Why making the sign of the Cross?

CATHOLICISM: What we Believe, Teach and Practice.

Dearest friend(s) in Christ, from this One, Big and Happy Family – The ARCHIVE we bring to you glad tidings on this great day of festival of the Church, the Solemnity of the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ. With joy, we wish to officially bring to your doorstep our long-awaited catechesis of our faith. “CATHOLICISM: What we Believe, Teach and Practice”. It is the second publication of The ARCHIVE – your one-stop E-Catholic Platform where Jesus remains “The Way, Truth and Life.”  The publisher of your favourite daily spiritual tonic – Divine Whisper.

In this first publication, we will make effort to answer the thought-provoking question: “Why the sign of the Cross?” The very identity of every Catholic brethren. Other publications will feature Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about what we as Catholics believe, teach and practice. Stay click on us, and we promise you a smooth ride round our faith – Catholicism.

Thank you, and remain blessed in the Lord. Together with you in prayers! 

I remain your E-Catechist, 

Rev. Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM

General Editor/Founder -The ARCHIVE

(June 6, 2021 Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ)

CATHESIS #1 – 05062021

Question: Why making the sign of the Cross?

Answer: The tradition of making sign of the cross at prayer, or marking it on objects goes back to the very early years of Christianity. This sign was done both at the beginning and end of prayers, as it is today, together with marking on the object as a sign of blessing. History has it that, in the first century the Christians then used thumb to sign only the forehead. While Tertullian one of the influential Fathers of the Church, in his writing dated 202 A.D., said: “At every step and movement, whenever we come in or go out, in dressing or in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at table, at the lighting of lamps, in going to rest, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our forehead with the sign of the Cross.”  

The current way of marking oneself with sign of the Cross by raising the right hand to the forehead, then to the breast, then from the left shoulder to the right while saying: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” began in the 4th century. This was developed alongside marking one’s forehead, lip and breast with the Trinitarian formula when the deacon or priest announced the gospel reading. The custom which is still invoke till date. In doing this, he or she is symbolically surrendering these parts of the body to Christ as a sign that he or she belongs to Christ who died on the Cross. As prophet Ezekiel utters, one is inviting God through the salvific power of the Cross to transform the stubborn mind (cf. Ezekiel 3:7). So as to be willing to listen to the Word; to circumcise (cf. Jeremiah 4:4); the stubborn heart (cf. Ezekiel 3:8) so that it can properly receive the word, proclaim it and then live it out. 

The Biblical Implications on the custom of making the sign of the Cross

Biblically, Cross is seen in the light of what is painful and mortifying to the flesh, trails and misfortune, a test of Christian faith, etc. Thus, Christ urged us to carry our crosses to follow Him. Then promising to lift it off from our shoulders (cf. Matthew 16:24).

However, when the scripture makes reference to the Cross, it refers to that which Christ died. And through this same “Wood of the Cross” that man was reinstated into “original grace” which he lost after the great fall (cf. Genesis 3:1ff.).

The biblical implication of the Cross is that, through it (the Cross) Christ paid the debt for our sins in full (cf. Colossian 2:14). Also, through the Cross, He got mankind reconciled to God, and the Jews and Gentiles united. (cf. Ephesians 2:16). Cross is also seen as an instrument of God’s salvation, which Jesus died and it remains till date a place where sin has been nailed and atoned for and pledges a new life in grace and virtue (cf. Romans 6:6; I Peter 1: 23)

With the above biblical passages, we can now see why the making of the sign of the Cross is a necessity as it reminded us of the symbol of our salvation and reconciliation to God through Christ’s paschal mystery of passion, death and resurrection. As St. Paul says: “Cross is the power of God to those who are being saved.” (I Corinthians 1:8); and destruction to those who are enemies of it (cf. Philippians 3:18-19).

Finally, even though it is not written in the Bible that Christians should mark themselves with the sign of the Cross. The tradition evolved right from the early time in the Church’s history, as a response to what Jesus had done for mankind through Cross. Therefore, we as Catholics identify with this icon of salvation as a mark of ownership to Christ who gave Himself to humanity. With the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, the sign of Cross becomes the “sign of victory” and the principal symbol of the Christian religion.

Further Reading 

1.  Michael Bassey Scriptural Foundation for Church Practices, Ibadan: St. Pauls, 2008 p. 37

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/sign-of-the-cross

3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_cross

See you next week Sunday!