What is a chalking the door service.
Chalking the door.
Here is what they mean.
The symbols come from a catholic blessing of the home connected to the feast of the epiphany.
Chalking the door is one of the christian epiphanytide traditions used in order to bless one s home as well as a scottish custom of landlord and tenant law.
What do the numbers and letters mean.
Either on twelfth night 5 january the twelfth day of christmastide and eve of the feast of the epiphany or.
Some also suggest christus mansionem benedicat which means may christ.
This short liturgy is a way of marking our homes usually at the front or main entrance with sacred signs and symbols as we ask god s blessing upon those who live work or visit throughout the coming year.
It is always performed on epiphany sometimes called twelfth night which is january 6th.
The letters c m b come from the traditional names for the three kings.
Chalk of any kind or color.
It is however an easy tradition to adopt and a great practice whereby we dedicate our year to god from its very outset asking his blessing on our homes and on all who live work or visit them there.
What materials are needed for this practice.
Chalking the door is a tangible way to honor god in our lives.
Chalking the door by inscribing letters and crosses above the doorway of the home is a tradition that comes to us from europe.
The meaning of 20 c m b year.
The first and last numbers simply refer to the current year.
20 year the year of the blessing.
Why do catholics have the symbols 20 c m b year written in chalk on or above their doors.