Chalking the door

The Feast of the Epiphany, on January 6, marks the occasion of an ancient Christian tradition called “chalking the doors.” 

The ritual is simple: we take chalk (of any color!) and inscribe on the lintels of the entrances to our homes the following: “20 + C + M + B + 21.” The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi, the Three Kings — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar— who journeyed from the far east to Bethlehem of Judea to offer gifts to the newborn Jesus in his first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross of our Lord, and the “20” at the beginning and the “21” at the end designate the year of our Lord.  

We mark this inscription as a prayer at the outset of the year for the grace and love of Christ to rest on our homes, for Christ himself to dwell with us during the year ahead, and to give us and all those who enter our homes his divine protection and gracious favor. What more important thing to do this year, when we are spending so much more time in our homes and seeing fewer family members, friends and loved ones? And so, we keep the faith alive and offer continual thanks for the gift of Christ’s loving and watchful presence.

Small packets of blessed chalk and a brief order of service to pray at home will be available to pick up outside the parish office this coming week on Tuesday the 12th and Thursday the 14th, from 9:00am-12:00pm. For more information, please contact Fr Peter Helman, Parochial Vicar (peter.helman@stphilipstucson.org; 520-299-6421, ext. 133). An instructive video will livestream on Facebook and Saint Philip’s website at 1:15pm after the noonday mass on Monday, January 11.