Ethan Walker
The Sign of the Cross is a sacramental practice in the Roman Catholic Church. It involves tracing an upright 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 right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. This practice has been documented in early Christianity and is associated with various symbolic meanings and interpretations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand movement | From top (forehead) to bottom (chest) and then from left (left shoulder) to right (right shoulder) |
| Hand shape | Thumb, pointer, and middle fingers together, ring and pinky touching palm |
| Prayer | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." |
| Symbolism | The forehead symbolizes Heaven, the solar plexus (or top of the stomach) symbolizes Earth, and the shoulders symbolize power |
| Variations | Some people may first place their hand in holy water, return their hand to the top of the stomach after moving it across their shoulders, or recite a prayer |
| Regional differences | In some Catholic regions, such as Spain, Italy, and Latin America, people form a cross with their index finger and thumb and then kiss it |
| History | The small sign of the cross has been documented in early Christianity and was applied to the forehead during rites of baptism and anointing of the sick |
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What You'll Learn
The order of the sign: top to bottom, left to right
The sign of the cross is a Catholic tradition and a simple prayer. There is a specific way to make the sign of the cross, and it is done at specific times.
The right hand moves from the top (forehead) to the bottom (chest or stomach) and then from left (left shoulder) to right (right shoulder). This is the way Roman Catholics and Western Catholics (the Latin Church) make the sign of the cross.
Most Eastern Christians, including Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutherans, and Eastern Catholics, do it in a different order: from top to bottom and then from right to left. This is because, in the biblical worldview, the right side is good, noble, and heavenly, while the left is bad, low, and earthly.
Within the Roman Catholic Church, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, defined as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments" and "always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, or the sprinkling of holy water".
The movement during the blessing is sometimes distorted, as when a priest blesses an individual, the person receiving the blessing tends to criss-cross the priest's movement with their own hand, rather than mirroring it.
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The hand: right hand, three fingers
The Sign of the Cross is a profoundly symbolic gesture used in Christianity, made by tracing a cross shape with the hand on the forehead, chest, and shoulders. The gesture represents the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and expresses faith, blessing, or prayer.
There is no "proper" hand position when making the sign of the cross, as this is a matter of culture rather than church discipline. However, in the Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Lutheran churches, the tips of the first three fingers (the thumb, index, and middle fingers) are brought together, and the last two fingers (the ring and little fingers) are pressed against the palm. This three-finger gesture is also used in the Syriac Christian tradition. The three fingers express one's faith in the Trinity, while the remaining two fingers represent the two natures of Jesus, divine and human.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the sign of the cross is traditionally made with the right hand, with all fingers pointing up, in recognition of Christ's five wounds on the cross. The right hand is first touched to the forehead, then moved down to the centre of the chest or sternum, then to the left shoulder, and finally to the right shoulder. This movement from left to right is said to represent Christ's descent from heaven to earth and his movement from the Jews to the Gentiles.
Some sources suggest that the left hand should be placed on the breast during the sign, with the right hand touching a little higher. This method was taught by the nuns of the Brigittine Monastery of Sion in England in the 15th century, reflecting Jesus' descent from the Father (forehead), birth as a man (breast), suffering on the Cross (left shoulder), and ascension to sit at the right hand of the Father (right shoulder).
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The meaning: biblical interpretations of left and right
The Sign of the Cross is a ritual performed by Roman Catholics, moving their hand from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right. Eastern Christians follow a different order, starting from the right shoulder and ending on the left.
Theologically, the biblical meaning of "the left side" is different from "the right side". In the biblical worldview, the right side is associated with goodness, nobility, and heavenliness, while the left is linked to evil, lowliness, and earthliness. This interpretation is reflected in the English word "right," signifying correctness or justice, and the French word "gauche" (left), which carries a negative connotation.
In the Bible, the right hand is often associated with seniority, honour, and power. For example, in Genesis 48:17-19, Joseph wanted his father to place his right hand on the head of the firstborn son, Ephraim, signifying blessing and favour. Similarly, in Matthew 25:33, Christ is described as separating the sheep (on his right) from the goats (on his left), indicating salvation for those on his right and condemnation for those on his left.
The Bible also uses the right hand to symbolise offensive military action, engagement, or interaction, while the left hand is employed in defence, thrusting away, or covering. For instance, in Judges 3:21 and 2 Samuel 20:9, the unexpected use of the left hand to wield a weapon catches opponents off guard.
The direction and order of the Sign of the Cross, from left to right, can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of ascension and salvation, in contrast to the right-to-left motion, which may symbolise incarnation.
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The history: early Christians used the small sign
The sign of the cross is a ritual hand motion made by most Christians, usually accompanied by the trinitarian formula from Matthew 28:19: "In/into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
The small sign of the cross has been documented in early Christianity by Tertullian, an Ante-Nicene Church Father, who wrote in AD 204 in De Corona ('On Crowns'): "In all our actions, when we come in or go out, when we dress, when we wash, at our meals, before retiring to sleep we form on our foreheads the sign of the cross."
In the 4th century, the small sign of the cross was applied to various parts of the body. By the 6th century, the large sign of the cross had developed as a "four-point movement traced across the chest or in the air".
In the first centuries of Christianity, the cross was traced by believers with the thumb or finger on their own foreheads. The baptismal rite in section 21 of The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome (c. 215) preserves an older second-century practice that required pastors to seal the sign of the cross on the forehead.
Tertullian told of a woman who signed her bed, and St. Cyril of Jerusalem described Christians tracing the cross "over the bread we eat and the cups we drink". Using the sign of the cross as a blessing may have prompted some Christians to make the larger sign.
The sign of the cross, according to the earliest centuries of Christians, is "the sign of the Lord", and every baptised Christian was "marked" with it. Early Christians probably learned to make the sign of the cross at their baptism when the celebrant marked them with it to claim them for Christ.
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Variations: some regions kiss the cross made by thumb and index finger
The act of kissing the cross made by the thumb and index finger is a variation of the traditional Catholic sign of the cross. This variation is commonly associated with specific regions and cultural practices.
In Latin America, for example, Catholics often recognise the formation of a cross when the thumb and index finger intersect during the sign of the cross. After completing the gesture, individuals kiss the intersection of the joints that form this "handheld" cross. This practice is also observed in other regions, such as Italy and other parts of Southern Europe.
Similarly, in Hispanic and Latin cultures, it is common to kiss the thumb or the first three fingers, including the index finger, before or after making the sign of the cross. This custom is also adopted by Filipino Catholics, who consider it a way to demonstrate their devotion and love for the Lord.
The sign of the cross itself is performed by touching the forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder in that order. This sequence differs between Roman Catholics and Eastern Christians. While Roman Catholics go from top to bottom and then from left to right, Eastern Christians typically move from top to bottom and then from right to left.
The direction of the sign of the cross holds symbolic significance. In the biblical worldview, the right side is associated with goodness, nobility, and heaven, while the left side represents badness, lowliness, and earthliness. Thus, moving from left to right during the sign of the cross can symbolise ascension, while moving from right to left can signify incarnation.
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Frequently asked questions
The sign of the cross is a sacramental, which the Catholic Church defines as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments" that "signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature". It is done by tracing an upright 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 right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder.
There are several interpretations. The forehead symbolizes Heaven, the solar plexus (or top of the stomach) symbolizes the earth, and the shoulders symbolize the place and sign of power. The movement from the left shoulder to the right shoulder also represents salvation through Jesus, as those who are sent to the left are damned while those sent to the right are saved.
The small sign of the cross is made with the thumb on the forehead, sometimes using holy water or anointing oil. It is made during the rites of baptism and the anointing of the sick in Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism.
Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) explained that the sign of the cross is made with three fingers because the signing is done with the invocation of the Trinity.
