BALTIMORE — The ancient Christian tradition of marking doorways
with blessed chalk on the feast of the Epiphany will carry new meaning for many
Catholics in 2021.
Following a year that saw families shaken by the coronavirus
pandemic, the traditional home blessing will serve as a special symbol of hope
and a visible reminder of faith.
"Many have fought COVID-19 and lived to tell about it,"
said Michael Carnahan, a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Mary Church in
Baltimore, who has practiced the chalk blessing since he was a child.
"However, many people have suffered the loss of a loved one
to this virus. The chalk, along with other symbols, will be an even stronger
reminder of how important God is to us and of what an important factor Jesus is
in our daily lives," he said.
The blessing, popular in Poland and other Slavic countries, has
spread to many parts of the world. It takes place on the liturgical feast
marking the visitation of the Magi to the Christ Child and the revelation that
Jesus is the son of God.
The blessing involves taking simple chalk, usually blessed by a
parish priest, and scrawling doorways with symbolic numbers and letters — this
year: "20+C M B 21."
The numbers represent the current year and the letters stand for
the first letters of the traditional names of the magi: Caspar (sometimes
spelled "Kaspar"), Melchior and Balthazar. The letters are also an
abbreviation for "Christus Mansionem Benedicat," Latin for "May
Christ bless this dwelling."
Participants typically read passages from the New Testament and
may sing Epiphany hymns.
Carnahan, along with his wife, Malgorzata Bondyra, and their five
children, plan to take part in the tradition this Epiphany, which is observed
in the United States this year from Jan. 3-8. Of Polish background, they will
say the blessing in Polish and English.
"We will use this as an opportunity to remember that living
a Christlike existence on a daily basis is important to all," Carnahan
said. "Just as we took for granted our health and safety as a society, we
are reminded of how we might sometimes take for granted the sacrifice Jesus
made for all of us."
This won't be the first time the blessing has taken on extra
meaning. Under Soviet-dominated Poland, for example, Catholics viewed the
blessing as a means of spiritual resistance.
"During communist times, Polish people would use the chalk
and other symbols as a statement of their beliefs and as an indication that
communism can't take away their faith," said Carnahan, a longtime member
of the Polish dance ensemble, Ojczyzna, based at Holy Rosary Church in
Baltimore. "It sometimes would lead to trouble for them, but ultimately it
was a way to be defiant while also being true to their faith."
Will and Amy Buttarazzi, parishioners of St. Joseph Church in
Cockeysville, Md., also have practiced the chalk blessing at their home with
their eight children. As the director of family ministry at their parish, Amy
Buttarazzi encourages other families to adopt the practice. She made a video
about the tradition and provided written instructions.
She remembers her elementary school, the School of the Cathedral
of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, maintaining the tradition when she was growing
up.
"Our principal would bless all the doors of the school
building every year after we returned from Christmas break," she said.
"The blessing would be written on a sentence strip and taped to the top
frame of each door in the building. Now, as a mom, I wanted to continue this
tradition in my own home with my children."
The Buttarazzis write their Epiphany blessing above the door of
their dining room, while Carnahan and his family write it above their front
door, outside.
Carnahan noted that the magi traveled far, having faith they
would find the infant Jesus. They did so knowing his mission, he said.
"The chalk is a daily visual symbol for us," Carnahan
said, "just like seeing the crucifix hanging on the wall, helping us to
keep within us thoughts of grace, love, peace, happiness, forgiveness and
more."
Matysek is digital editor for the Archdiocese of
Baltimore and the Catholic Review, the news outlet of the archdiocese.
Find out more
Go to bitly.com/chalkblessing for a guide from the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops for doing a chalk blessing at home.