The Many Meanings of the Cross. The priest says: “Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of the cross. The sign of the cross is the supreme sacramental. Athletes on their starting blocks will similarly be seen to touch their forehead, their shoulders and their chest. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance. The sign of the cross is made by touching the hand to one’s forehead, then to the chest and then to each shoulder. The same sign of the cross that Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honored with the same honors. It marks the soul as the Lord’s special possession and erases all absolute claims any principality or power attempt to make over it. The original form of the Babylonian letter T was †, identical to the crosses used today in this world's Christianity. The Sign of the Cross has a special connection to baptism. For what purpose? The sign of the cross is the supreme sacramental. By it we can know Catholics from non-Catholics. We all use body language to communicate with others. Reader 3 A cross is a landmark. A terrible tragedy for Christianity has been, and always will be, the separation between rite and symbol; or to be more precise, the tragedy is due to the fact that the believers have forgotten the meaning of the symbols that take place during the various rites.. Making the triple Sign of the Cross like this before the Gospel is a longstanding tradition. The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus, is the best-known symbol of Christianity. The sign of the cross, in words and in action, reminds us of the two central realities of our faith: who God is (the Trinity) and what God has done for us (the Cross). Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance. On Ash Wednesday, the ashes are applied to the forehead by a priest, deacon or extraordinary minister in the shape of a cross, to mark the penitents expressed choice to spend the forty days of Lent in prayer, repentance and fasting. Here are 21 things: 1. Mike Schnitz is under 3 minutes and is a great watch! There are several theological interpretations of that difference. It also represents loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. It serves as an abbreviated form of the Apostles’ Creed. Introduction Cross at Cape Kamenjack, Istria, Croatia. Roman Catholics make the sign of the cross in the following order: The right hand moves from top (forehead) to bottom (chest) and then from left (left shoulder) to right (right shoulder). However I should mention that the Bible does not forbid a Christian to make the sign of the cross, meaning that when someone makes the sign of the cross he does not commit a sin. The sign of the cross is made while all of the seven Sacraments are being given, during the Mass, when a priest gives his blessing, in times of temptation, etc. The Trinity Video About The Sign Of The Cross. Answer. When you make the sign of the Cross in the Roman Catholic Church, it is always done with the right hand, no matter what your dominant hand is in the rest of your life. I noticed in reference to the Sign of the Cross, you state a "mistake" many children make is touching the right shoulder before the left.Is that not the way it was originally done and is still done in the Eastern Catholic communities? And then we remain standing as we listen to the Gospel. The Greek schismatics do not make the Sign of the Cross in the same manner as it is formed by the members of the Catholic Church. From the beginning of Christianity, the sign of the cross was a badge of identification, a shield in times of temptation, a demonstration of belief in the Blessed Trinity and Christ's death on the cross. But what exactly are we doing when we make the Sign of the Cross? The sign of the cross has enormous power as a sacramental; it does not cause the spiritual thing it signifies but draws on the prayer of the Church to affect us in our lives. The cross is thus a sign of both Christ himself and of the faith of Christians. At baptism, the priest makes the sign of the cross on your child’s forehead. The prayers that the priest says silently to himself before and after proclaiming the Gospel can give us a clue. Is there an explanation for why Eastern Christians make the sign of the cross from the right should to the left, while Western Christians make the sign of the cross from the left shoulder to the right. It is believed that it had its origin in apostolic times.” [My Catholic Faith by Louis La Ravoire Morrow, p. 392] So, Ivy, it shows that it is a sign found—it is a sign made inside the Catholic Church. The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of both the cross of salvation while invoking the Holy Trinity. In this prayer, we are remembering that there are 3 Persons in 1 God, otherwise known as the Trinity. It is a sign that this life has been brought under the shadow of Christ’s work of redemption. “The sign of the cross is the most common way of confessing our faith. These are the core of why Catholics do the sign of the cross. A. We begin and end our prayers with the Sign … As Catholics, it’s something we do when we enter a church, after we receive Communion, before meals, and every time we pray. Surprisingly, though, there is nothing in the rubrics about the laypeople making this sign. Photo: Florian Frühstück ©. Cross, the principal symbol of the Christian religion, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of his Passion and death. A simple upright post with a transverse bar used crucifixion. The Cross is a great contradiction. This is like an invisible badge to show that Christians are united with Christ and must not be ashamed to stand up for their faith in him. If you are teaching Catholic preschoolers, I would encourage you to take a look at my book, Catholic ABC’s! Some people stop there but I was learned to do a fourth cross, the one with which we're all familiar. The sign of the Cross. It is traced by the Church on the forehead of the catechumen before baptism. The Sign of the Cross is a symbolic ritual gesture which marks the four points of the Cross on Calvary over one's body. The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in God as he revealed himself. The same way, it’s not right to persecute the ones who refuse to make the sign of the cross or to force them to do so. It's a symbol of death, but so much more. This is no different than when we communicate with God. The sign of the cross has enormous power as a sacramental; it does not cause the spiritual thing it signifies but draws on the prayer of the Church to affect us in our lives. Right across Europe there are crosses on many of the highest points of ground. Paradoxically a symbol of suffering and defeat but also of triumph and salvation, the cross … This video from Fr. Granted we are in the West; however, that does not really make us right and the East wrong. Pray. Footballers often make the sign of the cross as they come out of the tunnel on to the pitch. What Does The Sign Of The Cross Mean? The sign of the cross was made simply with the fingers (the index or the thumb) on the forehead or lips or breast (as Latin-rite Catholics do at the beginning of the Gospel lesson) or with the whole hand over the torso. There are slight differences in how it is made between the various rites of the Church, but they are all legitimate. In the Christian religion, the sign of the cross is a hand gesture many believers make that signifies the Trinity and reflects their profession of faith in God. The Theological Meaning of the Sign of the Cross. And say, "In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". Crossing oneself is a prayer made with your body. The Sign of the Cross is a simple gesture yet a profound expression of faith for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Learn more about the history and symbolism of the cross. From the cross or crucifix perched on top of churches to the action of making the sign of the cross on one’s own body, the symbol has become so ingrained in Christianity that it … The gestures vary slightly depending upon what Christian tradition is performing the action. According to historian Alexander Hislop, Tammuz was intimately associated with the Babylonian mystery religions begun by the worship of Nimrod, Semiramis and her illegitimate son, Horus. What does the worship of Tammuz have to do with the sign of the cross? The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of the cross of salvation while invoking the Holy Trinity. Christians who practice making the sign of the cross believe it is an acknowledgment of God’s presence, favor and protection. Most Eastern Christians do it in a different order: From top to bottom and then from right to left. 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