The Three Kings

Epiphany Greetings! And especial Holyday best wishes to the people of Cologne in Germany, where the famous relics of the Magi are housed in Cologne Cathedral.

Apart from the blessing of gold,incense and myrh it is customary to bless chalk - the blessed chalk is then utilised to inscribe on the lintels above the entrance to houses or buildings in general the text "+20+G+M+B+ 10+" A combination of the year and the initials of the Three Kings - Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar - it is to remind us when we enter our doors to be like the Three Kings and seek after truth and pursue it.

Today in the Rhineland Palatinate - children dressed as the three wise men go about from door to door and will inscribe the sacred acronym on the lintels for sweets or some treat (Halloween in the US seems to have copied the essential idea).

Some houses desplay the coat of arms of Balthazar - golden star on a red background.

Blessing for Gold, Incense and Myhrr:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Accept, O holy Father, from me, thine unworthy servant, these gifts which I offer in humility to the honour of thy holy name and to thy peerless majesty; as thou didst accept the sacrifice of the just Abel and the same gifts from the hands of the Magi.

Creatures of gold, incense, and myrrh, I exorcise you by the Father + almighty, by Jesus + Christ, His Only-Begotten Son, and by the Hol y+ Spirit, the Paraclete, that freed from all deceit, evil, and cunning of the devil, you may be a saving remedy to men against the snares of the enemy. May trustful souls who use you in their homes or about their persons be delivered from danger to soul and body, rejoicing in the possession of every good; through our Lord and Saviour's power and merits, through the intercession of Mary, most holy Virgin Mother of God, of all Saints and of them who on this day venerated Christ, the Lord with similar gifts. R. Amen.

O God, thou the invisible and unending One, in the holy and awesome name of thy Son graciously bestow blessing + and power upon these creatures, gold, incense, and myrrh. Protect them who will have them in their possession from illness, injury, and danger to body and soul, so they can joyously and securely serve thee with zeal in thy Church. Who in perfect Trinity livest and reignest, God, forever aND ever. R Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God, Father, + Son, + and Holy + Spirit descend upon these creatures of gold, incense, and myrrh, and remain for all time. R. Amen

It is sprinkled with holy water.

BLESSING OF CHALK

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Bless, -+. 0 Lord God, this creature chalk to render it helpful to men. Grant that they who use it in faith and with it inscribe upon the entrance of their homes the names of thy saints, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthassar may through their merits and intercession enjoy health of body and protection of soul. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.

Latin of the same

Blessing of Gold, Incense and Myhrr

V. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus. Suscipe, sancta Pater, a me indigno famulo tuo haec munera, quae in honorem nominis tui sancti, et in titulum omnipotentiae tuae maiestatis, humiliter tibi offero: sicut sacrificium Abel iustus, et sicut eadem munera a tribus Magis tibi quondam offerentibus suscepisti.

Exerciso te, creatura auri, thuris et myrrhae, per Pa+trem omnipotentem, per Iesum + Christum filium eius unigenitum, et per Spiritum Sanctum + Paraclitum: ut a te discedat omnis fraus, dolus, et nequitia diaboli, et sis remedium salutare humano generi contra insidias immici: et quicumque divino freti auxilio te in suis loculis, domibus, aut circa se habuerint, per virtutem et merita Domini et Salvatoris nostri, ac intercessionem eius sanctissimmae Genetricis et Virginis Mariae, ac eorum, qui hodie similibus muneribus Christum Dominum venerati sunt, omniumque Sanctorum, ab omnibus periculis animae et corporis liberentur, et bonis omnibus perfrui mereantur. R. Amen.

Deus invisibilis et interminabilis, pietatem tuam per sanctum et tremendum Filii tui nomen, suppliciter deprecamur: ut in hanc creaturam auri, thus, myrrhae bene+dictionem ac operationem tuae virtutis infundas: ut, qui ea penes se habuerint, ab omni aegreditudinis et laesionis incursu tuti sint; et omnes morbos corporis et animae effugiant, nullum dominetur eis penculum et, laeti, ac incolumes tibi in Ecclesia tua deserviant: Qui in Trinitate perfecta vivis et regnas Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. R Amen.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Pa+tris, et Filii,+ et Spiritus + Sancti, descendat super hanc creaturam auri, thuris et myrrhae, et maneat semper. R. Amen.

Blessing of Chalk

V. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.
V. Dominus vobiscum.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.Bene+dic, Domine Deus, creaturam istam cretae : ut sit salutaris humano generi; et praesta per invocationem nominis tui sanctissimi, ut, quicumque ex ea sumpserint, vel ea in domus suae portis scripserint nomina sanctorum. tuorum Gasparis, Melchioris et Baltassar, per eorum intercessionem et merita, corporis sanitatem, et animae tutelam, percipiant. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R Amen