With the solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany, the Church recalls the manifestation of Christ to the nations, represented by the Magi from the East who came to Bethlehem to adore the Child God. In this liturgical context, an ancient Catholic custom is kept alive: the blessing of the home through the inscription of the letters C, M, and B along with the year on the main door of the house.
It is not uncommon to find, especially in countries with a Catholic tradition, a series of letters and numbers written with chalk above the door lintels. Far from being a decoration or an arbitrary formula, this sign holds a profound spiritual meaning. In the year 2026, the corresponding inscription is:
20 + C + M + B + 26
The letters C, M, and B refer, on one hand, to the traditional names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchor, and Baltasar. But, in addition, they have a properly Christian meaning that is deeper, as they correspond to the Latin expression Christus mansionem benedicat, that is: «May Christ bless this house».
The practice of blessing the home on Epiphany is a concrete way of publicly recognizing Christ’s lordship over family life and of entrusting the house and those who inhabit it to divine protection at the beginning of the year. For this reason, many parishes provide the faithful with the necessary elements—chalk, holy water, and the text of the prayers—so that each family can perform the blessing in their own home.
The home blessing on this date is a tradition particularly rooted in Poland and other Eastern European countries, but over time it has spread widely and has been regaining presence in other places as well, where more and more Catholic families practice it.
The rite of the home blessing
All family members gather in front of the main door of the house and make the sign of the cross. Then this prayer is pronounced:
Monitor: Peace to this house.
All: And to all who dwell in it.
Monitor: From the East came the Magi Kings 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 as a symbol of his burial.
All enter the house and read the Magnificat, the hymn of praise of the Virgin Mary after the greeting to her cousin Elizabeth. At that moment, the door is sprinkled with holy water. After that, they continue:
All: From the East came the Magi Kings 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 as a symbol of his burial.
Monitor: 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 us not into temptation…
All: But deliver us from evil.
Monitor: All from Sheba will come.
All: Bringing gold and incense.
Monitor: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come to you.
Monitor: O God, who on this day by the guidance of a star manifested your only begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that those who know you by faith may also attain the vision of your glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Monitor: Arise, shine, O Jerusalem, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you: Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in your light and kings in the brightness of your rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Monitor: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God Almighty, this home, so that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of your law, thanksgiving to God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell in it. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
After the prayer, they walk through the house sprinkling holy water in each room. Then the letters C, M, B joined by crosses are written on the main door, flanked by the numbers of the year.
Prayers taken from Aciprensa