Chalking the Door at Epiphany and the New Year

 

Chalking of the Door

Epiphany 2024, at Holy Trinity Church, Westport

There is a wonderful and very old Christian tradition, in which we ask for God’s blessing on our churches and homes by marking the doorpost or lintel with chalk which has been blessed for that purpose. We plan to carry out this simple ceremony in those of our churches in the Aughaval Group which have services this Epiphany weekend (- service times below). 

The doors are chalked with the initials of the legendary names of the three Magi, or Wisemen - Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar – and the numerals of the New Year, connected with a series of crosses, the plus sign in Mathematics. The initials C, M, and B remind us of the magi who searched for Jesus, the newborn king. The letters also stand for the prayer-request in Latin:

            Christus Mansionem Benedicat: “May Christ bless this house.” 

 

This year and in this tradition, the doorpost is marked as follows: 

                        20+C+M+B+25                       (or MM+C+M+B+XXV)

This ritual, of marking the lintel or doorpost in this way, can be performed on a church or a family home. The congregation, or family, gathers together around the main door, and the minister or priest, or a member of the household, does the chalking, repeating prayerful words such as these: 

 

“As the three Wise Men followed the star of God’s Son who became man, 

may Christ bless our church/ home and remain with us through the New Year.” 

 

An alternative is that the full names of the Magi are written, with a small crown above each one. 

 

This Epiphany ceremony is a simple but meaningful act of witness to friends and strangers who cross the threshold of our homes in the course of the year. It says to all who come to our door, if they should ask the meaning of the symbols, that we believe in Jesus Christ. It reminds us that as Christians we are to be willing to offer kindness, hospitality and shelter to others, and especially to all who are seeking the Lord Jesus.//

You can read more about this tradition here: 

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/26-february/regulars/out-of-the-question/custom-of-blessing-chalk-at-epiphany#:~:text=This%20Epiphany%20ceremony%20is%20a,are%20seeking%20the%20Lord's%20Christ.

Perhaps you and your family will chalk the door of your house this year, 2025?

Services this weekend are as follows: 

Turlough, 7pm on Saturday 4 Jan.

Castlebar, 10am on Sunday 5 Jan.

Westport, 11.30am on Sunday 5 Jan.