Chalk One Up for Epiphany

Chalk One Up for Epiphany

There is a tradition of house blessing on Epiphany (January 6).  This morning as we went into a Program Staff meeting we took time to bless Woodsworth House, the place where we work and play and where students come to learn.

We marked the doorway with chalk – the substance of earth, used by teachers to instruct and by children to play – making traditional symbols.  The letters C, M, and B represent the three Wise Ones: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, who followed the star to the feet of Jesus, the Incarnate one.  The numbers represent the year (20 15).  The crosses (in roughly the four corners of the door) are an invitation for Christ to bless our space and remain with us throughout the year.

The letters C M B on the door can also stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat – Latin for “May Christ bless this house.”

We said: “May all who come to our place of work this year rejoice to find Christ among us; and may be seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever.  Amen.”

Chalk house blessing

“Write [the words of God] on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house … and you shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”  – Deuteronomy 6:9