Happy Feast of the Epiphany!

Hello families! Here we are at the culmination of the Christmas season - the 12th day of Christmas. We tried to read a different Christmas book each of the past evenings since Christmas, but the season would have to last longer so we could get to all our favorites!

It's a good time to ponder on the theme of light we find throughout scripture - the light that can always dispel and conquer darkness!

"a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise from Israel..." (Nm 24,17).

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.... And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Is 60,1.3).

"I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn 8,12).

"The true light that enlightens every man came into the world" (Jn 1,9).

Several years ago during our Epiphany celebration a catechist pondered with the children - "I wonder how long the Magi would have followed the light?" and later "How long would we follow the light?" One child, who is now 13, said pensively "Forever. Even when I get to Heaven!"

With the older children today we compared the response of Herod and "all of Jerusalem" with that of the shepherds and "all who heard of it." We pondered hearing with ears of faith and seeing with eyes of faith. Sharing scripure with children is a true gift to all of the catechists at St. Thomas, and it propels me to do more of that in my home.

I'll set out our Epiphany display once I'm home and bake a Bundt cake, which we probably will have for tea time tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, we will also bless our home using the following blessing:


All make the Sign of the Cross.

Head of Household: "Peace be to this house and: to all who dwell here, in the name of the Lord.

All: Blessed be God forever.

Reader: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things cme to be through him, and without him nothing came to be..... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Fahter's only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3.14)

Using chalk, write on the outside of your house, above or next to an entrance:

20+C+M+B+14


These words stand for Christus, Mansionem Benedicat, which mean "May Christ bless this house".

All: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

There is a longer version found at the USCCB, just choose one you that speaks to you :-) After doing this, we will sprinkle the individual rooms with Holy Water.

You can check out last year's Epiphany post for photos and other ideas if you'd like


May the peace of the Good Shepherd reign in your homes!

~ Beate

 "We need to ‘set out anew from Christ,’ with the zeal of Pentecost, with renewed enthusiasm. To set out from him above all in a daily commitment to holiness, with an attitude of prayer and of listening to his word. To set out from him in order to testify to his Love by living a Christian life marked by communion, charity, and witness before the world." ~ JP II homily on the Feast of the Epiphany 2001