From the Desk of the Chaplain: Epiphany

From the monthly email circular of the English-speaking Chaplain of the Confranterity of St. Peter, Rev. Fr. J. Fryar FSSP:

Dear Member of the Confraternity,

It has been a while since I was able to send out an email. This is the time of year that I travel to the corners of the vast boundaries of the FSSP apostolate in Florida to bless the homes of our parishioners with the Epiphany Blessing.

The Epiphany Blessing is truly inspiring and definitely one of the greatest protections we can provide for our homes. On the evening before Epiphany, the priest will spend 45 minutes blessing special Holy Water, that can only be blessed on that day, with a prolonged public chanted exorcism. Then incense and chalk is blessed with specific blessings.

After, the custom varies from parish to parish. Some priests, because of the distance and quantity of homes, bless them all at once from the church. But for those who are fortunate to have the priest come to their home, the ceremony is quite impressive. The priest arrives, begins to recite the Magnificat and the Antiphon from the Divine Office of the Feast of the Epiphany. Then he proceeds to douse the house with the specially exercised Holy Water, and spread incense throughout the house. That incense will linger in the house and can often be smelt several days later.

Then the prayers continue. What is beautiful about the blessing is that it is no longer asking to rid the home of evil spirits, as that was done when the Holy Water was blessed, but rather to fill the home with so many good petitions: health, chastity, the victory of virtue, humility, goodness, meekness. It asked God to grant that the Commandments be always followed, and that the blessing remain in the home forever.

Then the chalk is used to write an inscription on the door post, so that the home can be distinguished like the blood on the doorposts of the homes of the Israelites. This distinguishing mark is the initials of the Three Kings - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, framed with the year: 20+C+M+B+12. With a play on Latin words, the inscription can also read Christus Mansionem Benedicat - May Christ bless this home.

Finally a prayer may be included that is such a beautiful prayer: "May the door of this home be wide enough to receive all who need charity and companionship... narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife... May its threshold be no stumbling block to children nor to straying feet... may it be rugged and strong enough to turn back the Tempter's power."

Our home is the sanctuary where we spend most of the time preparing for our future home, God willing, in Heaven. It is here that we learn virtue. It is here where we are tempted. It is here where we study our faith. It is here where we waste our time. The home is a sanctuary where the world should find no admittance, and where the angels and saints should be welcomed to teach us and guide us to our Heavenly Home. People invest in good locks to secure their home and alarm systems to protect from potential theft or violent intruders. But our homes should also be secured by blessing from the attacks of the Enemy who will break in to our home to steal our souls from Everlasting Life. The Enemy spends a lot of time in homes. In an occasional home he will haunt and make noise. But that is so rare that it's almost just a thing from the movies. Far more often he will be hidden in the home, not making noise, but seeding discontent, rebellion, hatred, anger, impurities, disobedience, pride, and the list goes on. If he makes noise we immediately panic. But we let him live under our roof tempting us at full volume and don't even notice, nor do we care.

I know, I should have sent this email before the Feast of the Epiphany, not after the fact. But if you have not had your house blessed, ever, maybe you should just give up locking your doors or something! Because the greatest Enemy of your family is finding himself quite welcome and comfortable. Or better, ask your priest, when he is able, to come and bless your home. There are other blessings beside the Epiphany Blessing that can be given to the home throughout the year, to protect you and make your home the sanctuary where your family can grow in the path to holiness and prepare for their true home in Heaven.

In the next few months I will be traveling to give conferences on the Confraternity of St. Peter. I will be in Atlanta GA, at the FSSP parish of St. Francis de Sales, on Sunday February 12th. Then on Saturday, March 31st I will be giving a Recollection at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Pequannock NJ. We will announce others as they are planned. If there are enough people in your area and you would like for me to come and give a Recollection or a Mission, ask your pastor if he will consider inviting me. I will be happy to come.