This blessing of the home and inscription of the initials of the three Magi above each door can be performed either by a priest or the father of the family. The feast of manifestation, or Epiphany, is traditionally celebrated the 12th day after Christmas.
On entering the home:
Priest, if present, or father of the family: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein. 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.
All pray the Magnificat: My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”
(During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed. 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, if present, or father of the family: Recite the Our Father…And lead us not into temptation
All: But deliver us from evil.
Priest, if present, or father of the family: All they from Saba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Priest, if present, or father of the family: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Priest, if present, or father of the family: 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, if present, or father of the family: 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, if present, or father of the family: 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 Ghost. 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, each room of the home is sprinkled with holy water and incensed. The initials of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, are inscribed above the doors with the blessed chalk.(Example: 20 + C + M + B + 12)