Spirituality Commission Chair Report: Judy Schwartz

(Due to weather conditions and computers being down, this report was not in the newsletter.)

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Have you ever had your house blessed? Through the Epiphany house blessing, we are welcoming the Christ Child into our hears and our homes as He blesses our upcoming year. May you have a blessed Epiphany, and may the Lord always reign in your house. This year the Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, January 8th. St. John Chrysostom said, “For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myth the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, and myrrh as MAN.”

Your House Blessing Kit needs to include: piece of chalk, Holy Water, and instructions for how to properly mark your home with the chalk. Remember if your chalk is blessed as part of the kit, it must be disposed of by burying or burning. 20 + C + M + B +23. The blessing begins with the first two numbers of the year, followed by C, M, and B, and ends with the last two numbers of the year. The letters C, m, B have two meanings: The initials of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this home.” The plus signs represent the cross. You may say this paryer as you chalk the symbols above or at the top of your door:

God of Light, bless our home. Make it a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. And when we go out from this place, may we never lose sight of Christ’s Light. May all who enter through the year, find love and light; for Christ has come to dwell in this home and these hearts. Amen.