two different things.
1) They stand for the names of the three wise men, which we find in our church tradition: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. 
2) They also represent the Latin blessing "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" which translates to “May Christ bless this house.”
 
The crosses between each figure signify our salvation through Christ.
 
If you’d like Fr. Dan to come and do the House Blessing at your home, he’d be happy to do so.  Just call the office (847-446-0856) to make an appointment for a short visit.  He would be honored to share this special moment with you.