Epiphany House Blessing

 It is a beautiful blessing, one that brings many graces upon those who practice it in faith and is an added protection against any spiritual enemies that may be lurking around.

How to bless your home with Epiphany chalk

Once you acquire the blessed chalk, either a priest or another member of the household can bless the home in the following manner (adapted from the Roman Ritual):

Upon entering the house [or at the front door]:

Priest/Head of Household: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Priest: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

All: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

After this is completed:

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Priest: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Priest: All they from Saba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Priest: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Priest:
Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Priest: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Priest: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house and bless each room by sprinkling with Epiphany/holy water and incensing it.

Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for example

20 C+M+B 2x

with the “20 “being the millennium and century, the “C” standing for the first Wise Man, Caspar, the “M” standing for Melchior, the “B” standing for Balthasar, and the “2x” standing for the decade and year, for example ’23, ’24, ’25, etc. 

It is also popularly believed that the Kings’ initials stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat” (“Christ bless this house”).

Isn’t It Time Yet, Lord?

Borrowed inspiration from Undaunted Disciple-

 Have you ever felt like time was playing a cruel trick on you?

Days stretch into weeks,

prayers seem to echo unanswered,

and a longing for something whispers,

"ISN'T IT TIME YET, LORD?"

In these moments, it's easy to fall into the trap of impatience, of projecting our own timelines onto God's grand tapestry.

But here's the beautiful truth: 

God's timing isn't a ticking clock,

it's a symphony of grace playing out

in His perfect rhythm.

He doesn't operate on our human deadlines,

He is never bound by the limitations of our calendars.

His plans unfold in a way that transcends our understanding, 

weaving together threads of love, patience, and purpose

into a masterpiece that only He can see.

Litany of the Saints

 Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.                          

Christ, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us. 

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.    

God, the Father of Heaven,have mercy on us. 

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,have mercy on us. 

God the Holy Spirit,have mercy on us. 

Holy Trinity, one God,have mercy on us.    

Holy Mary,pray for us. 

Holy Mother of God,pray for us. 

Holy Virgin of Virgins,pray for us. 

St. Michael,pray for us. 

St. Gabriel,pray for us. 

St. Raphael,pray for us. 

All you Holy Angels and Archangelspray for us. 

St. John the Baptist,pray for us. 

St. Joseph,pray for us. 

All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets,pray for us.    

St. Peter,pray for us. 

St. Paul,pray for us. 

St. Andrew,pray for us. 

St. James,pray for us. 

St. John,pray for us. 

St. Thomas,pray for us. 

St. James,pray for us. 

St. Philip,pray for us. 

St. Bartholomew,pray for us. 

St. Matthew,pray for us. 

St. Simon,pray for us. 

St. Jude,pray for us. 

St. Matthias,pray for us. 

St. Barnabas,pray for us. 

St. Luke,pray for us. 

St. Mark,pray for us. 

All you Holy Apostles and Evangelists,pray for us. 

All you Holy Disciples of the Lord,pray for us.

 All you Holy Innocents,pray for us.    

St. Stephen,pray for us. 

St. Lawrence,pray for us. 

St. Vincent,pray for us. 

St. Fabian and Sebastian,pray for us. 

St. John and Paul,pray for us. 

St. Cosmas and Damian,pray for us. 

All you Holy Martyrs,pray for us.    

St. Sylvester,pray for us. 

St. Gregory,pray for us. 

St. Ambrose,pray for us. 

St. Augustine,pray for us. 

St. Jerome,pray for us. 

St. Martin,pray for us. 

St. Nicholas,pray for us. 

St. John Paul, pray for us

All you Holy Bishops and Confessors,pray for us. 

All you Holy Doctors,pray for us.    

St. Anthony,pray for us. 

St. Benedict,pray for us. 

St. Bernard,pray for us. 

St. Dominic,pray for us. 

St. Francis,pray for us. 

St. Victor, pray for us

St. Patrick, pray for us

St. Pio, pray for us

St. Cajetan, pray for us

St. Gerard, pray for us

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us 

All you Holy Priests and Levites,pray for us. 

All you Holy Monks and Hermits,pray for us.   

 St. Mary Magdalene,pray for us. 

St. Agatha,pray for us. 

St. Lucy,pray for us. 

St. Agnes,pray for us. 

St. Cecilia,pray for us. 

St. Anastasia,pray for us. 

St. Catherine,pray for us. 

St. Clare,pray for us. 

St. Anne, pray for us

St. Therese, pray for us

St. Rita, pray for us

St. Monica, pray for us

St. Teresa, pray for us

St. Faustina, pray for us

St. Bernadette, pray for us

St. Kateri, pray for us

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us 

All you Holy Virgins and Widows,pray for us. 

All you Holy Saints of God,pray for us.    

Lord, be merciful,Lord, save your people. 

From all evil,Lord, save your people. 

From all sin,Lord, save your people.

 From your wrath,Lord, save your people. 

From a sudden and unprovided death,Lord, save your people.

 From the snares of the devil,Lord, save your people. 

From anger, hatred and all ill-will,Lord, save your people. 

From the spirit of uncleanness,Lord, save your people. 

From lightning and tempest,Lord, save your people. 

From the scourge of earthquake,Lord, save your people.

 From plague, famine and war,Lord, save your people. 

From everlasting death,Lord, save your people. 

By the mystery of your Holy Incarnation,Lord, save your people.

 By Your Coming,Lord, save your people. 

By Your Birth,Lord, save your people. 

By Your Baptism and Holy Fasting,Lord, save your people. 

By Your Cross and Passion,Lord, save your people. 

By Your Death and Burial,Lord, save your people. 

By Your Holy Resurrection,Lord, save your people. 

By Your wonderful Ascension,Lord, save your people. 

By the coming of the Holy Spirit,Lord, save your people. 

On the Day of Judgment,Lord, save your people.    

Be merciful to us sinners,Lord, hear our prayer. 

That you will spare us,Lord, hear our prayer. 

That you will pardon us,Lord, hear our prayer. 

That it may please you to bring us to true penance,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Guide and protect your holy Church,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all those in holy Orders,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Humble the enemies of holy Church,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Give peace and unity to the whole Christian people,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Bring back to the unity of the Church all those who are straying, and bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Strengthen and preserve us in your holy service,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Raise our minds to desire the things of heaven,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reward all our benefactors with eternal blessings,Lord, hear our prayer.

 Deliver our souls from eternal damnation, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Give and preserve the fruits of the earth,Lord, hear our prayer. 

Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,Lord, hear our prayer. 

That it may please You to hear and heed us, Jesus, Son of the Living God,Lord, hear our prayer.   

 Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,spare us, O Lord! 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,graciously hear us, O Lord! 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,Have mercy on us.    

Christ, hear us,Christ, graciously hear us 

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. 

Lord, have mercy on us

Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, have mercy on us             

Christ, have mercy on us. 

Lord, have mercy on us

Lord, have mercy on us

Prayer by Thomas Merton

 My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone

Psalm 139

 O LorD, you have probed me and you know me;

 you know when I sit and when I stand; 

you understand my thoughts from afar,

 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. 

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know the whole of it.

Behind me and before, you hem me in and rest your hand upon me

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too lofty for me to attain. 

A Mother’s Prayer to St. Rose of Lima

 St. Rose, devout Virgin, fragrant rose in the garden of God, sweetly blooming amid the thorns of distressing tribulation and severe mortification, white as snow in the immaculate innocence of your heart, glowing in the love of God that consumed you.

Your devotedness to your parents was so great that you labored night and day to relieve their poverty, and most tenderly cared for them in their sickness.

Most grateful, most humble daughter, have pity on me and my children. Teach me, by conduct truly Christian, to deserve the warmhearted gratitude of my children. Teach my children to appreciate my love and the numerous sacrifices that I cheerfully make for their sake; teach them to repay the same by filial love and obedience, and chiefly by fervent prayers for me.

Bless me and my entire family. May our hearts be intimately united even in adversity. Let us not place our happiness in temporal prosperity, but rather in the hope of a future eternal blessedness.

Pray, likewise, O sainted patroness of America, for all Christian mothers in particular, that Christian life and sentiments may everywhere be awakened among them. May these sentiments spread far and wide, uniting all families into the one great family of God, in which Jesus Christ may live and rule with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX NOVENA

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 1

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, you blessed St. Therese with a capacity for a great love. Help me to believe in your unconditional love for each of your children, especially for me.

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 2

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, you loved St. Therese’s complete trust in your care. Help me to rely on your providential care in each circumstance of my life, especially the most difficult and stressful.

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 3

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, you gave St. Therese the ability to see You in the ordinary routine of each day. Help me to be aware of your presence in the everyday events of my life.

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 4

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, You taught St. Therese how to find You through the “little way” of humility and simplicity. Grant that I may never miss the grace hidden in humble service to others.

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 5

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, You gave St. Therese the gift of forgiving others even when she felt hurt and betrayed. Help me to be able to forgive others who have wounded me, especially…

I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 6

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, St. Therese experienced every day as a gift from You. She saw it as a time to love You through other people. May I, too, see every day as an opportunity to say yes to You.

I accept your will, Lord. Help me to accept your will every day!

I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 7

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, St. Therese offered to You her weakness. Help me to see in my weakness an opportunity to rely completely on you.

I rely on you, Lord. Help me to rely on you more!

I accept your will, Lord. Help me to accept your will every day!

I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 8

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, You loved St. Therese with a powerful love and made her a source of strength to those who had lost faith in You. Help me to pray with confidence for those in my life who do not believe they can be loved.

I reflect you to the world, Lord. Help me to reflect you more clearly!

I rely on you, Lord. Help me to rely on you more!

I accept your will, Lord. Help me to accept your will every day!

I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

ST. THERESE NOVENA – DAY 9

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intention clearly and confidently)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, St. Therese never doubted that her life had meaning. Help me to see how I can bless and love everyone in my life. Especially…

I love your people, Lord. Help me to love them more!

I reflect you to the world, Lord. Help me to reflect you more clearly!

I rely on you, Lord. Help me to rely on you more!

I accept your will, Lord. Help me to accept your will every day!

I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!

I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!

I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!

I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.