Epiphany is officially tomorrow, but the church celebrated it today. In true Catholic tradition, my church puts up the Nativity on Christmas Eve, but leaves off the wise men until Epiphany. The whole manger scene is quite beautiful and just as elaborate as some of the displays we saw in Europe.
Another ceremony my church offers at this time of year is a kind of self-serve house blessing. After mass, you pick up a prayer sheet and piece of blessed chalk. Then at home the family gathers at the front door, you read through the prayer service which includes a reading from the Gospel of John (1:1-3, 14). At the end, you take the chalk and write "20+G+M+B+03" above the door. Stepan was kind enough to indulge me in the blessing ceremony and Homer always is willing to hang outside with us. So our house is now officially blessed for the coming year.
Along the same lines of starting off the new year right, one resolution I occassionally think to attempt is to actually observe all the Catholic Holy Days of Observation by actually going to mass. Sadly, I never seem to think of it in time to go to mass on Jan. 1 which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Maybe since I've writen it down this year, I'll be more prepared for it next year - though we'll probably still be in the Czech Republic on Jan 1 04.
Posted by jfer at January 5, 2003 1:51 PMSurely there is a Catholic Church somewhere in the Czech Republic?
Posted by: Elizabeth on January 5, 2003 11:53 PM