Blessing in Homes at Epiphany

Where it is customary to invite the parish priest to the homes of

parishioners on the Feast of the Epiphany or during the week following,

this blessing may be used.

The Celebrant begins with the following or some other greeting

Peace be to this house, and to all who dwell in it.

The Magnificat is then sung or said with one of the following antiphons:

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

or this

I saw water proceeding out of the temple; from the right side

it flowed, alleluia; and all those to whom that water came

shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *

in every generation.

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He has shown the strength of his arm, *

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The antiphon is then repeated.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

The Celebrant says one of the following Collects:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only

Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now

by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face

to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for

ever. Amen.

or this

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River

Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him

with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his

Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly

confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy

Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

48 Blessing at Epiphany

The Celebrant then says this prayer

Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your

presence, Bless all who live here with the gift of your love;

and grant that they may manifest your love [to each other

and] to all whose lives they touch. May they grow in grace

and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and

strengthen them; and preserve them in peace, O Jesus

Christ, now and for ever. Amen.

Other suitable prayers may be added.

The Celebrant may say one of the two following blessings:

May God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his

children, grant you grace. Amen.

May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill

you with love. Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one

family, keep you in peace. Amen.

or this

May Almighty God, who led the Wise Men by the shining of

a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also

in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord. Amen.

May God, who sent the Holy Spirit to rest upon the Onlybegotten

at his baptism in the Jordan River, pour out that

Spirit on you who have come to the waters of new birth.

Amen.

May God, by the power that turned water into wine at the

wedding feast at Cana, transform your lives and make glad

your hearts. Amen.

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And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.

Amen.

The Peace may then be exchanged.