Chalk is customarily blessed on January 6 by a priest using the Rituale Romanum, the feast of the Epiphany (though nowadays typically only done by more traditional parishes). The chalk is a sacramental, intended for the blessings of homes. If a priest is unable to visit your home at this season, a simple blessing may be given by the father of the family. He should mark the year and the initials of the three Magi (Caspar, Melchoir and Balthasar) on the lintel of the main door. The initial C, M, and B also stand for Christus mansionem benedicat (May Christ bless the house).
Write with blessed chalk above the door like so (replacing the last 2 digits for the year in question. This is the example for the year 2012):
20 + C + M + B + 12
O Lord, almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility. goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Thy blessing remain forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
20 + C + M + B + 12
O Lord, almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility. goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Thy blessing remain forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the actual blessing ceremony of your home, click here.
Fr. Z from WDTPRS
The Ceremony of the Blessing of Chalk
Epiphany Chalk is used to write the inscription over all the doors of one’s house. Soft classroom chalk of any color is best for writing on varnished or painted surfaces. A priest should bless the chalk on Epiphany Day, before the celebration of the main Mass of the day, using the following Blessing, which is taken from the Roman Ritual:
V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let Us Pray:
O Lord God, bless + this chalk which Thou hast created, that it may be helpful to mankind; and grant that through the invocation of Thy most holy Name all those who use this chalk or with it write over the doors of their houses the names of Thy Saints, Gasper, Melchior, and Balthazar, may by their merits and intercession receive health of body and protection of soul. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. (Priest now sprinkles chalk with Holy Water.)
Later that day – or any day within the Octave of the Feast of the Epiphany – at home, the ceremony is completed by a priest, or the father, or senior member, of the family. The following prayer is said once and at the main entrance of the house. All the family as he or she goes from door to door – everyone keeping a respectful silence, or better yet, reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Let Us Pray:
Hear us, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, and send Thy Holy Angel from Heaven to watch over, cherish, protect, be with, and defend all who live in my house. I call upon Your Saints, Gasper, Melchior, and Balthazar, to protect my family and my home from every harm and danger, and I place the marks of their holy names over the doors of my home to remain there as a constant reminder to us and to all who enter here that my house is truly a house of the Lord.
O God, make the door of my house wide enough to receive all who need human love and companionship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride, and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the temper’s power.
O God, make the door of my house the gateway to Thy eternal Kingdom. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.
Note: Another version of this blessing, as well as a Blessing of Gold, Incense, and Myrrh (the gifts given by the wisemen) can be found in the Rituale Romanum online version. Also, check out the Solemn Blessing for Epiphany Water
Epiphany Chalk is used to write the inscription over all the doors of one’s house. Soft classroom chalk of any color is best for writing on varnished or painted surfaces. A priest should bless the chalk on Epiphany Day, before the celebration of the main Mass of the day, using the following Blessing, which is taken from the Roman Ritual:
V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let Us Pray:
O Lord God, bless + this chalk which Thou hast created, that it may be helpful to mankind; and grant that through the invocation of Thy most holy Name all those who use this chalk or with it write over the doors of their houses the names of Thy Saints, Gasper, Melchior, and Balthazar, may by their merits and intercession receive health of body and protection of soul. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. (Priest now sprinkles chalk with Holy Water.)
Later that day – or any day within the Octave of the Feast of the Epiphany – at home, the ceremony is completed by a priest, or the father, or senior member, of the family. The following prayer is said once and at the main entrance of the house. All the family as he or she goes from door to door – everyone keeping a respectful silence, or better yet, reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Let Us Pray:
Hear us, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, and send Thy Holy Angel from Heaven to watch over, cherish, protect, be with, and defend all who live in my house. I call upon Your Saints, Gasper, Melchior, and Balthazar, to protect my family and my home from every harm and danger, and I place the marks of their holy names over the doors of my home to remain there as a constant reminder to us and to all who enter here that my house is truly a house of the Lord.
O God, make the door of my house wide enough to receive all who need human love and companionship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride, and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the temper’s power.
O God, make the door of my house the gateway to Thy eternal Kingdom. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.
Note: Another version of this blessing, as well as a Blessing of Gold, Incense, and Myrrh (the gifts given by the wisemen) can be found in the Rituale Romanum online version. Also, check out the Solemn Blessing for Epiphany Water
8 comment(s):
My mother did this in our home every year when I was a child. Only recently was that memory stirred, and I felt compelled to look into it. When I asked other Catholics if they had ever done/seen this, the answer was always 'no.' I would like to thank you for this posting. Using this, I hope to carry on my mother's tradition in my own home.
Thank you again, and God Bless.
Thank you for posting this information. A friend of mine had told me of this ritual a few years ago, in response to a cleansing of his home (an attachment of some sort to a baby bed they had purchased). But I was not aware of the formal prayer. Does anointing oil also serve, instead of chalk ?
Have you done blessing with myrr and frankenscence to keep evil out of your home. If so what prayer should I pray .
THIS WEB SITE DENOTES THE THREE WISEMAN'S NAMES AS "Gaspar, Melchoir and Balthasar"....I WAS REARED THAT ONE OF THE WISEMAN'S NAME WAS CASPAR NOT GASPAR....ANOTHER WEBSITE DOES DENOTE "CASPER"..WHICH IS IT?
Gasper and Casper are two English translations of the same ancient name.
Also C M B means CHRISTUS MANSIONEM BENEDICAT or Christ Bless this House.
we did this last year on the inside of the home. We would like to repeat it again this year but the chalk has not worn off. what is the procedure for wiping to bless 2018?
Kimberly, I do not believe there is a special procedure for wiping it off. I usually need to do so as well and just use a wet rag to remove the chalk. Then a dry cloth to dry the area. I do this the day before the blessing.
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