They entered and found Him as a child as He dwelt in the house of the lowly woman; and they drew near and worshipped with gladness, and brought near before Him their treasures. ~Hymn XV for the Epiphany written by St. Ephraem

Dad marked the lintel of the two main entries into our home with the Epiphany Chalk Blessing on the feast of The Epiphany of Our Lord. 

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Epiphany Chalk Blessing

The lintel of the main door of the house is marked with blessed chalk by the father of the household in the following manner:

20+C+M+B+13 (the suffix of the current year) while saying the following prayer:

• The Three Wise Men
• C  Caspar
• M  Melchior
• B  & Balthasaar, followed the star of God’s Son who became Man
• 20 Two-thousand
• 13 and thirteen years ago
• + May Christ
• + Bless our home
• + and remain with us
• + through the new year.

Almighty God, incline Thine ear.  Bless us and all who are gathered here.  Send Thy holy angel who will defend us, and fill with grace all who dwell here.  Amen

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O my Jesus, while I beg You to reveal Yourself to the world, I also beseech You to reveal Yourself more and more to my poor soul. Let Your star shine for me today, and point out to me the road which leads directly to You! May this day be a real Epiphany for me, a new manifestation to my mind and heart of Your great Majesty. He who knows You more, loves You more, O Lord; and I want to know You solely in order to love You, to give myself to You with ever greater generosity. ~Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, OCD

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The no-grain chocolate chip muffins (and cookies not pictured) are my family’s take on a King’s Cake.  It is a sweet treat (made with honey, almond flour, and coconut milk) that fits into our dietary plan.  The semi-sweet chocolate chips take the place of a bean or token.  Each family member became king/queen for the day and one request for each member was honored.

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O holy Magi, who were first among the Gentiles called to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who persevered in the faith till your deaths, obtain for us of the Lord the grace of living always in conformity to our baptismal vows, ever leading to a life of faith; that like you we may attain to the beatific vision of that God Who now is the object of our faith. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. ~Novena to Magi – Jan. 5

reposted with updates from 1.6.12

Omnes de Saba venient
aurum et thus deferentes
et laudem Domino annuntiantes.
Alleluja.

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE

January 6

The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” The Church in the Mass commemorates a triple manifestation of Christ: to the Magi, that is, to the Gentiles; in His Baptism, when the Voice from heaven declared: “This is My beloved Son”; and in the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana.

The mystery of the Christ-birth is a rich and glorious beginning, splendid with promise. Today we worship a partial fulfillment when Jesus, as an Infant King, is manifested to wise men of the Gentile world and through them to all peoples. His royalty is neither frightening nor pompous, for the kingly majesty of the sovereign Redeemer is robed in babyhood. Coming in the simplicity of true greatness, Jesus makes Himself acceptable and at home to the little and the great of every nation under heaven.

How can we bring similar offerings to Christ?

We offer gold to Him, when we love Him with our whole heart, and out of love to Him, present Him our will by perfect obedience and continual self-denial, as our will is our most precious treasure. We also offer Him gold when we assist the poor by alms given in His name. We offer Him frankincense when we devoutly and ardently pray to Him, especially when we meditate upon His omnipotence, love, goodness, justice and mercy. We offer Him myrrh when we avoid carnal desires, mortify our evil inclinations and passions, and strive for purity of body and soul.

~ The Church’s Year by Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s

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Litany

(from Christmas to Epiphany)

….O Blessed parents of the Infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph,we humbly and earnestly implore you to beg for us, at the crib of your Infant Son, that like Him and as His true and faithful followers, we may love to live in true humility, disengagement from creatures, contempt of the world and it’s vanities, constant recollection of the holy presence of God, fervour and fidelity in all of our duties, and in the practice of the tenderest charity to all persons.  May we never blush at the humility of the crib, nor at the poverty  and simplicity of Bethlehem.  May we ever rejoice at our happy lot as children of the true Church; ever in tender charity look with a compassionate eye on those who live but for this world; and continually pray that all may come to bless, to praise and to love the Saviour, who comes to redeem them…Amen

~Excerpt from the Litany from Christmas to Epiphany, taken from the MC & LMC Prayer Book.

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Found on the ChantBlog.

Resources:

• Vigil & Feast of the Epiphany – The Church’s Year by Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s
• Latin Mass Propers Online
• In Epiphania Domini – Gregorian Chant Propers
• More on Epiphany from Fr. Z
• The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles – Full Homely Divinity
• Meditation On The Epiphany OF Our Lord – JOYfilledfamily
• Epiphany Feast Day – JOYfilledfamily
• The Fairy Tale Christmas: EF Epiphany – ad Altare Dei

• Additional Epiphany Resources – Sanctus Simplicitus
• Epiphany Ceremony Printable – Family Feast and Feria
• Twelfth Night & Epiphany Reflections – Fisheaters
• The Gospels of Epiphany, part 1, and part 2 – New Liturgical Movement

• Novena to the Magi in anticipation of the Epiphany – This Novena is especially prayed beginning on 28 December (the Feast of the Holy Innocents) and ending on 5 January (the Vigil of the Epiphany).

Kids:

• Epiphany Icon Coloring Page – St. John the Baptist Religious Ed
• Three Great Kings Music & Coloring Page – Making Music Praying Twice
• Epiphany Crafts & Activities – Catholic Inspired

Food:

• Epiphany Cake – Pioneer Woman
• Epiphany Treats & Meals – Catholic Cuisine

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Found on the ChantBlog with additional Epiphany resources.

All they from Saba will come,
bringing gold and frankincense,
and announcing the praise of the Lord.
Alleluia.

~Gradual for The Feast of the Epiphany. The text is from Isaiah 60:6