This is a traditional activity used to mark Epiphany, the day when we celebrate the wise men visiting Jesus.
It’s really simple: all you need is some chalk, and you write the following letters and numbers over your door as a prayer asking God to bless your home.
This year (2022), we’ll be writing: 20 +C + M + B + 22
Part of it’s appeal is the slightly cryptic, secret nature of of the prayer, but it’s really quite simple:
The numbers represent the current year, with the first two at the beginning and the last two at the end. In this way, it’s a great way to bless our homes at the beginning of a new year. Instead of doing resolutions, we are reminding ourselves that our home is a place where God lives with us, and that we live under his protection and provision.
The letters stand for the first letters of the traditional names of the magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. The letters are also an abbreviation for “Christus Mansionem Benedicat,” Latin for “May Christ bless this home.”
You can write the prayer in chalk and leave it at that, although you might want to add a spoken prayer as well.
I like something really simple such as:
“God bless this home, all who live here and all who visit this year.”
You can find some other more expansive options here and here, with printable cards available from Mina Munns at Flame.
I love how this reminds me of the blood the Israelites put on their door posts on the night of Passover, as well as serving as a reminder each time we go in or out of our home, like a mezuzah which is based on God’s command to his people in Deuteronomy 6:9.
Physical symbols are a simple and accessible to live our faith at home. I hope you’ll enjoying doing this.
PS If you’d like to use the balloons and bubbles to pray too, you could try Bubbles Blessing and Balloon prayers