Liturgy Corner: Epiphany Traditions

In continuing our celebration of Christmas, we soon come to the great solemnity of the Epiphany!
 
Also known as “Twelfth Night”, “Theophany”, and “Three Kings’ Day”, it is known to many as the crown of the Christmas season, just as Pentecost serves to crown the Easter season.

This beautiful solemnity has an amazing significance for us, as no doubt you will hear about in the homilies and Masses, but it also has many local customs and variations associated with it. For example, in many countries, the day for giving gifts is not Christmas, but the Epiphany, in imitation of the Magi (which actually makes more sense). Some of the faithful also use this day to choose a Patron Saint for the year, to bake delightful foods (especially King Cake!), or for the men to give their wives a break by doing housework (good luck with that one). This is also a day for blessing many religious articles, including, of course, gold, frankincense, and myrrh; but, there are two particular blessings that we are excited to bring back this year here at Saint William — Blessed Chalk and Epiphany Water.
 
Blessed chalk—Many of you have become familiar with this, especially through our Faith Formation classes and its growing popularity. As you will see, the tradition consists of using the blessed chalk to write a blessing of protection over the outer doors of your home in honor of the Magi.
 
Epiphany water is one that is just recently making a comeback. It is one of the most powerful forms of holy water against evil (second only to the old Baptismal water in which the Holy Oils were poured, which is very hard to come by these days). This water takes at least a half hour to bless in a beautiful ceremony, and connects not with the Magi, but with the Baptism of the Lord, which is also part of the Epiphany celebration, especially in the Eastern Church from which this blessing is derived.
 
As such, this year we are happy to provide cards with a piece of the blessed chalk and a small vial of Epiphany water after the Masses on the weekend of January 7th. Since it is not possible for us Priests to visit everyone’s home, these can be used to bless your own homes for the year! In general, this should be done by the father of the house, or if this is not possible, by the oldest son or even the mother. The card will give you the directions—the vial of water will be small, so you can sprinkle it at the outer doors and the four corners of your home and/or property. But act quickly as we will only have 500 of them available. After that, you may need to share with your neighbors!

Furthermore, all of you are invited to the actual rite of blessing the chalk and Epiphany water on Saturday, January 6th, after the 8:30 am Mass. Feel free to bring your own bottles to fill up (as long as they are dignified— please no convenience store cups).

It is meaningful traditions like these that make me so happy to be a Catholic! Our Lord comes to us in tangible ways—ways that we can understand and experience with our senses. Let us continue to rejoice in our Lord’s birth in the flesh by sanctifying our own!

- Fr. Kyle



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Blessing of the Home & Household on Epiphany (.pdf) >>