Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church has a collection of official rituals called the Rituale Romanum, which includes the blessing of a cross. A priest recites the solemn blessing intended for crosses for public display, such as on the wall of a church. The blessing goes as follows: Our help is in the name of the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. The Lord be with you. May He also be with you. Let us pray. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, be pleased to bless this cross, that it may be a saving help to mankind. Let it be the support of faith, an encouragement to good works, the redemption of souls; and let it be consolation, protection, and a shield against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ our Lord. A small cross, such as one worn around the neck, can also be blessed by a priest, who may say: May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cross | Plain cross or crucifix |
| Who can bless it | Priest, deacon, or other religious leader |
| Blessing for a small cross | "May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." |
| Blessing for a publicly displayed cross | "Our help is in the name of the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. The Lord be with you. May He also be with you. Let us pray. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, be pleased to bless this cross, that it may be a saving help to mankind. Let it be the support of faith, an encouragement to good works, the redemption of souls; and let it be consolation, protection, and a shield against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ our Lord." |
| Blessing movement | Left to right or right to left |
| How to cross yourself | Touch your forehead, then your chest or stomach, followed by your left or right shoulder, and finally the opposite shoulder |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a cross or crucifix
The first step to blessing a cross is to choose a cross or a crucifix. A plain cross consists only of the shape of the cross, while a crucifix also has an image of Christ on it. Either can be blessed, but the crucifix is used in most official Catholic and Orthodox ceremonies. Protestants typically prefer the bare cross, not the crucifix.
There are many variations of the cross and the crucifix, with different numbers and types of crossbars, and the appearance or lack of various letters. Some crucifixes include a skull beneath Christ's feet, representing the bones of Adam. This is more common in Catholic tradition, but is not required or banned by most denominations. If you belong to a church, you may wish to ask your priest or minister what type of cross your denomination uses.
For a small cross, such as one you would wear around your neck, the blessing used is up to the priest. One possible Catholic blessing is: "May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
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Understand the importance of sacramentals
Sacramentals are an important part of Catholic life and faith. They are sacred signs that prepare us to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify different circumstances of our lives. They are instituted by the Church and can be in the form of actions, objects, places, prayers, or sacred time.
Sacramentals are different from sacraments, which are the foundation of spiritual life for individuals and the Church. While sacraments are sources of grace and signs of God's love, sacramentals are signs that can build holiness but do not work on their own. One must be aware and fully conscious of the sacred action to benefit from sacramentals. They sanctify us to get the most out of the sacraments.
The sign of the cross is one of the most fundamental sacramentals. Catholics make this invocation at the start of every sacred action and prayer. Holy water is another common sacramental, reminding Catholics of their Baptism. Other examples of sacramentals include blessings, genuflections, bowing one's head at the name of Jesus, church processions, candles, statues, icons, holy pictures, blessed ashes, palms, rosaries, relics, incense, vestments, scapulars, church buildings, crosses, religious medals, holy places like the Holy Land or Rome, liturgy, holy days, feasts of saints, special days of prayer, fasting, and retreats.
Sacramentals are not superstitions or holdovers from pre-Christian days. They are not Catholic substitutes for pagan practices. Instead, they interact with the senses and provide something tangible to hold on to, look at, touch, sing, chant, or recite. They are reminders of God's power, love, glory, protection, forgiveness, and mercy. They help Catholics stay connected to their faith and experience a richer, more textured Catholicism in their daily lives.
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Learn the hand gesture for blessing
The sign of the cross is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments". It is used to begin one's day, prayers, and activities, and is performed by making the shape of a cross with your hand and touching it to your forehead, chest or stomach, left shoulder, then right shoulder.
In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, the three-finger blessing is used, where you hold your right thumb, index, and middle fingertips together, tucking your other fingers into the palm of your hand. This represents the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity and the Two Natures of Jesus Christ. In the Western tradition, you would touch your forehead, then your chest or stomach, then your left shoulder and finally your right shoulder.
When blessing someone else, your hand should face outward to some degree and go from left to right, symbolising ascension and blessing the person to ascend to Heaven. When blessing yourself, you would go from right to left, inviting the Holy Spirit in.
The sign of the cross can also be made with holy water or anointing oil on your forehead. This can be done before sleep, as Christians of various denominations also mark the doors, windows, and lintels of their houses with the sign of the cross using holy anointing oil for a house blessing.
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Know the words to recite
The words to recite when blessing a cross depend on the type of cross and the Christian denomination. Here are some examples of blessings used by Catholic priests:
For a Small Cross
A small cross is typically worn around the neck. The blessing used is usually left to the discretion of the priest. Here is an example of a Catholic blessing for a small cross:
> "May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
For a Publicly Displayed Cross or Crucifix
In the Catholic Church, a publicly displayed cross or crucifix, such as one mounted on a church wall, requires a priest to recite the official blessing. Here is an example of a solemn blessing from the Rituale Romanum:
> Priest: "Our help is in the name of the Lord."
> All: "Who made heaven and earth."
> Priest: "The Lord be with you."
> All: "May He also be with you."
> Priest: "Let us pray. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, be pleased to bless this cross, that it may be a saving help to mankind. Let it be the support of faith, an encouragement to good works, the redemption of souls; and let it be consolation, protection, and a shield against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ our Lord."
For a Cross During a Baptism or Anointing of the Sick
During rites such as baptism or the anointing of the sick, the priest may bless the forehead of the individual with a small cross using holy water or anointing oil. A prayer that may accompany this blessing is:
> "With the sign of this cross, I am making a declaration that this [person/house] belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, that no sickness, death, thief, or evil can enter."
For a Cross During a House Blessing
A similar blessing can be used for a house, marking the doors, windows, and lintels with the sign of the cross using holy anointing oil:
> "With the sign of this cross, I am making a declaration that this house belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, that no sickness, death, thief, or evil can enter this home."
Other Blessings
There are also other blessings that can be recited during the sign of the cross, such as:
> "Lord / Jesus Christ / Son of God / have mercy on us."
> "My hope is the Father. / My refuge is the Son. / My protection is the Holy Spirit. / Holy Trinity, glory to Thee."
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Ask a priest to bless the cross
If you want to get a cross blessed by a priest, you can choose between a plain cross or a crucifix, which also includes an image of Christ on the cross. While both types can be blessed, the crucifix is used in most official Catholic and Orthodox ceremonies. If you are unsure, you can ask your priest or minister about the type of cross your denomination uses.
For a small cross, such as a necklace, the priest can choose the blessing. A possible Catholic blessing is:
> "May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
For a publicly displayed Catholic cross or crucifix, a priest can recite the official blessing from the Rituale Romanum. This blessing is as follows:
Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Priest: Let us pray. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, be pleased to bless this cross, that it may be a saving help to mankind. Let it be the support of faith, an encouragement to good works, the redemption of souls; and let it be consolation, protection, and a shield against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ our Lord.
After the blessing, the priest may kneel before the cross and venerate and kiss it. Others may do the same.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use either a plain cross or a crucifix, which includes an image of Christ. If you are a member of a church, ask your priest or minister which type your denomination uses.
You can ask a priest, deacon, or other church leader to bless the cross for you. If you wish to bless it yourself, you can say: "May this cross and the one who uses it be blessed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
In Catholic practice, sacramental objects are typically created by God through the church, not by laypeople. A blessing from a priest or other religious leader is therefore considered more effective.
The sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign that resembles the sacraments. It is made by touching your fingertips to your forehead, then your chest or stomach, followed by your left or right shoulder, and finally the opposite shoulder.
The sign of the cross is typically made at the beginning of the day, before prayer, or at the start of an activity. It is also made during certain rituals, such as baptism.
