The Epiphany of the Lord, known in many countries as Three Kings' Day, recalls the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus: wise men from the East who followed a star to Bethlehem, worshiped him, and offered him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Church sees in them all the peoples who seek God. Here you will find Epiphany prayers, prayers to the Three Kings, a blessing for the rosca or family meal, the chalk blessing of the home, and the meaning of the feast.
Prayer for Epiphany
Lord Jesus, the Magi left their land and followed a star until they found you. I am looking for you too.
Light my way when I cannot see clearly. When the star seems to hide, give me the patience to keep searching. When I find you, give me the humility to kneel, as they did before a poor child.
You came for all peoples. May no one feel far from you, because of their origin, their past, or their doubts. Amen.
Prayer to the Three Kings
Holy Magi, you saw the star and did not stay still. You traveled a long way, asked questions, and kept going without giving up.
Obtain for us from God that same faith. Help us recognize the signs he places in our lives and seek him with perseverance. Teach us to adore Jesus, to offer him the best of ourselves, and to return home by another way, changed by our encounter with him.
Through your intercession, Lord, we pray for those who travel, those who seek the truth, and those who are far from the faith. Amen.
Prayer of offering: gold, frankincense, and myrrh
Child Jesus, I have no treasures like the Magi, but I want to offer you what I have.
I offer you my gold: my work, my talents, and my goods. I acknowledge you as King of my life.
I offer you my frankincense: my daily prayer, poor and distracted as it is. I acknowledge you as my God.
I offer you my myrrh: my pains, my illnesses, and my worries. I acknowledge you as true man, who know suffering and carried it on the cross.
Receive what I am, and make my life a gift for you and for others. Amen.
Children's prayer for Three Kings' Day
This can be prayed on the night of January 5 before going to bed, or in the morning before opening gifts.
Child Jesus, thank you for my gifts and for the people who love me.
The Three Kings brought gifts to you. I want to give you something too: my obedience, my good deeds, and my love.
Remember the children who will receive nothing today. Teach me to share my things with them. Amen.
You can find more simple prayers in 10 prayers to pray with children.
Blessing of the rosca de Reyes or the table
Before cutting the rosca or beginning the meal:
Bless, Lord, this table and this bread we share as a family.
As the Magi found your Son hidden in a manger, help us find him hidden in our daily lives and in those who suffer. May no one lack bread, and may whoever receives the Child in their slice today also receive him in their heart. Amen.
In Mexico and other countries, whoever finds the figure of the Child in the rosca provides the tamales on February 2, Candlemas.
Chalk blessing of the home at Epiphany
It is an old custom to ask God's blessing on the home on this feast. With chalk, which many parishes bless that day, you write the year over the front door, with a cross between each letter:
20 + C + M + B + 27
The letters recall Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and they are also the initials of the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, "May Christ bless this house." The numbers are the year, 2027 in this example. As you write, you can pray:
Lord Jesus, the Magi entered the house and found you with Mary your mother. Come into this house too, all through the year. Bless us who live here and all who cross this threshold. May there be peace, health, and faith here. Amen.
You can also pray the prayer to bless the home and family.
What the Church celebrates at Epiphany
Epiphany means "manifestation." Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is made known to the Gentile peoples, represented by the Magi. The story is in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Mt 2:1-12), read at Mass that day.
Their gifts have a meaning that Christian tradition explained from early on:
- Gold is the gift brought to a king.
- Frankincense is burned in honor of God.
- Myrrh, used for embalming, announces that Jesus is man and will die for us.
What the Bible says and what tradition added
Saint Matthew speaks only of "magi" from the East. He does not say they were kings, or that there were three, or what their names were. Over the centuries, tradition came to count them as three, because of the three gifts. It called them kings, recalling texts like Psalm 72 and Isaiah 60, and named them Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. Their reputed relics are venerated in Cologne Cathedral, in Germany.
Three Kings' Day traditions
- Gifts for children. In Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, and other countries, and in many Latino homes in the United States, children receive gifts that day, in memory of the gifts of the Magi.
- Shoes and grass. On the night of January 5, children leave their shoes by the door or the tree, and in some places grass or water for the camels.
- The rosca de Reyes. This ring-shaped sweet bread is shared as a family, with the figure of the Child hidden inside.
- Parades. In many cities, the Kings ride through the streets handing out candy.
Frequently asked questions
When is Three Kings' Day? Traditionally January 6. The Mass of the Epiphany is celebrated that day or, in countries where it is not a holiday, on the Sunday between January 2 and 8. In the United States, that means Sunday, January 3, in 2027.
Are the Three Kings saints? They are honored as saints in some places and calendars, which is why many of the faithful commend themselves to them. In any case, the feast is centered on Jesus, not on them.
How do you ask the Three Kings for a favor? As with any saint: ask them to intercede before God for you, with confidence and without magic formulas. Despite the word "magi," no ritual guarantees a favor.
What does the word "magi" mean? In that time it referred to wise men from the East who studied the stars. It has nothing to do with today's magicians.
When do you take down the nativity scene? It can stay up until the end of the Christmas season, with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In Mexico, many families put it away on February 2.
Closing prayer
Lord, the Magi returned to their land by another way. May I also not stay the same after meeting you. Amen.
To keep praying in this season, see our Christmas prayers, New Year's prayers, and the prayer to the Holy Family.