In the absence of a priest the family gathers around the crib with lighted candles and recites the following prayers: 

All: A Child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia!  Full joyous sings Jerusalem, alleluia, alleluia!  From Orient, behold the star, alleluia,  And holy kings come from afar, alleluia,  alleluia! 

The father reads the Gospel for the Feast of Epiphany, St. Matthew 2: 1-12 

After the Gospel is read the following antiphon is recited. 

All: From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord: and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the Great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, Alleluia!  

After the above antiphon is recited, the father sprinkles the rooms of the house with Epiphany water or holy water, incense may be burned (a charcoal is lit and grains of incense are placed on the burning coal-care is to be exercised with the hot coal.) The rest of the family recites the Canticle of Mary, The Magnificat. Make the sign of the cross as you begin the canticle.  

Canticle of Mary

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid, for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, [All bow at this phrase] and Holy is His Name; And His mercy is from generation to generation  toward those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones  and has exalted the lowly. The hungry He has filled with good things  and the rich He has sent empty away. He has given help to Israel His servant,  mindful of His mercy As He promised our fathers toward Abraham and his descendants forever. [All bow] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, 

All: From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts; gold to the great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial, alleluia!  

Father: Many shall come from Saba. 

All: Bearing gold and incense. 

Father: O Lord, hear my prayer. 

All: And let my cry come unto Thee. 


Father: Let us pray: O God, who by the guidance of a star did this day reveal Thy Only-Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who know Thee by faith may be brought to the contemplation of the heavenly majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

 All: Amen. 

All: Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and upon thee is risen the glory of the Lord, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. 

Father: Nations shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brilliance of thy rising. 

All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 

Father: Let us pray. O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Thy blessing remain forever. Through Christ our Lord. 

All: Amen.  

With the blessed chalk, the lintels above the door are marked with the initials of the three kings and with crosses. We use the form below:  

Father: Let us pray: O Lord God, through the power of the priest, Thou did bless this chalk to make it helpful to man. Grant that we who use it with faith and inscribe with it the names of Thy saints Caspar, Melchior, and Baltassar upon the entrance of our homes, may through their merits and petition enjoy physical health and spiritual protection. Through Christ our Lord. 

All: Amen 

The initials of the names of the Magi separated by crosses and the year above the main door in this manner.  

20+ C + M + B + 26