Rachel Evans
The Sign of the Cross is a sacred symbol in the Catholic Church, representing a connection to God and Jesus Christ. It is one of the most universal Catholic prayers, with Catholics around the world signing themselves when entering a church or before a meal. The Sign of the Cross is made by touching the forehead, chest, and shoulders, accompanied by the words, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The movement is typically left to right, symbolizing moving from curse to blessing or from Hades to Paradise. The fingers are usually positioned with three fingers together, representing the Holy Trinity, and the remaining two fingers touching the palm, representing Christ's dual nature as fully man and fully divine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fingers used | Three or five |
| Direction | Left to right or right to left |
| Sequence | Forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder |
| Words to say | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The correct way to make the Catholic sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross is one of the most universal and public of all Catholic prayers. It is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments". It is performed by touching the hand sequentially to the forehead, chest or stomach, and both shoulders.
The Sign of the Cross is made by touching the forehead while saying, "In the name of the Father", then moving down to the middle of the chest, saying, "and of the Son", and finally the left and right shoulders, stating, "and of the Holy Spirit, Amen". The movement from left to right symbolises moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise.
The hand position varies. Some Catholics hold three fingers together, representing the Holy Trinity, while the remaining two fingers represent Christ's two natures – fully man and fully divine. Others use an open hand with all five fingers extended, expressing an openness to Christ and symbolising his five wounds.
The Sign of the Cross is made at specific times, such as when entering a Catholic church, before meals in Catholic homes, and at the conclusion of the Entrance Chant in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Catholic Principles of Ecumenism: Unity in Diversity
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The history of the Catholic sign of the cross
The sign of the cross is a ritual hand motion made by the vast majority of the world's Christians. It is made by touching the hand to the forehead, sternum, and then both shoulders. The direction of the movement can vary: right to left, which is the original custom still practised in the Eastern Orthodox churches and throughout Lutheranism; or left to right, as in the Roman Catholic Church.
The History of the Sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross is believed to have its roots in apostolic times as a prayer. In the early church, the sign of the cross was associated with baptism. In the second century, Christians marked their foreheads with the sign of the cross, as evidenced by the early Church Father Tertullian, who wrote:
> In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupieth us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross.
By the third century, Christians also traced the sign of the cross on their lips and breasts, as is still done today when the Gospel is announced at Mass. They also made the sign in the air as a blessing over persons and things. For example, 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".
In the fourth century, the small sign of the cross was applied to various parts of the body. The sixth century saw the development of the large sign of the cross as a "four-point movement traced across the chest or in the air". By the ninth century, Christians in the East were making the larger gesture with the thumb and two fingers displayed, symbolizing the Trinity, and with the ring and little finger folded back, symbolizing Christ's two natures.
The sign of the cross is made at specific times, such as when the crucifix passes in procession and at the close of Mass. It is also made on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, when the celebrant makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of believers during the ceremony of the imposition of ashes.
The Sacrifices of Catholics in World War II
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The meaning of the Catholic sign of the cross
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. It is the most common Catholic prayer, said before and after all other prayers. The gesture represents the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and expresses faith, blessing, or prayer.
The Sign of the Cross is a powerful symbol of faith. It is a sacramental, which the Catholic Church defines as "sacred signs that bear a resemblance to the sacraments". They signify effects, especially of a spiritual nature, obtained through the Church's intercession. The Catechism of the Catholic Church recommends the practice of sanctifying daily life with sacramentals, of which the Sign of the Cross is the chief.
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 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.
When making the Sign of the Cross, Catholics touch their forehead at the mention of the Father, the lower middle of their chest at the mention of the Son, their left shoulder on the word "Holy," and their right shoulder on the word "Spirit." The text of the Sign of the Cross is: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The Sign of the Cross is made at specific times, such as when beginning and ending prayers, entering and leaving a church, and starting Mass. It is also made when passing a Catholic church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle.
Style Guide for Catholic Dressing
You may want to see also
Explore related products
When to make the Catholic sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross is a Catholic tradition and a prayer in itself. It is a profession of faith in God and an abbreviated form of the Apostles' Creed. By making the Sign of the Cross, Catholics declare their belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and announce their faith in God's creation, redemption of humanity from sin and death, and the establishment of the Church.
The Sign of the Cross is made at several points during the Catholic Mass. The priest makes the Sign of the Cross at the conclusion of the Entrance Chant, and again on the Gospel book and on his forehead, lips, and breast when announcing the Gospel text. The congregation also makes the Sign of the Cross at this time.
Catholics also make the Sign of the Cross at various other times, such as when beginning their day, starting an activity, or when tempted. It is a powerful prayer and a sacramental of the Church, and can be used to strengthen oneself in times of temptation and difficulty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church recommends the use of sacramentals to sanctify daily life, with the Sign of the Cross being the chief sacramental.
The Sign of the Cross can also be used by parents to bless their children, and priests will make the Sign of the Cross when blessing a congregation during Mass or other liturgical celebrations.
Covenant House: Catholic Roots, Universal Mission
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Variations of the Catholic sign of the cross
The sign of the cross is a prayer gesture used by Christians, especially Catholics, to profess their faith. The gesture is also used to bless oneself or others. While the way of making the sign of the cross is similar across Christian denominations, there are some variations in the Catholic Church.
The Large Sign of the Cross
The large sign of the cross is a four-point movement traced across the body with the right hand. The hand is placed sequentially on the forehead, chest or stomach, and both shoulders. The movement is accompanied by the Trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Direction of Movement
The direction of the movement varies between different Catholic denominations. Western Catholics (the Latin Church) and Western Lutherans make the sign of the cross from left to right, while Eastern Catholics, Eastern Lutherans, and Byzantine Catholics move from right to left.
The left-to-right movement is said to symbolise moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise. It is also believed to be a reference to the final judgement, where those who are sent to the left are damned, and those sent to the right are saved.
Number of Fingers
The number of fingers used to make the sign of the cross also varies. In the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran, and Byzantine Catholic churches, 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. The three fingers symbolise the Trinity, and the two fingers represent the two natures of Jesus, divine and human.
In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy, the sign of the cross is made with all five fingers extended or with three fingers together, excluding the ring and little fingers.
Small Sign of the Cross
The small sign of the cross is made with the thumb or index finger on the forehead during rites of baptism, anointing of the sick, and deliverance prayers in Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism. It is also made on Ash Wednesday during the ceremony of the imposition of ashes.
The Catholic Nuns on the Bus: A Faith-Based Journey
You may want to see also
