AN ADVENT "CHRISTMAS CAROL" RETREAT - XVII
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With the coming of Epiphany (transferred by the bishops in the United States from January 6 to the first Sunday after January 1) there also comes the tradition of blessing homes.
Growing up in a Polish American home, it was the tradition in Polish American parishes for priests to conduct koledy, parish visits during January to all the homes of registered parishioners. In some ways, it was a parish census. It others, it was pastoral outreach, especially to those Catholics on the rolls but not in the pews. The latter was especially important when it also came to the children’s religious education (or lack thereof).
That tradition still continues in Poland. In the United States, such pastoral visitations have largely disappeared except on a voluntary basis, i.e., you calling the rectory and asking the priest to come and bless your home. This isn’t the place to go into the pastoral loss this change represents. Suffice it to say, however, that if your parish priest is receptive to scheduling a home blessing for you, avail yourself of the opportunity.
Where the opportunity does not exist, however, you can also conduct your own paraliturgical devotion asking for blessing upon your home. Traditionally, this involved the blessing of chalk in your local church, which parishioners then took home. (In Poland, some parishes will give you a little box with a piece of chalk, some incense, and maybe even a grain or two of myrrh to take home).
After prayer (a model can be found here) the chalk is used to inscribe above the main door of the house “20 C+M+B+26” – three crosses, the year, and the initials of the traditional names of the three kings – C(aspar), M(elchior), and B(althasar). In Polish homes, where parishes supply the box described above, the incense can be burned. If you have holy water (and you should) sprinkle it at the door and around the home. In some parishes, especially Slavic or Eastern Christian parishes, there is also often a blessing of “Epiphany water” at this time of year. (It’s why, in Russia and other Orthodox countries, you see some Christians making holes in ice-bound lakes and rivers and taking an early January plunge). I recommend also reciting the St. Michael Prayer (“St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle ….”)
Our homes are where we spend a lot of time, the most important time connected with people’s religious formation. The Church speaks of the home as an ecclesiola, a miniature Church. It’s why it’s also a place the devil wants to assault and into which he wishes to worm his way, if not through the front door then through more modern avenues, e.g., your WiFi.
As we begin a new year, it’s time to fortify your domestic fortress with the mighty fortress who is our God.
John Grondelski (PhD Fordham) was former associate dean of the School of Theology, Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He is a Catholic theologian with special interests in moral theology and the thought of St. John Paul II. All views are his own.
