Michael Brooks
The Sign of the Cross is a Catholic tradition and a prayer in its own right. It is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. The large sign of the cross is made by touching the forehead, chest or stomach, and both shoulders. The small sign of the cross is made over the forehead, lips and heart. Catholics make the sign of the cross at certain points in the liturgy, such as when the Gospel is about to be read.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasion | Before the Gospel is read |
| Response | Congregation says "Glory to You Oh Lord" or "Glory to you, O Lord" |
| Hand gesture | First three fingers joined, last two fingers pressed against the palm |
| Direction | Forehead to chest, then left to right shoulder |
| Meaning | To profess faith in the Trinity, to purify the mind, to sanctify speech, and to invite God to strengthen one's love for Him and others |
| Symbolism | The cross is a sign of redemption through Jesus Christ |
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What You'll Learn
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer
The prayer is often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the sign of the cross, which is a ritualistic practice. The act of crossing one's forehead, lips, and chest with their thumb is an outward act of professing their inward faith in the Holy Trinity. The forehead symbolizes Heaven, the lips that speech may be holy, and the chest or heart invites God to strengthen their love for Him and others. This prayer is also said to be a weapon to fight the devil, with the sign of the cross made in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The direction in which the sign of the cross is made varies between different Christian denominations. Roman Catholics make the sign from right to left, starting at the forehead, then the chest, and finally from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. Eastern Christians, on the other hand, perform the gesture from left to right, symbolizing ascension and incarnation, respectively.
The use of the sign of the cross is also prevalent among Lutherans, who employ this motion after receiving communion. It is a reminder of their baptism and is often made whenever the symbol of the cross is displayed during the liturgy.
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The forehead, lips and heart are blessed
The Sign of the Cross is a Catholic tradition and a prayer in its own right. It is performed by touching the forehead, lips, and heart. This ritual is also known as blessing oneself or crossing oneself and is performed by members of some branches of Christianity.
The forehead, lips, and heart are blessed to invite God's Word into one's mind, speech, and heart. The forehead is blessed so that the Word of God may be in one's thoughts and purify their minds. The lips are blessed so that one's speech may be holy and they are inclined to share the Gospel with others. The heart is blessed to invite God to strengthen one's love for Him and others.
The large sign of the cross is made by touching the forehead, chest or stomach, and both shoulders. The small sign of the cross is made over the forehead, lips, and heart. The direction in which the sign of the cross is made differs between denominations. In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy, the sign is made from left to right. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches in the Byzantine and Syriac Christian traditions, the sign is made from right to left.
The Sign of the Cross is made at specific times, such as during the proclamation of the Gospel text. When the Gospel is about to be read, the priest says: "A Reading from the Gospel according to St____." The congregation then responds, "Glory to You Oh Lord," making a small cross with their thumb over their forehead, lips, and chest.
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The right hand moves from forehead to chest
The Sign of the Cross is a Catholic tradition and a prayer in its own right. It is a way for Christians to acknowledge their belief in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
When making 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 movement is accompanied by a Trinitarian formula: at the forehead, say "In the name of the Father"; at the chest or heart, say "and of the Son"; and across the shoulders, say "and of the Holy Spirit/Ghost, Amen".
The movement from the forehead to the chest recalls the incarnation of Christ and his descent from heaven. Moving from the left to the right shoulder symbolizes moving from the curse to the side of blessing, or from Hades to Paradise.
The right hand touching the forehead is also meant to signify that the Word of God is in one's thoughts, purifying the mind. Touching the chest or heart signifies inviting God to strengthen one's love for Him and others.
The Sign of the Cross is made at specific times during Catholic liturgy, such as when the Gospel is about to be read. It is also made during exorcisms, ablutions before praying, and in times of temptation.
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Eastern Christians perform the sign differently
The sign of the cross is a prayer and a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. It is a significant prayer because Christians are acknowledging their belief in the triune God, or the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Eastern Christians perform the sign of the cross differently from Roman Catholics. The latter make the sign of the cross by moving their right hand from forehead to chest, then from left shoulder to right shoulder. Eastern Christians, on the other hand, move their hand from forehead to chest, then from right shoulder to left shoulder. This difference in practice has led to several theological interpretations.
The direction of the sign of the cross is thought to carry symbolic weight. In the biblical worldview, the right side is often associated with goodness, nobility, and heavenliness, while the left side is associated with badness, lowness, and earthliness. Thus, moving from left to right can be seen as a symbol of ascension, while moving from right to left can be interpreted as a symbol of incarnation.
The difference in practice may also be attributed to the natural direction of writing in Latin and Greek, which are dominant languages in the Roman Empire. When blessing, the clergy "write" the cross on those they bless, moving from left to right. Those receiving the blessing mirror this gesture, resulting in a right-to-left movement.
Additionally, Eastern Christians may use a different finger formation when making the sign of the cross. They hold the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger together to represent the Holy Trinity, while Roman Catholics tend to use a more open hand.
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The small sign of the cross is traced on objects
The small sign of the cross is also used during certain observances, such as Ash Wednesday, where the sign of the cross is traced in ashes on the forehead of a believer. It is also used during the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, where ashes are marked on the forehead using the small sign of the cross.
In addition to marking objects and the forehead, the small sign of the cross is made during the anointing of the sick in Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism. It is traced on the forehead of the individual being anointed to indicate that all divine favors come through the salvific power of Christ.
The small sign of the cross is also made with the thumb on the book of the Gospels and then on the forehead, lips, and breast during Mass. This is known as the lesser sign of the cross. During baptism, it is made on the forehead of the infant being baptised.
The direction of the small sign of the cross is generally from right to left, with the hand moving naturally from the forehead to the chest and then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. However, Eastern Christians often make the sign of the cross from top to bottom and then from right to left.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics cross their forehead, lips/chin, and chest/heart to acknowledge their belief in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They also do this to profess their inward faith in the Trinity and to declare that they belong to God through their baptism.
Catholics cross their forehead, chin, and chest at certain points in the liturgy, such as during the reading of the Gospel. They also do this in their daily lives, such as before meals or when they go to bed.
There are two principal ways to make the sign of the cross, depending on the denomination. In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy, the sign of the cross is made from left to right. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches, the sign of the cross is made from right to left.
