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Twelfth Night and the Feast of the Epiphany by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy The radiance of the light which has come to us at Christmas is so bright, the mystery so great, that we end our season of celebrations with a final, great day. Every major feast is heralded by a prelude which begins at sunset the evening before, just as the Jewish Sabbath is introduced at sunset. Twelfth night is the fifth of January and is the vigil of Epiphany. Epiphany (from Epiphania, Greek for: manifestation, revelation) is a feast older than Christmas. Many countries save their high feasting and gift-giving for Epiphany. The eastern Churches call Epiphany “Little Christmas,” through it is no way little in its breath and depth. And they have always celebrated it with wonderful festivity and special blessings and rites. On the feast of Epiphany we have revealed to us the other side of the mystery of the incarnation: this tiny helpless Child in the straw is also the God and ruler of our universe. All our Advent prayers of longing for a king and ruler have come true with a royal fullness on Epiphany. Beyond those simple people who happened to be in the area and who saw and recognized the wonder of this Child, beyond the provincial is the vision offered all the world and all peoples in the vision of those wise men who came from far-off lands to find him in a tiny town called Bethlehem. The Messiah was born for us all, Jew and Gentile. Twelfth Night provides a wonderful opportunity for a final and culminating celebration of Christmas in our homes. In many parts of Europe, this night is the traditional night for an annual blessing of the home. Chalk is used in this rite that has been blessed for this ceremony (Chalk will be blessed on Sunday, Jan. 1st and available for you to take home). A Blessing of Homes (The family and friends gather at the main door of the house for the blessing of the entryway.)
Leader: Peace be to this house. Leader: Three wise men came to Bethlehem to honor the Lord, and opening their treasure offered precious gifts: gold to the great king, incense to the true God and myrrh for Christ’s body which would suffer and die like our own. Let us pray. O God, you used the light of a star to show all nations and peoples your only-begotten Son. Allow us also, who know you by faith, to recognize you in the epiphanies of our life experiences. Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ born of Mary shines upon you. All: All nations will walk in your light and kings in the brilliance of your splendor. Leader: And the glory of the Lord is risen on you. Bless, O Lord, this household and family and allow all of us who live here to find in it a shelter of peace and health. Inspire each of us in this family to develop our individual talents and to contribute wisdom and good works for the benefit of the whole world. Make our house a haven for us all and a place of warmth and caring for all our friends who come to visit us. Enlighten us with the brilliance of your Epiphany star so that, as we leave house and family to go out into the world, we might clearly see our way to you and discover you in our work and play. This we ask to your glory and in the power of your kingship All: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory now and forever. Amen. House and family are blessed with holy water (an evergreen branch from the Christmas tree may be used) or with the sign of the cross. After the blessing, the initials of the legendary names of the Magi, Caspar, Melchoir and Balthazar are written with chalk on or over the main doors of the house and framed by the numbers of the New Year in this way: 20 + C + M + B + 06 (Because the names of the Wise Men are legendary, some have suggested that CMB could stand for Christe, Mansionem Benedica which means Christ, bless this house!). This rite is repeated for all the entryways. Individual rooms may be blessed as well using holy water or incense as desired. Once this action is completed, the family gathers back at the main entrance and recite together the Lord’s Prayer and then:
Leader: Lord Jesus, Son of God and Mary
Leader: Lord Jesus, Hope of the shepherds and the poor
Leader: Lord Jesus, Glory of the angels
Leader: Lord Jesus, Peace of the Magi
Leader: May the God of glory fill our hearts with peace and joy (The evening meal is then eaten. If desired, a “Kings’ Cake can be included, which is any cake with one dried lima bean. The person who finds it becomes king for a day with a royal paper crown. (Some glue the found bean on the paper crown as a “jewel.”) The crown is then fitted and the new king has the honor of ruling the house or the next 24 hours, choosing the menu and creating new “rules” to govern the house for the next 24 hours.) (Quoted and adapted from To Dance With God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson)
Copyright © 2006 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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