PRAYER TO THE THREE HOLY WISE MEN

Tradition says that the "Three Kings" were converted and became holy saints.

It is said that the Three Kings who traveled to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King were radically changed by the experience and abandoned their pagan ways. According to one account, the Magi traveled to India and were eventually baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle before their deaths.

Tradition has since held Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar as “saints,” and throughout the centuries various prayers have been composed to them. Below is one such prayer, part of a longer novena to the Magi that is often said in preparation for the feast of Epiphany.

O Holy Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Son of justice; obtain for me an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding, one day, the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy.

(Share your request …)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Prayer to the Infant Jesus:
Infant Jesus, meek and mild,
look on me a little child.
Pity mine and pity me,
suffer me to come to Thee.

Heart of Jesus, I adore Thee.
Heart of Mary, I implore Thee.
Heart of Joseph, pure and just.
In these three hearts, I put my trust.

Help us Joseph in our early strife,
ever to lead a pure and blameless life.

O, Holy Magi, Pray for Us

DEVOTION TO SAINT JOSEPH FOR PROTECTION

The devotion promises St. Joseph's "efficacious protection in life" when said with a contrite heart.

Among the many devotions in honor of St. Joseph, one that is not often mentioned is the tradition of the “Five Psalms.” The devotion can be found in the Raccolta, a collection of prayers that dates to the early 19th century.

Pope Pius VII authorized this custom in 1809 “to encourage Christian People to practice this devotion to St. Joseph, thereby to obtain his efficacious protection in life, and still more in death.”

It consists of saying the following Psalms, along with various antiphons, all with the intention of honoring St. Joseph.

Ant. Joseph virum Maria, de qua natus est Jesus, qui vocatur Christus (Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ).

Psalm 100

Ant. Joseph virum Maria, de qua natus est Jesus, qui vocatur Christus (Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ).

Ant. Joseph de domo David, et nomen Virginis Maria (Ant. In the name Joseph of the house of David, and the Virgin Mary).

Psalm 47

Ant. Joseph de domo David, et nomen Virginis Maria (Ant. In the name Joseph of the house of David, and the Virgin Mary).

Ant. Joseph vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere (Ant. Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to expose her).

Psalm 129

Ant. Joseph vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere (Ant. Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to expose her).

Ant. Joseph fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam (Ant. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife).

Psalm 81

Ant. Joseph fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam (Ant. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife).

Ant. Joseph exurgens a somno fecit, sicut praecepit ei angelus (Ant. And Joseph rising up from sleep did as the angel said.)

Psalm 87

Ant. Joseph exurgens a somno fecit, sicut praecepit ei angelus (Ant. And Joseph rising up from sleep did as the angel said.)

Then it concludes with the following prayer.

V. He made him lord over His house.
R. And prince of all that was His.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

There is also a hymn that concludes this devotion with the opening stanza.

Seek ye the grace of God,
And mercies from on high?
Invoke St. Joseph’s holy name,
And on his aid rely.

It is a rather unknown devotion of St. Joseph, but is one that draws a person deeper in relationship with God, through the example of St. Joseph.

THREE WISE MEN AND THE THREE GIFTS

Three Gifts – based on the gifts the Three Wise Men brought to baby Jesus.

Gold: symbolize something of value.  Something you really want.  Easy enough. 

Frankincense: symbolizes something spiritual.  Something that helps you grow in your spiritual walk.  We have used our “Family Gift” in this category as a way to foster our family time and quality time together.  Building in memories and opportunities for important conversations.

Myrrh: symbolizes something for the body.  Something you need.  This could be clothing, perfume, shoes…

*These are the general guidelines you could of course take it many different directions.  The goal after all is simplicity.Each year the kids also get to open a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve.  I started this tradition when they were babies and have kept it going.  I try to match as much as possible too, because that’s just what I like to do.  

What is one thing YOU really want this year?

SAY A PRAYER WHEN YOU TAKE DOWN THOSE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AWAY

Adapted from unknown author for the purpose of sharing to inspire others. May we live the grace of Christmas every day ..

Traditionally, Catholics do not take down their Christmas trees and holiday decorations until January 7, the day after Epiphany. The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day; the period before that is known as Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas end on Epiphany, the day that the three wise men came to pay homage to the child Jesus.

Catholics have different strategies for putting Christmas decorations away, but it is always a bittersweet day.Some choose the Octave Day of Christmas, January 1. Some choose the 12th day of Christmas, the eve of the Epiphany, or January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.Others wait all the way until the last feast of the infancy of Christ — the Presentation, February 2. Some families, on the last day of the liturgical Christmas Season, the feast of the Baptism of Christ (January 13 this year)Here is a prayer you can print it out and hung it as a reminder all year long.

Prayer for Putting Away Christmas Decorations

Lord Jesus, today we have put all of our Christmas decorations away. We are entering into Ordinary Time, and our house looks “ordinary” again, too.But Lord, you know and we know that our house has a secret. Deep inside it, all of our Christmas decorations are still here. The blessing of Christmas is always with us, kept in the deep, quiet places of the house.And Lord, our lives will become ordinary again, too, but you know that each of us has the grace of baptism. The grace you gave us is always with us, in the deep, quiet places of our soul.May we live the grace of Christmas every day, only without all the trappings: May we always give generously, receive gifts gratefully, welcome others, and study your life.Make our house be a home with Christmas at its core, and our souls a home where Jesus always dwells.Amen.

AN EPHIPANY HOUSE BLESSING- How to do it

It is a powerful blessing that lasts the whole year.

Each year around the feast of the Epiphany many parishes throughout the world participate in an annual blessing of chalk. It is an ancient tradition that not only places God at the entrance of your home, it places your entire family under his protection.

The Epiphany blessing of chalk and homes is a centuries old tradition where priests would visit each home in their parish after the Feast of the Epiphany. Over time it became more difficult to accomplish such a feat as parishes became larger and larger and priests were stretched thin. For this reason it became an accepted tradition that a member of the household is able to lead this blessing in place of the priest.

The blessing has biblical roots, deeply tied to the Passover in the book of Exodus.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt … “take some of the blood [of the lamb], and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it … The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (cf. Exodus 12:1-13)

The family gathers to ask God’s blessing on their home and on those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, 20 + C + M + B + 16. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2016 is the year.

Blessing the Chalk

V. Our help is the name of the Lord:

R. The maker of heaven and earth.

V. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:

R. From this time forth for evermore.

Let us pray.Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 16 while saying:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and fifteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

Then offer the following prayer: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus mansionem benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.”

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house and bless each room by sprinkling with Epiphany/holy water and incensing it.

Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for example

20 C+M+B 19

with the “20 “being the millennium and century, the “C” standing for the first Wise Man, Caspar, the “M” standing for Melchior, the “B” standing for Balthasar, and the “19” standing for the decade and year. It is also popularly believed that the Kings’ initials stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat” (“Christ bless this house”).

SAINT DAMASUS PRAYER

From the Decree of Damasus (attributed to Damasus):

The arrangement of the names of Christ, however, is manifold: Lord, because He is Spirit; Word, because He is God; Son, because He is the only-begotten son of the Father; Man, because He was born of the Virgin; Priest, because He offered Himself as a sacrifice; Shepherd, because He is a guardian; Worm, because He rose again; Mountain, because He is strong; Way, because there is a straight path through Him to life; Lamb, because He suffered; Corner-Stone, because instruction is His; Teacher, because He demonstrates how to live; Sun, because He is the illuminator; Truth, because He is from the Father; Life, because He is the creator; Bread because He is flesh; Samaritan, because He is the merciful protector; Christ, because He is anointed; Jesus, because He is a mediator; Vine, because we are redeemed by His blood; Lion, because he is king; Rock, because He is firm; Flower, because He is the chosen one; Prophet, because He has revealed what is to come.

From The Faith of the Early Fathers , by William A. Jurgens, Copyright 1970, the Order of St. Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota

In His Footsteps:

Damasus' love and respect for Scripture is shown in his authorization of the Vulgate translation. Spend 30 minutes today reading and meditating on Scripture. Try to make this a daily habit. One way to do this is keep a Bible open by your bedside and read it first thing in the morning and last thing before you turn out the light at night.

Prayer: Saint Damasus, instead of worrying about the short term of life on earth, you took God's view and looked to the things that last. Pray for me that I may be able to look beyond immediate popularity and fleeting favors, and choose to do the things that God wants me to do. Amen

WHAT IS THE BLACK NAZARENE?

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized image of a dark-

skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ carrying the Cross

enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the 

Black Nazarene in the Quiapo district of the City of 

Manila, Philippines. Wikipedia

Location: Quiapo, Manila, Philippines

Holy See approval: Pope Innocent X; Pope Pius VII