Sarah Mitchell
The Sign of the Cross is a common practice in many Christian traditions, including Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy. In the Catholic Church, the Sign of the Cross is made by touching the fingertips of the right hand to the forehead, then moving down to the chest, followed by the left shoulder and finally, the right shoulder. This movement is often accompanied by the recitation of the Trinitarian formula: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Sign of the Cross is typically made at the start of worship or when blessing oneself outside of church, and it is considered a way for Catholics to express their faith and devotion to Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand Position | Hold your right thumb, index, and middle fingertips together. |
| Tuck your index and pinky fingers into the palm of your hand. | |
| The three extended fingers represent the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, and the two folded fingers represent the Two Natures of Jesus Christ (fully human and fully divine). | |
| Starting Position | Touch your fingertips to your forehead. |
| Order of Movement | Forehead, chest or stomach, left shoulder, right shoulder. |
| Eastern Christians, both Catholic and Orthodox, reverse the order, touching their right shoulder first and then their left shoulder. | |
| Invocation | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." |
| Timing | When entering a church, before and after prayer, before eating, when passing a church, at the start of worship, when blessing yourself outside of church, and during Mass. |
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What You'll Learn
- The right hand moves from forehead to chest, then left to right shoulder
- The small sign is made with the thumb, or with three fingers
- It is made before and after prayer, when entering and leaving church
- It is a creed, a statement of belief and a way of expressing you belong to Christ
- The left-to-right motion is more natural, but the right-to-left motion is traditional
The right hand moves from forehead to chest, then left to right shoulder
The Sign of the Cross is a Catholic tradition and a simple prayer in itself. It is a way of expressing that one belongs to Christ, embracing His cross as one's own. It is also a form of prayer.
The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right. This movement traces the shape of a cross in the air or on one's body, echoing the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus. This movement is also known as the large sign of the cross.
The right hand is used even if one is left-handed. The thumb and the first two fingers are held together, with the other two fingers folded down against the base of the thumb. This style is used by Anglicans, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics. The three fingers held together represent the Holy Trinity, and the two other fingers folded down represent Christ's two natures—that He is fully man and fully divine.
The movement from the forehead to the chest recalls the incarnation of Christ, his coming down from heaven. Moving from the left shoulder to the right shoulder symbolizes moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise.
The Sign of the Cross is made at various times, such as when entering and leaving a church, at the start of worship, before and after prayer, and when blessing oneself outside of church. It is usually accompanied by an invocation of the Holy Trinity, with the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
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The small sign is made with the thumb, or with three fingers
The small sign of the cross is made with the thumb or three fingers. This is done in many contexts, both privately and in church. The sign of the cross is a way of expressing that one belongs to Christ, embracing his cross as one's own. It can also be a form of prayer.
In the 4th century, the small sign of the cross was applied to various parts of the body. The 6th century saw the development of the large sign of the cross as a "four-point movement traced across the chest or in the air". The small sign of the cross is made on the forehead during the rites of baptism and the anointing of the sick in Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. It is also made on the forehead of the recipient during ordinations, anointing of the sick and deliverance prayers in the Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal traditions of Christianity.
The small sign of the cross is made with the thumb, or with three fingers. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the small sign of the cross is made with the fingertips of the right hand touching the forehead, then the chest or stomach, followed by the left shoulder, and finally the right shoulder. In Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, the three-finger blessing is used. The three fingers represent the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, brought together in the Godhead. The index and pinky fingers are tucked into the palm of the hand, representing the Two Natures of Jesus Christ (meaning He is fully human and fully divine).
The small sign of the cross is also made during the Mass of the Roman Rite in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Churches. The celebrant makes this gesture on the Gospel book and—together with the congregation—on his forehead, lips, and heart at the proclamation of the Gospel (known as the lesser sign of the cross). On Ash Wednesday, the small sign of the cross is traced in ashes on the forehead.
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It is made before and after prayer, when entering and leaving church
The Sign of the Cross is a common practice in the Catholic Church. It is made before and after prayer, when entering and leaving a church, and at other times, such as before meals or when passing a church.
To make the Sign of the Cross, you should use your right hand and touch your fingertips to your forehead, saying "In the name of the Father". Then, move your hand down to the middle of your chest, saying "and of the Son". Next, touch your left shoulder on the word "Holy" and then your right shoulder on the word "Spirit", concluding with "Amen". This movement traces the shape of the cross, echoing the crucifixion of Jesus.
The three joined fingers used in the Sign of the Cross symbolise the Holy Trinity, and the two other fingers represent Christ's dual nature as fully human and fully divine.
The small sign of the cross is also made on the forehead during rites of baptism and the anointing of the sick, and on Ash Wednesday, it is traced in ashes. The large sign of the cross may be used when entering a church, and involves dipping your fingers into holy water before making the sign.
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It is a creed, a statement of belief and a way of expressing you belong to Christ
The sign of the cross is a creed and a statement of belief for Christians, including Catholics. It is a way of expressing that one belongs to Christ. The act of crossing oneself is a prayer and a way of remembering Christ's sacrifice. It is also a way of seeking protection and providential grace from God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the sign of the cross marks a person with the imprint of Christ, signifying the grace of redemption Christ won through his crucifixion. The act of crossing oneself is a way of remembering that one belongs to Christ. Each time a Catholic makes the sign of the cross, they recall their baptism and the fact that they have been marked as belonging to Christ.
The sign of the cross is also believed to strengthen believers in times of temptation and difficulty. It is a way of seeking protection and providence from God. The early Christian tradition of making the sign of the cross on one's forehead is also a way of seeking God's protection and grace. This tradition has been documented by Tertullian, an Ante-Nicene Church Father, who wrote in AD 204 that Christians would make the sign of the cross on their foreheads and on objects such as their beds before sleeping.
The large sign of the cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand. This movement echoes the shape of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The small sign of the cross is made on the forehead during baptism and the anointing of the sick.
The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right. This movement symbolizes Christ's descent from Heaven to Earth. The biblical meaning of "the left side" is different from "the right side," with the right side symbolizing what is good, noble, and heavenly, and the left symbolizing what is bad, low, and earthly.
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The left-to-right motion is more natural, but the right-to-left motion is traditional
When performing the Catholic sign of the cross, there is a specific way to do it, but the direction in which the motion is made is a matter of personal preference and tradition. The right-to-left motion is the traditional way to perform the Catholic sign of the cross. This means that one would start by touching their forehead with their right hand, then moving their hand down to their left shoulder, across to their right shoulder, and finally, finishing by bringing their hand back to their left shoulder. This traditional method is likely to be the one that you will see most often in Catholic churches and ceremonies. It is also the way that most Catholics are taught to make the sign of the cross from a young age.
However, some people find the left-to-right motion more natural. This involves starting with the left hand on the forehead and moving it down to the right shoulder, then crossing to the left shoulder, and finishing by bringing the hand back to the right shoulder. This method may feel more comfortable for some people, especially those who are left-handed or simply have a dominant left side.
The important aspect of making the sign of the cross is not so much the direction of the motion, but rather the intention and meaning behind it. It is a physical prayer and a sacred action that serves as a reminder of one's faith and devotion to God. Whether done in the traditional right-to-left manner or the left-to-right variation, the sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of Catholicism and a way to connect with one's spiritual beliefs.
While the direction of the motion may vary, the steps and meaning of the Catholic sign of the cross remain consistent. It begins with the sign of the cross, made by touching the forehead, then the chest, then the shoulders, saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." This physical action is often accompanied by spoken or internal prayer, reinforcing one's faith and connection to God.
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