Sign of the cross

The Sign of the Cross is a ritual performed mainly within Latin-Rite Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as Eastern-Rite Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism. For the members of the Faith, it symbolizes, by manifestly marking directly on one's own body or in the air, the four points of the Cross on Calvary. It also represents loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. There are two particular arrangements one is most likely to observe. One is followed by many of the Eastern Churches, the other by the Western (Latin) of Roman Catholicism and the Oriental Orthodox.

Ritual of the gesture

Latin: In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

English: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Typically, the right hand is used. The thumb, index, and middle finger are brought to a point. They are then placed on the forehead, then moved down to the sternum. Western Rite Catholics, Anglicans and the Oriental Orthodox will then move the hand to the left shoulder or to the area of the left pectoral muscle, and then to the right; the Eastern Orthodox and most Eastern Catholics will do the opposite (i.e. right, then left). As one moves through the Sign, one recites, at the forehead, "In the name of the Father"; at the stomach, "and of the Son"; and across the shoulders, "and of the Holy Spirit/Ghost, Amen." The Latin expression is "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti (Amen)." There are variations that occur. For example, some may mark a very large cross, or a very small one. A person may reach for holy water first. After moving the hand from one shoulder to the other, it may return to the stomach. It may be accompanied instead at times with the words of the Jesus Prayer in some form, or simply "Lord have mercy".

The thumb, index and middle finger brought to a point symbolize the Trinity, three persons sharing a single essence. The remaining two fingers are kept pressed close together and to the palm, representing the human and divine natures united together in Jesus Christ.

In the western Roman Catholic Church the direction of making the sign of the cross, which had previously been from right shoulder to left shoulder, as is still the custom among the Eastern or Orthodox Churches, was changed in the thirteenth century when Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), following the Great Schism between the Western and Eastern Churches and the subsequent hostility between the respective heads (the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other) directed that the sign was to be made with three fingers from the forehead to the breast and from the left to the right shoulder.

In Russia until the reforms of Patriarch Nikon in the 17th century, it was customary to make the sign of the cross with two fingers (symbolising the dual nature of Christ). The enforcement of the three-finger sign was one of the reasons for the schism of the Old Believers whose congregations continue to use the two-finger sign of the cross.

Use of the sign

There are certain times when Christians will make the Sign. Throughout every liturgical action, such as the Mass, there are moments where the Sign is called for. There are many more in the traditional Mass of the Latin Rite than there are in the Mass of Paul VI. In Eastern Orthodox prayers, the sign of the cross is usually made whenever all three persons of the Trinity are addressed, or alluded to, which is the same in Independent Anglicanism. If one prays the Breviary, one will make the Sign at various times. Before commencing any prayer, in fact, the Sign is typically made. Upon entering a church, and the sanctuary within the church, one will make the Sign partly as an outward sign of reverence and veneration. Eastern Orthodox and Catholics will make the Sign as one way of venerating an icon or the Virgin Mary. Anglicans will make it while kneeling, before they sit down in the pew. Priests have many more specific occasions upon which to make the Sign. Many Christians will make the Sign in a way that may seem idiomatic to some: for example, if one is exposed to blasphemy, he or she may make the Sign, partly to suggest subtly and politely to the speaker that an offense has been committed, partly to ask the Trinity to forgive the offender. Some will use the Sign in what seems to be a wish for luck; it may be that, or a part of an unsaid prayer for God's blessing, as when starting a travel, a sport competition or a bullfight. The Anglican and Catholic Churches considers the Sign a sacramental. Christians may also make the Sign when passing a church of their denomination.

The Sign of the Cross is made in other ways as well: it can be made in the air to bless objects (usually by a priest) and it may trace a very small trajectory, such as on the forehead. Before listening to the Gospel during Mass, Catholics trace the sign with the thumb of the right hand on their own forehead, below their lips and on the heart in quick succession. (Traditionally Catholics will also say 'May the Word of God be on my mind, on my lips and in my heart' when signing the repective areas.)

For Christians in general, perhaps the essential element of the Sign is that it physically indicates the direct relevance of the Cross, of the Sacrifice of Jesus, to one's person or surroundings. It is an engagement of the body that affirms what the faithful professes. It is also a sign to others of what one professes. Many do not hesitate to cross-sign themselves in public as they feel that this an outward expression of their faith to others.

Bishops, including the pope (who is the Bishop of Rome) make the Sign of the Cross with their right hand three times when they are blessing the public, such as at the end of the Mass. It is made once at the Name of the Father, a second time at naming the Son and one last time at the naming of the Holy Spirit. Other clerics, however, are restricted to making the Sign of the Cross only once.

In traditional societies, the sign of the cross is performed in food making, eg. the spoon crosses the newly poured mixture before stirring it, in order to bless the food that will come out, housewives make the cross with their hand for the food when putting it in the oven etc. Actually, the custom is followed generally with any product coming from traditional workshops, eg. pottery etc. As an extension, on the eating table, the paterfamilias crosses the bread with the knife before cutting it into slices, since bread is parallelled with the body of Christ.

Double-cross

The English-language expression "double-cross" has led to some fake etymology: the fact that the sign is made in one direction in the Western rite, and the other in the Eastern rites, leads to its sometimes informal use for two people to identify themselves and others as being from the West or East. There was a period in the Middle Ages when some Venetian merchants and others would cross themselves in the Western fashion when meeting with Westerners, and in the Eastern fashion when meeting with Easterners. This duplicity supposedly led to the coining of the phrase "double crosser" to mean someone who professes to be aligned with one party, but in reality is aligned with an opposing party or with no party.

The actual origin of the expression "double-cross" which dates in English from only 1834, has to do with "fixing" a horse-race in a pre-arranged swindle that is almost unconnected with the sign of the cross.

Mnemonic

Western Rite Catholics sometimes remember the order of motions for the sign of the cross using the mnemonic Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet and Watch — the watch being a pocket watch which is traditionally worn in the left hand chest pocket.

External links

The Sign of the Cross - entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia
Why Do Lutherans Make the Sign of the Cross? - from the ELCA website
Sign of the Cross - from the LCMS website
The Sign of the Cross - from the Episcopal Church's website

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Ritual of the gesture

Use of the sign

Double-cross

Mnemonic

See also

External links