Sarah Mitchell
The sign of the cross is a form of prayer in the Catholic tradition. It is a gesture that is said to profess the central truths of the Catholic faith. The sign of the cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand, often accompanied by the Trinitarian formula: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The movement echoes the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus. While there is no proper hand position, the right hand is usually involved, and the fingers are held in various ways. The index and middle fingers are often held together, symbolizing Christ's divine and human natures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Direction | Left to right or right to left |
| Hand Position | Open palm, two fingers (index and middle), or three fingers (index, middle, and thumb) |
| Recitation | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," or other blessings or prayers |
| Body Parts Touched | Forehead, lips, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder |
| Purpose | Prayer, blessing, or sanctification of daily activities |
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What You'll Learn
The direction of the sign
In contrast, the Eastern Church, including Eastern Orthodox Churches, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches in the Byzantine and Syriac Christian traditions, typically make the sign of the cross from right to left. This tradition is considered the orthodox way and has been practised since the early church.
Some people also make a small sign of the cross with their thumb on their forehead, lips, and breast, symbolizing the beginning of the Gospel lesson. This practice has been documented in early Christianity and is still used in various Christian traditions during rites of baptism, anointing of the sick, and deliverance prayers.
The sign of the cross is a form of prayer and a witness of one's faith. It is a powerful gesture that has been used to sanctify daily life and elevate activities, drawing one nearer to God.
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The number of fingers used
However, other sources state that the thumb, index, and middle fingertips should be held together, with the index and pinky fingers tucked into the palm, again to represent the Two Natures of Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity.
In some Catholic regions, such as Spain, Italy, and Latin America, it is customary to form a cross with only the index finger and thumb and then to kiss one's thumb at the conclusion of the gesture.
Some Catholics also make the sign of the cross with an open hand, using all five fingers to remind them of the five wounds of Christ.
There is debate over whether the sign of the cross should be made from right to left or left to right. The direction may depend on the tradition of the church being attended, with some churches using the left-to-right direction to symbolise ascension and blessing, while others use the right-to-left direction to symbolise incarnation and inviting the Holy Spirit in.
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The order of the words
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer in the Catholic tradition. While making the sign of the cross, one says, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," which symbolises our belief in the Trinity.
- "In the name of the Father..."—Touch the centre of your chest. Bring your hand down to your sternum. Some people place their left hand on their breast and touch the right hand a little higher than it.
- "...and of the Son..."—Touch your left shoulder.
- "...and of the Holy..."—Touch your right shoulder.
- "...Spirit."—The movement from the left shoulder to the right shoulder is the typical Western way.
The direction of the sign of the cross may also depend on the tradition of the church one is attending. Some Catholics make the sign of the cross from right to left, while others make it from left to right.
The Sign of the Cross is an ancient Catholic prayer that symbolises our belief in the Trinity. It is a powerful gesture that elevates whatever activity we are doing, bringing us nearer to God.
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The blessing
The sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign that resembles the sacraments and is used to signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature. It is a powerful prayer and a holy symbol that is used to ward off evil and bless oneself in a time of prayer or need. It is also used to signify the victory of Jesus Christ over death. The sign of the cross is made by touching one's forehead, chest, left shoulder, and then right shoulder with a finger or a few fingers. The use of three fingers is considered formal and proper, especially when entering a church. The sign of the cross is often made with holy water, especially during baptisms, and is also used to bless objects such as one's bed before sleeping.
In the Roman Catholic Liturgy, when the gospel reading is announced, Catholics make a small cross on their forehead, lips, and heart. This is a prayer asking God to imprint the message of the Gospel on their mind, lips, and heart. The sign of the cross is also made during prayer and is commonly paired with genuflection (kneeling on one knee as a sign of respect). It is often used to begin and end prayers, as well as during the Catholic Mass and other liturgical services.
The sign of the cross is a way to elevate daily activities and draw nearer to God. It is a reminder of one's baptism and an expression of faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many Catholics learn to make the sign of the cross as children and continue to use it throughout their lives.
Blessings are not sacraments, but they are a way to convey a message of approval and support. The Church's Book of Blessings contains texts for individual blessings, as well as introductions and a general introduction to the subject. Blessings can be given to meals, children, or simply saying "God bless you" to another person. Parental blessings are also common, such as the Aaronic Blessing from the book of Numbers: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26).
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The history of the sign
The sign of the cross is a ritual hand motion made by the vast majority of the world's Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics. The motion symbolizes the Cross of Calvary by tracing the shape of the cross in the air or on one's own body.
The sign of the cross, according to the earliest centuries of Christians, is "the sign of the Lord," and every baptized Christian was "marked" with it. In the first centuries of Christianity, the cross was traced by believers with the thumb or finger on their own foreheads. By the third century, Christians frequently marked their foreheads with the cross, and they also traced the sign on their lips and breasts, as we still do today when the Gospel is announced at Mass. They also made the sign in the air as a blessing over persons and things.
During the Reformation of the sixteenth century, some Christians repudiated the sign of the cross because they judged it to be superstitious. However, Martin Luther himself did not abandon it and recommended the practice in his Small Catechism in an appendix on family prayer.
The actual motion of the large sign of the cross is heavily disputed. The Eastern Orthodox state that the right-to-left motion is the more ancient way, while writings by Bar Salibi and other Syriac prose writers show that the left-to-right motion predates the right-to-left signage. Western Catholics (the Latin Church) and Western Lutherans have made the motion from left to right, while Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutherans, and Eastern Catholics move from right to left. This gesture was also used in Western Europe into the high Middle Ages.
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