Catholics treasure the old custom of blessing gold, frankincense and myrrh on the feast of the Epiphany, which occurs on January 6th, the final day of the 12 days of Christmas. In some places it is also called Twelfthnight or Three Kings Day. This is the day the Church commemorates the Magi arriving to give homage to the newborn King of Kings with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbolic of all the Gentile nations coming into the Kingdom of God. In many places around the world, this was the traditional day of gift-giving in celebration of Christmas.
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth. P: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
Accept, O holy Father, from me, thine unworthy servant, these gifts which I offer in humility to the honor 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 purge you of evil by the Father + almighty, by Jesus + Christ, His Sole-Begotten Son, and by the Holy + 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 those who with confidence 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 Savior'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 these same gifts.
All: Amen.
O God, Who art invisible and without end, in the holy and awesome name of thy Son graciously bestow blessing + power these creatures, gold, incense, and myrrh. Protect those who will have them in your 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.
All: Amen.
And may the blessing of almighty God, Father, + Son, + and Holy + Spirit, descend upon these creatures gold, incense, and myrrh, and remain for all time.
All: Amen.
They are sprinkled with holy water.
Prayer Source: Roman Ritual: Volume III, The Blessings by Philip T. Weller, The Bruce Publishing Company, 1952
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