In the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” (the Joy of Love), Pope Francis reminds us that “a family’s living space could turn into a domestic church, a setting for the Eucharist, the presence of Christ seated at its table.” The Holy Father goes on to remind us of the Lord’s promise: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Rev. 3:20). As we open our calendars to another year, we turn toward the Lord in thanksgiving for our many blessings and ask for God’s grace to be upon our families and our homes … our little domestic churches.

One beautiful way to consecrate our homes to the Lord is pray together the traditional house blessing ceremony on Epiphany (Jan. 6) while “chalking the door” with the numerals of the coming year separated by the letters C, M, and B. The letters, which are for the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house) also represent the first initials of the wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The + signs represent the cross. This year, the blessing would be: 20+C+M+B+18.

This ancient blessing is an invitation for the Lord who is knocking at our doors, to be a guest in our home each day while we ask God to bless our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, as well as our joys and sorrows.

The tradition of marking the doorway of a home is rooted in the Old Testament. God commands the Israelites, “Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.  Take to heart these words which I command you today … write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 9).

As we seek to offer our whole hearts to the Lord this year, let God’s blessing be upon us that we may be nourished and strengthened within our homes. Then, just as the wise men poured out their gifts before the Lord on his humble manger bed, may the love and faith of our families be poured out to the world around us, in desperate need of the Savior’s love.

Join a Vermont family asking the Lord’s blessing on their home in the first of a monthly video series to celebrate the Diocesan Year of the Family at vermontcatholic.org/vcm. Then, download the accompanying activity sheet to pray the Epiphany Home Blessing with your family!

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Ann Gonyaw, her husband and three children are members of Mater Dei Parish in Newport, where Ann serves as the Director of Catholic Formation.

This article was first published in the January 6-12 issue of The Inland See bulletin.