Grace Thompson
The act of Catholics crossing themselves is called the sign of the cross. The sign of the cross is a ritual that has been practised since the early days of Christianity. It is performed by making the shape of a cross with one's hand and touching one's forehead, chest, and shoulders while reciting the Trinitarian formula: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The direction of the gesture varies between Catholic denominations, with Roman Catholics typically moving their hand from right to left, while Eastern Catholics go from left to right.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the action | Sign of the cross |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Direction | Left to right |
| Order | Forehead to chest, then left shoulder to right shoulder |
| Hand | Right hand |
| Number of fingers | Three fingers (to represent the Trinity) |
| Recitation | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." |
| Occasions | When beginning prayers, during blessings, at baptisms, during ordinations, at anointing of the sick, during deliverance prayers, at the conclusion of the Entrance Chant in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite |
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What You'll Learn
The Sign of the Cross
The use of the Sign of the Cross can be traced back to early Christianity, with the third-century treatise Apostolic Tradition directing its use during minor exorcisms of baptism, ablutions before fixed prayer times, and in times of temptation. Tertullian, an early Christian author, also documented the use of the small sign of the cross in AD 204, noting that Christians formed this sign on their foreheads "in all our actions."
The large Sign of the Cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand. This involves touching the forehead, chest, and both shoulders. The small sign of the cross is typically made on the forehead during rites of baptism and the anointing of the sick.
There are different interpretations of the direction in which the Sign of the Cross should be made. Some argue that it should be performed from right to left, as this was the traditional way of crossing oneself and is seen as inviting the Holy Spirit. Others perform it from left to right, seeing it as a symbol of ascension and our salvation through Jesus.
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How to make the sign
The act of making the sign of the cross is called "blessing oneself" and is a common practice in the Catholic Church.
Step 1: Start with your right hand at the top, touching your forehead.
Step 2: Move your hand down to your chest or stomach, depending on your personal preference and the specific tradition you follow.
Step 3: Then, move your hand from your left shoulder to your right shoulder. This movement creates a cross in the air in front of your body.
Step 4: Some people accompany this action with spoken or mental recitation of the Trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
It is worth noting that there are slight variations in the way different Christian denominations make the sign of the cross. For example, Eastern Christians typically move their hand from the top to the bottom and then from right to left, which is the reverse of the Roman Catholic method.
Additionally, the number of fingers used to make the sign may vary. Some Christians use three fingers to represent the Trinity, while others may use just their index or middle finger.
The sign of the cross is a meaningful and symbolic gesture for many Christians, and it is often done at specific points during a Mass or prayer.
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History of the practice
The act of Catholics crossing themselves is called the "Sign of the Cross". The use of this religious gesture can be traced back to early Christianity, with the third-century treatise Apostolic Tradition directing that it be used during the minor exorcism of baptism, ablutions before fixed prayer times, and in times of temptation. Tertullian, an Ante-Nicene Church Father, documented the use of the small sign of the cross in early Christianity, writing in AD 204 that Christians would form the sign on their foreheads "in all our actions, when we come in or go out, when we dress, when we wash, at our meals, before retiring to sleep".
Hippolytus of Rome, in his Apostolic Tradition, recommends sealing one's forehead with the sign of the cross in times of temptation, referring to it as the "Sign of the Passion". The 6th century saw the development of the large sign of the cross, which involves tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand, often accompanied by the recitation of the Trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The Sign of the Cross is expected at two points in the Catholic Mass: during the introductory greeting and at the final blessing. The laity may also make the sign of the cross at other times during the Mass, such as during a blessing with holy water or when concluding the penitential rite. In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the use of the sign of the cross in worship is far more frequent than in Western churches.
The use of the sign of the cross has been adopted by various Christian denominations outside of Catholicism, including Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Methodism. John Wesley, the principal leader of the early Methodists, instructed the presiding minister to make the sign of the cross on the forehead of children after baptism. While the use of the sign of the cross was dropped from American Methodist worship in the early 20th century, it was later restored, and the current United Methodist Church allows pastors to trace the sign of the cross on newly baptized individuals.
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Variations in Christianity
The act of making the sign of the cross is a ritual that dates back to early Christianity. It involves tracing a cross on one's body or in the air, often accompanied by the recitation: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." This ritual is observed in various Christian traditions, including Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Methodism, but the specific practices and interpretations vary across these denominations.
In Catholicism, the sign of the cross is a common practice. It is made by moving the right hand from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. This movement differs from that of most Eastern Christians, who move their hand from the top to the bottom and then from right to left. The direction of the movement holds theological significance, with the left-to-right motion symbolising ascension to heaven, while the right-to-left motion symbolises incarnation, inviting the Holy Spirit.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches use three joined fingers (representing the Trinity) to make the sign of the cross, moving from right to left. This creates a Greek equal-armed cross, differing from the Latin manner of signing from left to right.
The use of the sign of the cross is also found in the Methodist tradition. John Wesley, the principal leader of the early Methodists, instructed that the presiding minister should make the sign of the cross on the forehead of baptised children. While this practice was dropped from American Methodist worship in the early 20th century, it was later restored, and the current United Methodist Church allows pastors to trace the sign of the cross on newly baptised individuals.
The Anglican Church, which includes the Swedish Lutheran Church, also incorporates the sign of the cross in its liturgy. During the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebrant and congregation make the lesser sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and heart.
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The meaning of the gesture
The sign of the cross is a ritual blessing performed by members of the Christian faith. The gesture is said to have roots in early Christianity, with the third-century treatise Apostolic Tradition directing its use during minor exorcisms in baptism, ablutions before prayer, and in times of temptation.
The sign of the cross is performed by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand. The movement typically follows the shape of a traditional crucifixion cross, moving from the forehead to the chest, and then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. This large sign of the cross is often accompanied by the spoken or mental recitation of the Trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The direction of the movement varies between different branches of Christianity. In Eastern Christianity, including the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the movement is typically from top to bottom and then from right to left. In Western Christianity, including Roman Catholicism, the movement is generally from left to right. This variation has theological significance, with the left-to-right movement symbolizing ascension to Heaven, while the right-to-left movement symbolizes incarnation, inviting the Holy Spirit in.
The small sign of the cross is also used in various Christian traditions. It involves tracing a small cross on the forehead with the thumb, sometimes using holy water or anointing oil. This gesture is performed during rites of baptism, ordination, anointing of the sick, and deliverance prayers.
The sign of the cross holds great meaning for Christians, symbolizing their faith, invoking blessings, and seeking strength and protection from God.
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Frequently asked questions
It is called the "sign of the cross".
The right hand moves from the forehead to the chest, then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. This is the large sign of the cross. The small sign of the cross is made on the forehead using the thumb, sometimes with holy water or anointing oil.
The sign of the cross is a way to dedicate the day to the glory of God and call on the savior's grace. It is also done to strengthen oneself in temptations and difficulties.
