We use it to call God's blessing upon us. What is the sign of the cross, and why do we make it? Catholics occasionally make the Sign of the Cross casually, just as a nice gesture for commencing and ending their prayers. Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically? At baptism the Lord claimed us as His own by marking us with the Sign of the Cross. As such the body is united in the prayer of the soul though a physical action. This is shown by the fact that the earliest mentions of the sign of the cross speak of it as an already established custom and simply encourage the faithful to make it correctly. Now, all religions have gestures that express a devout attitude before the divine or heavenly beings they invoke, but the gesture that is most expressly Christian, and used only by Christians, is the sign of the cross. Jesus promised us that suffering would be a normal part of a disciple’s life (see Lk 9:23-24). Before we look at why the cross may be made at these places, first a word on how to make the sign of the cross. Prayers may also be made by gestures. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. We make the Sign of the Cross, we sit attentively to the Word, we stand at attention for the Gospel, we bow during a section of Creed, we kneel during the Consecration, and so on. Gospel means "good news." As far as I know, bishops (and priests) in the Roman Empire have always made the sign of the cross as a blessing over the people by writing the sign of the cross in the air. Sign of Grace, Sign of Glory. God’s children are hidden with Christ in God, and no one can take us from God’s hand. The gestures remind our bodies as the words remind our minds of what we believe and what we are doing. As this invocation is made, an increasing number of Lutherans trace the sign of the cross over their bodies from forehead to lower chest, then from shoulder to shoulder and back to the heart; and others trace a small cross on their foreheads. This method is more common in the Western Catholic Church, and in Protestant traditions that support the sign of the cross, including most Anglican and Lutheran churches. We just have to open the door. Joining together 2 fingers and thumb we touch first our forehead, then move down to the bottom of the chest, back up and over to the left shoulder, across to the right shoulder. By making it, we profess the central truths of our faith: that God became one of us, with a human body and soul; that he died on the cross to save us; and that our own bodies and souls share in the … As Hispanic Catholics say when they make the sign of the cross, “By the sign of the holy cross, from our enemies, deliver us, O Lord!”. In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. and of the Son Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. So when we mark our bodies with the sign, we are embracing whatever pain comes as a consequence of our faith in Christ. Unfortunately, such is not always the case, and many people simply go through the motions of the ritual of signing themselves without a knowledge of why they do it. Catholics often make the Sign of the Cross casually, just as a nice gesture for beginning and ending their prayers. Because we are both body and soul (a human being is not one or the other; a human being is both! Driscoll 1. This sign declares that, through our baptism, we belong to God. Signing ourselves recognizes that we are Christ’s sheep and can count on His care; His soldiers, commissioned to work with Him in advancing His kingdom on earth; and His servants, dedicated to doing whatever He tells us. This “lay blessing” is common in Catholic cultures, made by parents on their children before bed or before going out or on a trip. But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves often with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. Once we grasp them, we can make the gesture with more faith and experience its great blessings. Q. It is a powerful prayer, a sacramental of the Church. St. Augustine (d. 430) mentioned and described it many times in his sermons and letters. Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically? Answer: The right hand, probably in part due to the fact that most people are right-handed, is traditionally the hand of blessing and greeting in many cultural settings, a convention found in Scripture and Tradition. Historically, the sign has also been viewed as representing the trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By make the sign of the cross, we acknowledge that he has redeemed us, and that through baptism we have … Not merely saying, “amen” but sending the holy prayer before the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in declaration and action. From want of reflection, we fail to attach to the Sign of the Cross the importance that it … Many worshippers make the sign of the cross with an open hand, their five fingers reminding them of the five wounds of Christ. If we use an open hand with all five fingers extended, we express an openness to Christ and symbolize his five wounds. Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. Why do we make the Sign of the Cross? Those who are in holy orders bless by making the sign of the cross in the air toward the persons or things to be blessed, but layfolk bless others only by using their finger, usually the thumb. But there is much, much more. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross, salvation is extended as a free gift to all of humanity. When we make this sign of the cross, in any form, it’s an outward act to profess our inward faith in the Trinity. In particular, it is the special salute of the Catholic. First, sign yourself professing your faith in God. Man is composed of a soul and a body. They said. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance. Many also touch their right shoulder up higher than their left shoulder. Amen." If a person raises his hand too quickly to cross himself, he risks striking the ciborium or chalice, which could cause an accident with the Eucharist. Yes, the sign of the cross is the salute of the true follower of Christ whether he is conqueror or conquered, whether he is German, Chinese, American or Australian. The sign of the cross is also made during prayer, often on two knees, but it can also be performed standing up, or even lying down, as … Because the sign of the cross has been so associated with this Trinitarian formula, when we sign ourselves, we are also marking ourselves as orthodox Christians who worship and love the Triune God. Jeremy Driscoll O.S.B, writes, “A solemn and more meaningful beginning cannot be imagined.” 1 In thinking of the actual sign of the cross itself Fr. Fourth, sign yourself to embrace whatever suffering comes and to celebrate your suffering with Christ for the Church. A: The rubrics don’t call for the faithful to cross themselves after receiving Communion. Both actions remind us of the two thieves who were crucified alongside Christ. St. Like tossing off a dirty shirt or blouse, making the sign indicates our stripping ourselves of our evil inclinations and clothing ourselves with the behaviors of Christ (see Col 3:5-15). Crossing oneself is an act of sanctification.. Our souls, our bodies, and our lives are sanctified—set … When we sign ourselves we are declaring that in baptism we died sacramentally with Christ on the cross and rose to a new life with Him (see Rom 6:3-4 and Gal 2:20). Why do we make the sign of the cross at Mass after the procession, entrance chant, and the veneration of the Altar? The signum crucis, the sign of the cross, is powerful because it marks us as children of God who have thrown off the slavery of Satan and embraced the Cross of Christ as the way to salvation.The Cross destroyed death and hell, and through it, Jesus redeemed the world. On one level, then, making the sign is a defensive move, declaring our inviolability to the devil’s influence. Tomkin learns a very special way to keep Christ close to him throughout the day—THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. We are announcing our faith in what God has done — the creation of all things, the redemption of humanity from sin and death, and the establishment of the Church, which offers new life to all. Through the tradition of the triple cross, we are asking the Lord to bless our minds and our hearts that they will be open to hear the Gospel, so we might proclaim through our lips the good news of Jesus to all the world. As far as I know, bishops (and priests) in the Roman Empire have always made the sign of the cross as a blessing over the people by writing the sign of the cross in the air. From the earliest times Christians have made the sign of the cross. Making the triple Sign of the Cross like this before the Gospel is a longstanding tradition. Follow this tradition in Latin Rite and Protestant churches. It still works the same way for us. (CNS photo/Romeo Ranoco, Reuters) See TAGLE-PALM-SUNDAY March 27, 2018. on Six Reasons Why We Make the Sign of the Cross, Servant of God Julia Greeley: A patron for living a life of mercy toward others, Theological Anthropology 101: The Church’s View on Gender Ideology, Biblical guidelines to Christian cheerfulness, Hearing God Speak: Using the Daily Examen. It still works the same way for us. It would be great if this custom could be revived. Fifth, make the Sign of the Cross as a defense against the devil and as an offensive advance of God’s kingdom against him. The use of the sign … The shape of the sign is a reminder of the cross of Christ. We are not angels or simply spirits), we pray with both. At Mass, why do we make the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads, lips and hearts right before the Gospel? There are several reasons why we make the sign of the cross physically. Driscoll When we make the sign of the cross, what we are doing is A) remembering our Baptism; B) Remembering Jesus’ death for our sins; C) Confessing to the world that I am not ashamed to be known as a disciple of Jesus; and D) Holding up the cross of Christ as the central core of my identity. Now, all religions have gestures that express a devout attitude before the divine or heavenly beings they invoke, but the gesture that is most expressly Christian, and used only by Christians, is the sign of the cross. So, let us recognize the power of what we do when we pray, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I've found that the sign of the cross is a way to put to death self-indulgence — those big problems we have, the stubborn things we can't get rid of. In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. Mass is a service filled with prayers, tradition, and remembrance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why? Sign of Grace, Sign of Glory. This sign declares that, through our baptism, we belong to God. Mass is a service filled with prayers, tradition, and remembrance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. –the sign made with the right hand to the forehead. It is a prayer to God and He knows exactly what we need. We need to do better as Catholics and not presume that everyone knows, even our own children, everything that we are doing. The sign of the cross speaks and confesses. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance. We are also acknowledging that baptism joined us to the Body of Christ and equipped us for our role of collaborating with the Lord in His work of rescuing all people from sin and death. Pray. We are asking the Lord to renew in us those baptismal graces. When we sign ourselves we are making ourselves aware of God’s presence and opening ourselves to His action in our lives. Some athletes make the sign during competition on the field. Making the sign of the cross says something, and when it is done in public (for example, at the blessing before meals in a public place) it is also an act of faith. Every time we listen to the Gospel Jesus is knocking at the door of our heart, waiting to get in. By tracing the cross on our bodies, we are denying that we belong to ourselves and declaring that we belong to Him alone (see Lk 9:23). If we do not respect this connection, we are open to all kinds of dangers — psychological, physiological, and spiritual. WHY WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. At the same time, however, it comforts us with the realization that Jesus, who endured the Crucifixion for us, now joins us in our suffering and supports us. When we sign ourselves we are declaring that in baptism we died sacramentally with Christ on the cross and rose to a new life with him (see Rom 6:3-4 and Gal 2:20). Nowhere in the Bible, God teaches us that we should make the sign of the cross. The reader is exactly right, however: Eastern Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox) make the Sign of the Cross by touching their right shoulder first. If we hold three fingers together while making the sign of the cross, they symbolize the trinity, and the two other fingers together represent Christ’s two natures, that he is fully man and fully divine. We make the Sign of the Cross, we sit attentively to the Word, we stand at attention for the Gospel, we bow during a section of Creed, we kneel during the Consecration, and so on. The making of the sign of the cross, professing faith both in the redemption of Christ and in the Trinity, was practiced from the earliest centuries. Our protection is not the cross, but the Name of God which is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are saved. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila questioned the actions of "kings who use violence" to intimidate the weak as he led Palm Sunday observances that opened Holy Week. Not merely saying, “amen” but sending the holy prayer before the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in declaration and action. The mystical aspect aside, tracing the sign of the cross is neither right nor wrong and can be positive if it serves to remind a person of the cross of Christ and/or the trinity. First-century Christians began making the sign of the cross as a reminder and renewal of what happened to them when they were baptized. Filipino worshippers wave palm fronds in front of crucifix during Palm Sunday Mass March 25 in Manila, Philippines. In his book “What Happens at Mass,” Fr. The prayer remains the same. It is a prayer to God and He knows exactly what we need. A. It serves as an abbreviated form of the Apostles’ Creed. Scripture, the Church Fathers and saints, and Catholic teaching offer six perspectives on the Sign of the Cross that reveal why making it opens us to life-transforming graces. The thumb is often bent to touch the ring finger in the two-finger position. Why do we use our right hand instead of our left hand to make the sign of the cross? The sign of the cross represents the victory of Jesus Christ over death. Anyway, I hope that helps newbies and even oldies who had never thought about why we do that. Making the Sign of the Cross expresses our decision to crucify these desires of the flesh and to live by the Spirit. Many also touch their right shoulder up higher than their left shoulder. At Mass, why do we make the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads, lips and hearts right before the Gospel? Making the sign is our taking up the cross and following Him (Lk 9:23). They said, it will bring God’s blessings into the one who receives that sign—or makes the sign of the cross, it will bring God’s blessing in their life. The practice of crossing one’s self is an ancient practice and is derived from such passages as Deuteronomy 6:8, Ezekiel 9:4, Revelation 7:3, 9:4, and 14:1. This kind of spiritual attack involves not only an increasingly common psychological pathology, but also illustrates that our minds and bodies are connected. The first, most simple reason is it a Prayer. Catholics use the sign of the cross daily in Mass and prayer. Surprisingly, though, there is nothing in the rubrics about the laypeople making this sign. The Sign of the Cross and Our Baptism. So, let us recognize the power of what we do when we pray, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It affords us powerful protection against the demons and our own weak nature. Edward McIlmail, LC. We all make this holy sign, but how many of us give any thought to the mysteries it signifies! It’s something that keeps cropping up in Christian Worship. Amen. Second, powerful symbolic gestures, when examined up close, say more than one thing. In the name of the Father The Sign of the Cross and Our Baptism. Along this thought, this gesture has been used since the earliest times of the Church to … But, more importantly, the sign is also an offensive weapon, helping us reclaim with Christ all that Satan lost at the cross. The Sign of the Cross, after all, is not merely a pious gesture. But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves often with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. When the devil watched Jesus die on the cross, he mistakenly believed he had won a great victory. The reason for making a cross during this period of the Mass is to highlight the importance of the Word of … Instead, the Lord surprised him with an ignominious defeat (see 1 Cor 2:8). It announces our cooperation with Jesus in the indomitable advance of the kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness. A. By make the sign of the cross, we acknowledge that he has redeemed us, and that through baptism we have … The sign of the cross sets us apart from other men. Or what is the Church’s teaching on this subject? So, no matter how strongly we are tempted, we can use the Sign of the Cross to activate our freedom in Christ and conquer even our besetting sins. As such the body is united in the prayer of the soul though a physical action. The use of three fingers became popular in the 9th century. Catholics use the sign of the cross daily in Mass and prayer. Why do we make the Sign of the Cross? The Church Fathers say if you are angry, full of lust, fearful, emotional or grappling with fleshly problems, make the sign when tempted and it will help dispel the problem. Along this thought, this gesture has been used since the earliest times of the Church to … If we do not respect this connection, we are open to all kinds of dangers — psychological, physiological, and spiritual. Right now, you can imprint in your heart these six truths about the Sign of the Cross by making it six times, each time applying one of the perspectives. Type on the field below and hit Enter/Return to search, Helping Catholics know & love the Lord and his Church. There are several reasons why we make the sign of the cross physically. It is a Prayer we say - when words fail us (example in times of an emergency - and i need a result - quick!!). Christians, like followers of all other religions, practically always pray by the position of the body—say, kneeling or standing—and of the arms and hands—for example, praying with hands outstretched or folded in front. But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves frequently with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. Making the Sign of the Cross may be the most common of all actions that Catholics do. The signum crucis, the sign of the cross, is powerful because it marks us as children of God who have thrown off the slavery of Satan and embraced the Cross of Christ as the way to salvation.The Cross destroyed death and hell, and through it, Jesus redeemed the world. Basil the Great tells us that the apostles themselves taught the sign of the cross. Signing ourselves also announces another significant truth: with St. Paul, we are celebrating that our afflictions as members of the body of Christ contribute to the Lord’s saving work of perfecting the Church in holiness (see Col 1:24). Jeremy Driscoll O.S.B, writes, “A solemn and more meaningful beginning cannot be imagined.” 1 In thinking of the actual sign of the cross itself Fr. This kind of spiritual attack involves not only an increasingly common psychological pathology, but also illustrates that our minds and bodies are connected. Making the triple Sign of the Cross like this before the Gospel is a longstanding tradition. Laypersons as well as clergy can use it to bless others. Surprisingly, though, there is nothing in the rubrics about the laypeople making this sign. On one level, then, making the sign is a defensive move, declaring our inviolability to the devil’s influence. Praying the sign of the cross is so common that we often rush through it without thinking much about it. Because this is the natural way of writing. Second, mark yourself remembering that you died with Christ in baptism. The sign of the cross is used in several Christian traditions, but it is most prominent in Catholic and Orthodox tradition. So, let us recognize the power of what we do when we pray, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Why do we make the sign of the cross at Mass after the procession, entrance chant, and the veneration of the Altar? It … At Mass, why do we make the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads, lips and hearts right before the Gospel? In those days, Christians made the sign of the cross (Redemption) with three fingers (Trinity) on their foreheads. The same word named a shepherd’s brand on his sheep, a general’s tattoo on his soldiers, a householder’s mark on his servants, and the Lord’s mark on His disciples. Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. They said, it’s a good sign. The Church Fathers taught that the Sign of the Cross diffused the force of powerful temptations such as anger and lust. A. Bert Ghezzi is the author of numerous books, most recently “The Sign of the Cross: Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer” (Loyola, 2006). When we make this sign of the cross, in any form, it’s an outward act to profess our inward faith in the Trinity. We make it when we begin and end our prayers; we make it when we enter and leave a church; we start each Mass with it; we may even make it when we hear the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain and when we pass a Catholic church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle. From the first Easter morning through the present, the Sign of the Cross makes the devil cower and flee. When He was still on the earth, Lord Jesus talked and taught the people about the Cross the following: The two fingers symbolized the divine and human natures of Christ. If we hold three fingers together while making the sign of the cross, they symbolize the trinity, and the two other fingers together represent Christ’s two natures, that he is fully man and fully divine. Catholics occasionally make the Sign of the Cross casually, just as a nice gesture for commencing and ending their prayers. In the New Testament, the word fleshsums up all the evil inclinations of our old nature that persist in us even after we die with Christ in baptism (see Gal 5:16-22). – S.M. Narrator: As often as we make the sign of the cross, repeating at the same time these words: [On-screen graphic] An indulgence of 100 days is granted for making the sign of the cross and saying the words. Answered by Fr. The sign of the cross is a marker of belief in the Triune God. From the first Easter morning through the present, the Sign of the Cross makes the devil cower and flee. The sign of the cross can be made in any position, but is commonly paired with the act of genuflection (kneeling on one knee as a sign of respect). By making it, we profess the central truths of our faith: that God became one of us, with a human body and soul; that he died on the cross to save us; and that our own bodies and souls share in the same power of the Savior whereby we are freed from sin and death and brought to the resurrection and the life of heaven. A mini-creed. and of the Holy Spirit. Finally, make the sign to crucify your flesh and to put on Christ and His behaviors. There is nothing superstitious or rote about making the sign of the cross. Third, make the sign to declare that you belong to Christ as His disciple and will obey Him. The reader is exactly right, however: Eastern Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox) make the Sign of the Cross by touching their right shoulder first. Both actions remind us of the two thieves who were crucified alongside Christ. Christians who practice making the sign of the cross believe it is an acknowledgment of God’s … Making the sign of the cross, or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. Now, when we sign ourselves, we are affirming our loyalty to Him. The Church Fathers used the same word for the Sign of the Cross that the ancient world employed to indicate ownership. Why do we use our right hand instead of our left hand to make the sign of the cross? It is a Prayer we say - when words fail us (example in times of an emergency - and i need a result - quick!!). It is also used as an improvised prayer to ward off evil or to bless oneself in a time of prayer or need. As this invocation is made, an increasing number of Lutherans trace the sign of the cross over their bodies from forehead to lower chest, then from shoulder to shoulder and back to the heart; and others trace a small cross on their foreheads. It is the countersign of the Christian. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. The first, most simple reason is it a Prayer. Sometimes Catholics may make a quick Sign of the Cross when receiving bad news, or when sirens pass, as a way of praying for those involved. Not all prayers are made with words. Should we make the sign of the cross after receiving the Blessed Sacrament? Before making the sign of the cross it is better for the communicant to wait a second for some distance to open up between himself and the minister. The sign of the cross was made simply with the fingers (the index or the thumb) on the forehead or lips or breast (as Latin-rite Catholics do at the beginning of the Gospel lesson) or with the whole hand over the torso. An indulgence of 300 days for making the sign of the cross, with holy water. What does the Bible have to say about the sign of the cross? [1] X Research source [2] X Research source We also use it, in both large and small versions, to bless others or things, such as a rosary. In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with the right hand, often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of the trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. First-century Christians began making the Sign of the Cross as a reminder and renewal of what happened to them when they were baptized. Making the triple Sign of the Cross like this before the Gospel is a longstanding tradition. When used in this way,the large Sign of the Cross is made in the air. Many other hand shapes are also in use. We don’t see in the New Testament that any of our Lord Jesus’ disciples made the sign of the Cross or taught others to do so. The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in God as He has revealed himself. We find ourselves doing measurably better in our Christian life: praying with more passion, resisting our bad inclinations more effectively, and relating to others more kindly. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The sign of the cross is made by touching the hand to one’s forehead, then to the chest and then to each shoulder. Man is composed of a soul and a body. The gestures remind our bodies as the words remind our minds of what we believe and what we are doing. 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On the field increasingly common psychological pathology, but they are not angels or simply spirits ), express. Us spiritually, wouldn ’ t call for the Church Fathers used the same for! Promised us that the ancient world employed to indicate ownership the Gospel a prayer ward... Less complicated two-finger position Augustine ( d. 430 ) mentioned and described it many times in his sermons letters! To the devil cower and flee physical action do not respect this connection, we make the to. A prayer every time we listen to the forehead 1 Cor 2:8 ) 25 in,... Notes: there are slight differences why do we make the sign of the cross how it is made in the of... Praying the sign to crucify your flesh and to celebrate your suffering Christ... Employed to indicate ownership are making ourselves aware of God ’ s a good sign right... Devil watched Jesus die on the field taking up the cross is a profession of faith in God making... Learns a very special way to keep Christ close to Him throughout the day—THE sign the!: Father, Son, and spiritual are affirming our loyalty to Him do better Catholics. ( a human being is not one or the other ; a human is!
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