Rachel Evans
The Sign of the Cross is a common prayer gesture used by Catholics and other Christian denominations. It involves tracing a cross on one's body or in the air, often 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. Catholics make the Sign of the Cross during various occasions, such as when they begin and end their prayers, enter or leave a church, and start a Mass. The gesture is also used during rites such as baptism and the anointing of the sick. The Sign of the Cross is believed to profess the fundamental mysteries of the Christian faith, including the Trinity and the saving work of Christ on the Cross. Additionally, Catholics are known for their frequent use of crucifixes, which depict the tortured body of Jesus Christ on the cross, emphasizing his sacrifice and its significance in Christian salvation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to use the sign of the cross | 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 beginning an activity, etc. |
| Who uses the sign of the cross | Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and other Mainline Protestants |
| How to make the sign of the cross | With the right hand, tracing the shape of a cross in the air or on one's body; with two or three fingers (to represent the Trinity) joined, touching the forehead, chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder; may be accompanied by a prayer or the Trinitarian formula |
| Symbolism of the sign of the cross | Acknowledges the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the saving work of Christ on the Cross; symbolizes heaven (forehead), earth (solar plexus or top of stomach), and power (shoulders) |
| Other uses of the cross | Catholics use crucifixes (a cross that shows the tortured body of Jesus Christ) in addition to the empty cross; the cross is also used for house blessings and marking objects with holy anointing oil |
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What You'll Learn
- The Sign of the Cross is the most common Catholic prayer
- The death of Christ should be a source of hope, not shame
- The small sign of the cross is used in baptism and the anointing of the sick
- The large sign of the cross is traced across the body or in the air
- The left-to-right motion is a reference to salvation
The Sign of the Cross is the most common Catholic prayer
The Sign of the Cross is often made before and after other prayers, at the start and end of Mass, when entering and leaving a church, and when passing by a Catholic church. It is also used when hearing the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain, during prayer, and when genuflecting. Catholics may also make the sign of the cross when they see something terrible or shocking, such as when an ambulance passes by. Additionally, it is used when blessing oneself or others, especially children, before bed or before embarking on a journey.
The sign of the cross is made by touching one's forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder. It can be made with the fingers, thumb, or the whole hand, and is often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation, such as "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." In some cases, holy water or anointing oil may be used along with the sign of the cross.
The use of the sign of the cross has been documented in early Christianity, with Tertullian writing about Christians forming the sign of the cross on their foreheads and on objects such as their beds before sleeping. The sign of the cross has been adopted by various Christian denominations, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians, and is not limited to Catholicism.
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The death of Christ should be a source of hope, not shame
The use of the cross is a common practice among Christians, with the empty cross being a shared symbol across all denominations. However, Catholics are distinguished by their frequent use of the crucifix, which depicts the tortured body of Jesus Christ. This practice dates back to the earliest days of Christianity, initially using symbolic representations such as Greek letters or figures borrowed from Greek mythology.
The Sign of the Cross is the most common Catholic prayer, used to begin and end prayers, enter and leave churches, and start Masses. It is a profound act that professes the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith, including the Trinity and the saving work of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday. The combination of words and actions is a creed, a statement of belief that marks Catholics as Christians.
The death of Christ on the cross is a central event in Christian theology, and Catholics view it as a source of hope and glory rather than shame. St. Augustine, a 4th-century theologian, summarized this belief, stating that Christ "has most faithfully promised to give us life in him." By taking upon himself the punishment for our sins, despite being sinless, Christ demonstrated his great love and willingness to sacrifice for humanity.
Through the Sign of the Cross, Catholics acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification, invoking the Holy Trinity. It is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and our call to follow in his footsteps. The Catechism of the Catholic Church recommends sanctifying daily life with this sacramental, drawing nearer to God in all our activities.
The physical act of making the Sign of the Cross involves tracing the shape of the cross in the air or on one's body, often accompanied by a recitation of the Trinitarian formula: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The right hand is typically used, with variations in the number of fingers extended, depending on the specific tradition being followed.
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The small sign of the cross is used in baptism and the anointing of the sick
The small sign of the cross is used in the Catholic rite of the anointing of the sick. During the anointing, the priest traces the sign of the cross on the forehead of the individual being anointed. This indicates that all divine favours come through the salvific power of Christ, and the faithful express their faith in Christ's presence by answering, "He is and He shall be". The priest uses oleum infirmorum ('oil of the sick'), usually olive oil or another pure plant oil, to anoint the patient's forehead and perhaps other parts of the body while reciting prayers. This sacrament is administered to those who are sick or suffering, and it is not reserved only for those on their deathbed.
The small sign of the cross is also used in baptism. In infant baptism in the Anglican tradition, the minister makes a cross sign on the child's forehead. The sign of the cross is also used in the minor exorcism of baptism, as directed by the third-century treatise Apostolic Tradition. The sign of the cross is a sacramental in the Roman Catholic Church, signifying spiritual effects "obtained through the intercession of the Church". The use of the sign of the cross during baptism was historically a point of contention between the Church of England and the Puritans, who objected to its connections to the church's Catholic past.
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The large sign of the cross is traced across the body or in the air
The Sign of the Cross is a common prayer gesture among Catholics, and it involves tracing a large cross across the body or in the air. This practice is not unique to Catholicism, as it is also observed by Eastern Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and Lutherans, among others.
The large sign of the cross is typically made with the right hand, tracing an upright or Greek cross across the body. This movement echoes the shape of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. The right hand may be open or have the fingers joined. When using joined fingers, there are two principal forms. The first, used by Catholics in the Latin Church, involves touching the forehead, moving left to right, and then touching the chest or stomach, and finally, the left and right shoulders. The second form, used by Christians in the Eastern Orthodox Church, involves using three fingers to touch the forehead, moving from right to left.
The Sign of the Cross is 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." This recitation affirms the belief in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The movement of the hand from right to left symbolises Christ's descent from heaven to earth, as explained by Pope Innocent III.
The use of three joined fingers in the Sign of the Cross became popular in the 9th century. The three outstretched fingers symbolise the Trinity, while the bent ring and pinky fingers signify the two natures of Christ. In some Catholic regions, such as Spain, Italy, and Latin America, it is customary to form a cross with the index finger and thumb and then kiss them afterward.
The Sign of the Cross holds profound significance for Catholics. It is often made at the beginning and end of prayers, when entering and leaving a church, and at the start of Mass. Catholics may also make the sign when passing a Catholic church or hearing the Holy Name of Jesus used in vain. By making this sign, Catholics profess their faith in the Trinity and acknowledge the saving work of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday.
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The left-to-right motion is a reference to salvation
The sign of the cross is a common prayer gesture in Christianity, with the left-to-right motion being one of the most notable differences between the Eastern and Western churches. The left-to-right motion, from the forehead to the chest and then from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, is a reference to salvation, with the right side being considered good, noble, and heavenly in the biblical worldview. This movement is used by Christians belonging to the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy.
The right-to-left motion, on the other hand, is used by Christians belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Byzantine and Syriac Christian traditions. This motion is said to symbolize the descent of Christ from heaven to earth, as explained by Pope Innocent III: "The sign of the cross is made with three fingers, because the signing is done together with the invocation of the Trinity. [...] This is how it is done: from above to below, and from the right to the left, because Christ descended from the heavens to the earth."
The sign of the cross is a ritual blessing and a prayer that acknowledges the belief in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is used in various contexts, such as during baptism, anointing of the sick, prayers, house blessings, and at different points in the liturgy. The small sign of the cross is made on the forehead, while the large sign of the cross is made 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."
While the direction of the motion may vary between denominations, the sign of the cross itself is not unique to Catholicism. It is a creed that all Christians can assent to, and it has been a part of Christian practice since the early days of Christianity. Tertullian, an Ante-Nicene Church Father, documented in the 3rd century that Christians would make the small sign of the cross on their foreheads and on objects such as their beds before sleeping.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics make the Sign of the Cross when they begin and end their prayers, when they enter and leave a church, and to start Mass.
The Sign of the Cross is made by tracing a cross on one's body or in the air. The movement echoes the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus. The right hand is used to touch the forehead, the chest, the left shoulder, and then the right shoulder.
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer that expresses belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and acknowledges the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. It is also a creed—a statement of belief—that marks the individual as a Christian.
The cross is a symbol shared by all Christian churches. However, Catholics are known for their frequent use of the crucifix, which depicts the tortured body of Jesus Christ. The crucifix reminds Catholics of Jesus' sacrifice and that there is no resurrection without the cross.
