Wise Men still seek Him

On Sunday coming home from Mass, both Patrick and I complained, "Oh shoot! We forgot to buy the chalk!"

We dashed over to my parents' house, in hopes of finding some, but there was none to be found. Since we don't go shopping on Sundays unless absolutely necessary, we were chalk-less on Sunday.

Why, pray tell, would I want chalk?

Because Sunday was the feast of the Epiphany (in Canada, at least), and it's traditionally the day for the blessing of the homes.

We heard of this tradition originally through Madonna House, and our very Madonna House-oriented friends. Something just seized me about it's beauty and simplicity.

Christmas, despite our best efforts to be as un-commercialized as possible, is still a really noisy busy day. We were very blessed to exchange much simpler gifts with our family -- we were given especially thoughtful homemade gifts from my sister! -- and our day was pared down to only one turkey dinner this year, instead of two (yes, we have eaten two turkey dinners back-to-back several years in a row, to include both families... It has always resulted in a painful night for my poor stomach and wondering how I will ever eat again... {only to wake up the next morning and reach for the Toffifee}).

But still, there is a sense of rush on Christmas day for us -- presents, presents, eating, eating, going from one family get-together to the next.

So I love Epiphany. It's what our parish priest this Sunday referred to us "a second chance to make it a Christ-centred Christmas." Isn't that beautiful? At Epiphany, we join the Wise Men in adoring our Infant Child. Nothing more, nothing less.

Since there isn't the usual trappings of Christmas busy-ness, we pause for a moment of silent thanksgiving and awe at the cradle of our newborn God. Like Mary, we can simple ponder these things in our heart.

So this chalk we were seeking was for writing the house blessing on the doorway, as a way of begging God at the beginning of this New Year to bless our home, and all who will enter it.

Since we were without the chalk, we waited until today, what is celebrated as Epiphany in the rest of the world, to do the house blessing.


My parents came to join us, and it felt really festive. Patrick led the prayers and marked the blessing on the lintel, and Noah, who should have been in bed about an hour earlier but wasn't going to sleep with any success, was awake for it too. I'm actually glad now that he was, because it is really for him that we honour these traditions -- to raise him in a household where faith permeates the way we live.


You can't make this out because I am a terrible photographer but it says: +20+C+M+B+10
It's this year of Our Lord surrounding the initials of the the Three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar). Alternatively, it's an abbreviation of the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat. (Christ bless this home)


After we blessed the home, we ate gingerbread and whipped cream (thanks to my mom... mmm) and then received our gifts from the Christ Child.

This tradition, I think, is connected to Madonna House too; I can't say for sure though.

The idea is this:

Someone writes out various spiritual gifts (virtues, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, etc.) on pieces of paper, and then an opening prayer is said, and everyone draws one from a hat. This gift is what the Christ Child wishes to give us for the new year. So it acts as both a consolation that we can hope to grow in one area this year, and an impetus to actually work on that gift or virtue.

{Wouldn't it have been nice if I had drawn "time management"? Ha ha. Alas, that wasn't in the basket.}

I drew "Righteousness" with an accompanying Scripture about how St. Joseph was a just man. I suppose I need to pray to him to emulate this virtue.

All in all it was such a beautiful evening for our family!