Michael Brooks
The Sign of the Cross is a common practice for Christians in liturgical churches, especially those of the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican (Episcopal) denominations. 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. Roman Catholics make the sign of the cross in the following order: The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest and then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand | Right hand |
| Fingers | Thumb, index, and middle fingertips together |
| Two other fingers tucked into the palm | |
| First touchpoint | Forehead |
| Say | "In the name of the Father......" |
| Second touchpoint | Centre of the chest |
| Say | "...and of the Son......" |
| Third touchpoint | Front of the left shoulder |
| Say | "...and of the Holy......" |
| Fourth touchpoint | Front of the right shoulder |
| Say | "...Spirit." |
| Direction | Top to bottom, left to right |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of the left and right sides
The sign of the cross is a common practice for Christians in liturgical churches, especially the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican (Episcopal) churches. It is used to begin and end prayers and ceremonies, as well as to ask God for a blessing.
Roman Catholics make the sign of the cross in the following order: The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. Most Eastern Christians follow a different order: from the forehead to the chest, then from the right shoulder to the left shoulder.
Theologically, the biblical meaning of "the left side" is different from "the right side". In the biblical worldview, the right side is good, noble, and heavenly, while the left is bad, low, and earthly. This interpretation is reflected in the English word "right," which generally carries positive connotations.
Historically, the left side and left-handedness have been considered negative. The Latin word "sinister" originally meant "left" but evolved to signify "evil" or "unlucky" in Classical Latin. Similarly, the Anglo-Saxon word "lyft" means "weak." In Sanskrit, the word "vāma" stands for "left," "wicked," "north," and "opposite." This bias against left-handedness has persisted in modern times, with some cultures considering the left hand "dirty."
In contrast, the right hand has been associated with skill and blessing. The Latin word for right-handed, "dexter," is related to "dexterity," implying manual skill. In sacred images, Jesus is often depicted raising his right hand in blessing, and he is described as seated at the "right hand of the Father."
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The three-finger blessing
To perform the three-finger blessing, hold your right thumb, index, and middle fingertips together. The three fingers represent the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), brought together in the Godhead. Tuck your ring and pinky fingers into the palm of your hand, representing the Two Natures of Jesus Christ (meaning He is fully human and fully divine).
Touch your fingertips to your forehead, then bring your hand down to your sternum or solar plexus (the top of your stomach). Some people place their left hand on their breast during the sign, touching the right hand a little higher. Then, touch the front of your left shoulder, followed by your right shoulder. In the Orthodox tradition, some people are concerned that touching your chest makes an inverted cross, so instead of touching your chest or stomach, you can bring your hand all the way down to touch the ground.
The movement of the three-finger blessing echoes the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus. The words that accompany this blessing are: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," which symbolize belief in the Trinity.
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The five wounds of Christ
In the Catholic tradition, the sign of the cross is a form of prayer. To do this, you must hold your right thumb, index, and middle fingertips together. The ring and pinky fingers are tucked into the palm, representing the two natures of Jesus Christ (fully human and fully divine). Touch your forehead, saying, "In the name of the Father...", then touch your chest, saying, "...and of the Son...", then your left shoulder, "...and of the Holy...", and finally your right shoulder "...Spirit".
Now, onto the topic of this prayer: The Five Wounds of Christ. These wounds were inflicted on Jesus during his crucifixion and have been the subject of many medieval prayers, including some attributed to Clare of Assisi. The wounds are associated with Christ's crucifixion: the nail wounds on his hands and feet, and the wound from the Holy Lance that pierced his side.
The wounds themselves can be seen as a form of reparation for different sins. For example, the Agony in the Garden represents interior sins of thought, while the Scourging at the Pillar represents sins of the flesh. Christ's humiliation at the Crowning with Thorns offers reparation for pride.
The contemplation of these wounds is an essential aspect of Catholic devotion, as Pope Francis has emphasised during the Holy Season of Lent. Through meditation on Christ's suffering, Catholics find healing and strength, drawing closer to God through the sacrifice of His Son.
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Blessing yourself vs blessing someone else
In the Catholic Church, blessing yourself is a formal ritual gesture of the church, marking you as a Christian. It involves making the Sign of the Cross on your forehead, heart, and both shoulders, signifying acceptance of the demands of discipleship over your thoughts, desires, and deeds. This is typically accompanied by the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," symbolizing belief in the Holy Trinity. When blessing yourself, the right hand moves from top to bottom (forehead to chest) and then from left to right (left shoulder to right shoulder).
Blessing someone else is a rite performed by a duly qualified minister or, in some cases, a layperson with spiritual authority, such as a parent over a child. It involves making the Sign of the Cross over the person, invoking God's blessing upon them. When blessing another person, the hand typically faces out to some degree and moves from left to right, symbolizing ascension and blessing them to ascend to Heaven.
In the Catholic tradition, the sign of the cross is also made during genuflection, a gesture signifying humility, service, and love, often directed toward the altar before Mass. It is also common to begin and end prayers and ceremonies with the sign of the cross, as well as occasionally using it as a standalone practice to ask God for blessings.
While the specific direction and meaning of the hand movements differ between blessing yourself and blessing others, both acts hold significant symbolic value within the Catholic Church and are often accompanied by words invoking the Holy Trinity.
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The correct order of the sign of the cross
The sign of the cross is a common practice for Christians in liturgical churches, especially the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican (Episcopal) churches.
The sign of the cross is a form of prayer. As one makes the sign of the cross, they say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," which symbolizes our belief in the Trinity.
The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. This is the typical Western way. In the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran, and Byzantine Catholic (Eastern Catholic) churches, the movement is from the forehead to the stomach, then from the right shoulder to the left shoulder.
The direction of the 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.
The movement from the left shoulder to the right shoulder is said to symbolise moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise. The right side is considered good, noble, and heavenly, while the left side is considered bad, low, and earthly.
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Frequently asked questions
This is known as the Sign of the Cross. It is a common practice for Christians in liturgical churches, especially the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican (Episcopal) churches. To make the sign, use your right hand to touch your forehead, then the middle of your chest, then the front of your left shoulder, and finally, the front of your right shoulder.
As you make the sign of the cross, say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," which symbolizes our belief in the Holy Trinity.
The Sign of the Cross is a profoundly symbolic gesture used in Christianity. It represents the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and expresses faith, blessing, or prayer.
There are several theological interpretations of the difference. In a simplified manner, the right side is good, noble, and heavenly, while the left is bad, low, and earthly. Moving from left to right symbolizes moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise.
Most sources say that the Sign of the Cross should be made using the right hand. However, some people are left-handed and choose to use their left hand.
