The Sign of the Cross

Catholic Exchange ^ | June 12, 2014 | FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

[NYer]

Editor’s note: This article is courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.

[NYer]

This practice was universal for the whole Church until about the twelfth century, but continues to be the practice for the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches.

Not true for the Maronite Church which follows the Latin practice of left to right. Ping!

[livius]

I’m not sure the direction is that important, but I always use three fingers to represent the Trinity. (There was a big dispute a couple of centuries ago about the number of fingers among the various Orthodox in Russia - all of them a little too tightly wrapped, IMHO!)

I think the American style can be a little sloppy. Latin Americans and many Europeans tend to cross themselves with one or three fingers and kiss their fingers afterwards. I often make a tiny sign of the cross with my thumb on my chest when a regular one would be impossible or ostentatious.

That said, I don’t think it’s that important. But it should be careful and respectful, unless you’re at the point of death...in which case, cross your arms.

[trisham]

The thumb, forefinger, and middle fingers were held together to symbolize the Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Moreover, these fingers were held in such a way that they represented the Greek abbreviation I X C (Iesus Christus Soter, Jesus Christ Savior): the straight forefinger representing the I; the middle finger crossed with the thumb, the X; and the bent middle finger, the C. The ring finger and “pinky” finger were bent downward against the palm, and symbolize the unity of the human nature and divine nature, and the human will and divine will in the person of Christ. This practice was universal for the whole Church until about the twelfth century, but continues to be the practice for the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches.

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This is what I've always done. Is it incorrect? I am not Eastern Rite or Orthodox.

[Salvation]

The Sign of the Cross

The Biblical Roots of the Sign of the Cross
St. Francis de Sales: How to make the Sign of the Cross [Ecumenical]
The Sign of the Cross [Catholic and Orthodox Caucus]
The Sign Of The Cross [Catholic Caucus]
Sign of the Cross, Sign of All Time (User's Guide to Sunday)
Cross, Sign Of
The Sign of the Cross
In the Name of the Father . . .[The Sign of the Cross]
The Sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross capable of killing microbes

[Rodamala]

Greek clothing traditionally has the watch pocket and wallet pocket reversed.... Spectacles and testicles are the same however.

</sarc>

[aMorePerfectUnion]

In Australia and New Zealand, they make this sign upside down.

[Bigg Red]

My mother taught me to use my forefinger and my middle finger, and the sisters in school taught me the same way. I can’t be the only one here who learned that way.

[Rumplemeyer]

ping

[cloudmountain]

The Sign of the Cross always designates NOT PROTESTANT as much as it designates Catholic. I'm not sure that too many Protestants, know OR care WHICH way the Sign of the Cross is made. They don't do it so why should they care?

[Salvation]

Perfectly OK. Sometimes I will do that, but sometimes I forget.

At the Gospel, though, with the three little signs of the Cross on my forehead, lips and heart, I always do it that way.

God bless.

[Salvation]

Any views here?

[Ace's Dad]

I deeply respect my brother’s and sister-in-law’s making the sign of the cross. Jesus loves us all.

[trisham]

Thanks, Salvation. God bless you, too.

[lightman]

In the Small Catehcism, Luther prescribed beginning the daily morning and evening prayers with the sign of the cross.

Daily Prayers

How the head of the family should teach his household to pray morning and evening

Morning Prayer.

1] In the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

2] Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

3] Then go to your work with joy, singing a hymn, as the Ten Commandments, or what your devotion may suggest.

[Salvation]

Thanks for that addition.

[lightman]

How the head of the family should teach his household to pray morning and evening

A very important reminder for Fathers' Day concerning their most sacred task!

[Salvation]

**A very important reminder for Fathers’ Day concerning their most sacred task! **

Amen!

[ADSUM]

At Mass this evening, Rev Ted Lawson, a visiting Redemptorist priest in his homily asked how to describe God?

His response was the Sign of the Cross... “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

It is directed as a prayer to God, but in the manner of not pointing outward toward Heaven instead it reflects back to us.

He called it the perfect prayer and that he liked to see at meals and even when a basketball player shoots at the free throw line.

[cloudmountain]

1. I deeply respect my brother’s and sister-in-law’s making the sign of the cross.
2. Jesus loves us all.

1. Good on you!
2. Yes, He does.

O Lord, I am not worthy...