Rachel Evans
The Sign of the Cross is a powerful symbol of faith and an ancient prayer rich in meaning. It is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. Catholics make the Sign of the Cross when they begin and end their prayers, when they enter and leave a church, and to start each Mass. They may also make the sign when they pass a Catholic church or hear the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain. The Sign of the Cross is also made by parents to bless their children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasions | When beginning and ending prayers, entering and leaving a church, starting Mass, hearing the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain, passing a Catholic church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle, before meals, before sleeping, when coming in or going out, when dressing, when washing, when anointing the sick, during baptism, during ordinations, during deliverance prayers, during the proclamation of the Gospel, on Ash Wednesday, during communion |
| Gesture | Tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand |
| Direction | Right to left (Eastern Catholic Churches); left to right to middle (Latin Church of the Catholic Church) |
| Number of fingers | Three fingers (Eastern Catholic Churches); other than three fingers (Latin Church of the Catholic Church) |
| Recitation | "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." |
| Symbolism | A profession of faith, a statement of belief, a mark of being Christian, a reminder that one is Christ's, sanctification, setting oneself apart for God |
| Other uses | Blessings for children, sealing oneself in times of temptation, marking objects such as beds before sleeping, marking food and drink |
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What You'll Learn
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer
The Sign of the Cross is made by touching one's forehead with a finger or a few, then the chest, then the front of the left shoulder, and finally the front of the right shoulder. The formal and proper form of the sign of the cross includes the use of three fingers, especially when entering the church. The three fingers symbolise the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The forehead, meanwhile, symbolises Heaven, the solar plexus (or top of the stomach) symbolises the earth, and the shoulders symbolise the place and sign of power.
The Sign of the Cross is also used as a blessing. Parents may bless their children with this sign, dipping their fingers in holy water and tracing the sign of the cross on their child's forehead, or simply placing their hand on their head. This blessing is often accompanied by a prayer, such as the Aaronic Blessing from the book of Numbers: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace."
The Sign of the Cross is also used to ward off evil. St. Athanasius wrote that in the fourth century, "since the divine appearance of the Word (Christ), all this deception [of demonic powers] has come to an end. For by the Sign of the Cross, if a man will only use it, their deceptions are driven out."
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It is a powerful symbol of faith
The sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of faith for Catholics. It is an ancient prayer, rich in meaning, and a creed in itself. It is a way for Catholics to profess their faith in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and the saving work of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday.
The sign of the cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand. This movement echoes the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus. The right hand may first be placed in holy water before making the sign. The three fingers used to make the sign represent the Trinity, and the two folded down towards the palm symbolise the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.
Catholics make the sign of the cross in a variety of situations, including when they begin and end their prayers, when they enter and leave a church, to start Mass, and even when they hear the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain. It is also customary to make the sign of the cross on one's children, setting them under Christ's cross.
The sign of the cross is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments" and which "signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church". It is a way to sanctify daily life and draw nearer to God.
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The cross is made at the beginning and end of prayers
The sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of faith and one of the most fundamental and recognisable acts in Catholic worship and prayer. It is a simple yet deeply meaningful gesture that carries profound spiritual significance. The sign of the cross is made by touching the forehead, the chest, and then each shoulder, while reciting, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Catholics make the sign of the cross at the beginning and end of their prayers, before and after Mass, and during various sacraments. It is a prayer in itself, a way for Catholics to consecrate everyday moments to God, and a reminder of the blessing that has been received and the call to live out the Gospel in the world. It is also made when entering and leaving a church, and when passing a Catholic church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle.
The sign of the cross is an ancient prayer rich in meaning. Each time Catholics make the sign of the cross, they renew their profession of faith, express their belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. It is a way to invoke the Holy Trinity and the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice.
The use of the sign of the cross can be traced back to early Christianity. The large sign of the cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand, often accompanied by the spoken or mental recitation of the Trinitarian formula. The small sign of the cross is made on the forehead during the rites of baptism and the anointing of the sick.
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The cross is made when entering and leaving a church
The Sign of the Cross is a powerful symbol of faith and an ancient prayer rich in meaning for Catholics. It is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments". The Sign of the Cross is made when entering and leaving a church.
When entering a church, Catholics make the Sign of the Cross with holy water, recalling their Baptism. This is done to remember the sacredness of the church as a temple and to acknowledge their need to be cleansed of their sins. This custom is also believed to be a form of minor exorcism against any diabolic influence.
The Sign of the Cross is made by tracing an upright cross or Greek cross across the body with the right hand, 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 movement echoes the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus.
There are two principal forms of making the Sign of the Cross with joined fingers: the first, using three fingers to represent the Trinity, is used by Christians in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Byzantine and Syriac Christian traditions; the second form, using the left-to-right-to-middle direction with fingers other than three, is used by Christians in the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy.
While it is customary to make the Sign of the Cross when entering a church, it is not mentioned in the Ceremonial of Bishops as a requirement when exiting. Some Catholics may choose to make the Sign of the Cross upon leaving a church, but it is not considered necessary as they have already received a blessing at the end of Mass.
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The small sign of the cross is made with the thumb on the forehead
The sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of faith and an ancient prayer rich in meaning. It is a sacramental, defined by the Catholic Church as "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments" that "signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, obtained through the intercession of the Church".
In the Masses of the Roman Rite in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, and the Anglican Churches, the celebrant makes the small sign of the cross on the Gospel book, and the congregation does the same on their forehead, lips, and heart at the proclamation of the Gospel. This is known as the lesser sign of the cross. The small sign of the cross made on the forehead is also accompanied by the recitation of a prayer, such as the Jesus Prayer or "Lord have mercy".
The small sign of the cross on the forehead is a gesture that has been documented in early Christianity, with Tertullian, an Ante-Nicene Church Father, writing in AD 204 that Christians would make the sign on their forehead and on objects such as their beds before sleeping.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics give a cross as a blessing to their children, to renew their faith in God.
The sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of faith for Catholics. It is a way to express their belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification.
Catholics make the sign of the cross when they begin and end their prayers, when they enter and leave a church, and when they start each Mass. They may also make the sign of the cross when they hear the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain or when they pass a Catholic church.
