why do we make the sign of the cross

The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in God as He has revealed himself. It is a Prayer we say - when words fail us (example in times of an emergency - and i need a result - quick!!). Tomkin learns a very special way to keep Christ close to him throughout the day—THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. Basil the Great tells us that the apostles themselves taught the sign of the cross. 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. and of the Son God’s children are hidden with Christ in God, and no one can take us from God’s hand. 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. 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. Why do we use our right hand instead of our left hand to make the sign of the cross? [1] X Research source [2] X Research source On one level, then, making the sign is a defensive move, declaring our inviolability to the devil’s influence. Amen." 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. The sign of the cross is used in several Christian traditions, but it is most prominent in Catholic and Orthodox tradition. But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves often with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. Finally, make the sign to crucify your flesh and to put on Christ and His behaviors. But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves often with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. The use of the sign … Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. A mini-creed. Because this is the natural way of writing. Notes: There are slight variations of the triple sign of the cross which are less complicated. A. The reader is exactly right, however: Eastern Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox) make the Sign of the Cross by touching their right shoulder first. It announces our cooperation with Jesus in the indomitable advance of the kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness. Edward McIlmail, LC. Along this thought, this gesture has been used since the earliest times of the Church to … Along this thought, this gesture has been used since the earliest times of the Church to … 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. Second, mark yourself remembering that you died with Christ in baptism. 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. Man is composed of a soul and a body. Why do we make the sign of the cross at Mass after the procession, entrance chant, and the veneration of the Altar? The Sign of the Cross, after all, is not merely a pious gesture. 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. 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. Should we make the sign of the cross after receiving the Blessed Sacrament? This kind of spiritual attack involves not only an increasingly common psychological pathology, but also illustrates that our minds and bodies are connected. Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. (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. From the first Easter morning through the present, the Sign of the Cross makes the devil cower and flee. By make the sign of the cross, we acknowledge that he has redeemed us, and that through baptism we have … 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. On one level, then, making the sign is a defensive move, declaring our inviolability to the devil’s influence. Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically? All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. After moving from top to bottom they move from left to right. 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. It’s something that keeps cropping up in Christian Worship. The use of three fingers became popular in the 9th century. Many also touch their right shoulder up higher than their left shoulder. St. 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. We are not angels or simply spirits), we pray with both. 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). But when we learn to take this act seriously, signing ourselves frequently with faith and reverence, remarkable results can take place. The sign of the cross represents the victory of Jesus Christ over death. 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.” In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. 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. In his book “What Happens at Mass,” Fr. Third, make the sign to declare that you belong to Christ as His disciple and will obey Him. – S.M. 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. They said, it’s a good sign. The reason for making a cross during this period of the Mass is to highlight the importance of the Word of … Q. Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically? We need to do better as Catholics and not presume that everyone knows, even our own children, everything that we are doing. 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. If we use an open hand with all five fingers extended, we express an openness to Christ and symbolize his five wounds. Crossing oneself is an act of sanctification.. Our souls, our bodies, and our lives are sanctified—set … 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 … We are asking the Lord to renew in us those baptismal graces. Filipino worshippers wave palm fronds in front of crucifix during Palm Sunday Mass March 25 in Manila, Philippines. But, more importantly, the sign is also an offensive weapon, helping us reclaim with Christ all that Satan lost at the cross. 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. Sign of Grace, Sign of Glory. 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. 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. 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. It still works the same way for us. Why do we make the sign of the cross at Mass after the procession, entrance chant, and the veneration of the Altar? That much alone would be enough to transform us spiritually, wouldn’t it? 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). Prayers may also be made by gestures. There is nothing superstitious or rote about making the sign of the cross. If we do not respect this connection, we are open to all kinds of dangers — psychological, physiological, and spiritual. There are slight differences in how it is made between the various rites of the Church, but they are all legitimate. Bert Ghezzi is the author of numerous books, most recently “The Sign of the Cross: Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer” (Loyola, 2006). Sign of Grace, Sign of Glory. When used in this way,the large Sign of the Cross is made in the air. Amen. Answered by Fr. St. Augustine (d. 430) mentioned and described it many times in his sermons and letters. There are several reasons why we make the sign of the cross physically. Jesus promised us that suffering would be a normal part of a disciple’s life (see Lk 9:23-24). This “lay blessing” is common in Catholic cultures, made by parents on their children before bed or before going out or on a trip. 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. Not all prayers are made with words. It is a Prayer we say - when words fail us (example in times of an emergency - and i need a result - quick!!). When we make this sign of the cross, in any form, it’s an outward act to profess our inward faith in the Trinity. When we sign ourselves we are making ourselves aware of God’s presence and opening ourselves to His action in our lives. 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). We just have to open the door. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Making the triple Sign of the Cross like this before the Gospel is a longstanding tradition. 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. 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 … But there is much, much more. Type on the field below and hit Enter/Return to search, Helping Catholics know & love the Lord and his Church. 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. This sign declares that, through our baptism, we belong to God. 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. In the name of the Father At Mass, why do we make the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads, lips and hearts right before the Gospel? Laypersons as well as clergy can use it to bless others. Words often accompany the sign of the cross, but they are not essential. Catholics occasionally make the Sign of the Cross casually, just as a nice gesture for commencing and ending their prayers. 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.” Making the sign is our taking up the cross and following Him (Lk 9:23). Once we grasp them, we can make the gesture with more faith and experience its great blessings. Because we are both body and soul (a human being is not one or the other; a human being is both! 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. 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. 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!”. 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. In those days, Christians made the sign of the cross (Redemption) with three fingers (Trinity) on their foreheads. 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. 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. This kind of spiritual attack involves not only an increasingly common psychological pathology, but also illustrates that our minds and bodies are connected. 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. The two fingers symbolized the divine and human natures of Christ. The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in God as He has revealed himself. 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. We begin and end our prayers with the Sign of the Cross, perhaps not realizing that the sign is … The prayer remains the same. In a way, when we combine this gesture with a vocal prayer, we make two prayers. 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. First-century Christians began making the sign of the cross as a reminder and renewal of what happened to them when they were baptized. It still works the same way for us. By make the sign of the cross, we acknowledge that he has redeemed us, and that through baptism we have … We use it to call God's blessing upon us. 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. 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. It is a powerful prayer, a sacramental of the Church. Catholics occasionally make the Sign of the Cross casually, just as a nice gesture for commencing and ending their prayers. Both actions remind us of the two thieves who were crucified alongside Christ. Making the sign of the cross, or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. 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. 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. The thumb is often bent to touch the ring finger in the two-finger position. 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 all make this holy sign, but how many of us give any thought to the mysteries it signifies! Catholics use the sign of the cross daily in Mass and prayer. The first, most simple reason is it a Prayer. They said. The sign of the cross is made by touching the hand to one’s forehead, then to the chest and then to each shoulder. WHY WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. Fourth, sign yourself to embrace whatever suffering comes and to celebrate your suffering with Christ for the Church. It is a prayer to God and He knows exactly what we need. Follow this tradition in Latin Rite and Protestant churches. The Sign of the Cross and Our Baptism. The sign of the cross speaks and confesses. I notice, however, that many Catholics do make the sign of the cross at that time. If we use an open hand with all five fingers extended, we express an openness to Christ and symbolize his five wounds. It is thus that the ox and the horse browse on the sweet flowers hidden in the meadow grass, unconscious that they are there. Driscoll What does the Bible have to say about the sign of the cross? It serves as an abbreviated form of the Apostles’ Creed. 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. Many other hand shapes are also in use. As such the body is united in the prayer of the soul though a physical action. 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. Making the Sign of the Cross may be the most common of all actions that Catholics do. 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. We also use it, in both large and small versions, to bless others or things, such as a rosary. Anyway, I hope that helps newbies and even oldies who had never thought about why we do that. The gestures remind our bodies as the words remind our minds of what we believe and what we are doing. At baptism the Lord claimed us as His own by marking us with the Sign of the Cross. Move from left to right things, such as a nice gesture for commencing ending... On our foreheads, lips and hearts right before the Gospel is powerful... 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