Fr. Hewko: Blessed Epiphany Chalk available
Jan 7, 2020 19:12:17 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2020 19:12:17 GMT
If anyone would like a small piece of blessed Epiphany Chalk with which to bless your houses with [see Epiphany Traditions, here], please write to the sorrowfulheartofmary@gmail.com with your name and mailing address and it will be shipped to you. Domestic [U.S.] addresses only please at this time.
God bless and a holy Christmastide to you all.
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From the above link on Epiphany Traditions:
Blessed Epiphany Chalk
Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for ex.:
+ 20 + C + M + B + 20 +
with the "20 "being the millennium and century, the "C" standing for the first Wise Man, Caspar [sometimes also written with a "G" for Gaspar, they are considered interchangeable for this saint], the "M" standing for Melchior, the "B" standing for Balthasar, and the "20" standing for the decade and year. It is also popularly believed that the Kings' initials also stand for "Christus mansionem benedicat" ("Christ bless this house").
These initials over our doorway serve to remind us of Who the Magi saw and how they saw Him. They remind us to adore Him as they did. The chalk markings remain over the door 'til Pentecost.
It is a popular custom among some people that all who enter or re-enter their home for the first time after the blessing should step with their right foot across the threshold so as to start things off "on the right foot."