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JL2011
Guest
Hi,
Do we have to make the Sign of the Cross every time we start/finish praying?
Do we have to make the Sign of the Cross every time we start/finish praying?
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YoungTradCath
Guest
It’s a good, pious practice, but no, you don’t have to.
I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to, as you are praying to God in the first place and asking that things happen in His name, but you certainly don’t have to make the Sign of the Cross, no.
I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to, as you are praying to God in the first place and asking that things happen in His name, but you certainly don’t have to make the Sign of the Cross, no.
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JL2011
Guest
Because I like to pray anytime, when I’m alone or when I’m in a public place, and normally people don’t expect to see someone making the Sign of the Cross twice every 5 minutes or something like that…
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grasscutter
Guest
I do it because I like to. However, when I’m praying spontaneously in a public place, I kind of keep it to myself. That is, without the sign of the cross. (Unless the spontaneous thing is a car accident or something) I figure it’s a bit self-consciously ostentatious to make a big show of public prayer. But when, in public, I see someone make the sign of the cross, I know that I’m in the presence of a kindred spirit and I feel happy.
I know I didn’t answer your question… Just giving some thoughts…
Peace
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Elizium23
Guest
Personally, I will never omit it, since the Trinity is the focus of all Christian worship, I always make my prayers in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. I recently discovered that there is a partial indulgence attached to the Sign of the Cross, so why not make it?
Sometimes, it is the custom to make the Sign of the Cross only once for an opening prayer, perform a task, and then with a closing prayer, make the Sign of the Cross again. This, for instance is how the Mass works, and St. Vincent dePaul meetings are explicitly conducted this way, so that “the whole meeting becomes our prayer.”
Also, it is obligatory to make it at least when attending Mass. You certainly can’t go all your Christian life without using it on Sundays, not to mention at baptism.
Sometimes, it is the custom to make the Sign of the Cross only once for an opening prayer, perform a task, and then with a closing prayer, make the Sign of the Cross again. This, for instance is how the Mass works, and St. Vincent dePaul meetings are explicitly conducted this way, so that “the whole meeting becomes our prayer.”
Also, it is obligatory to make it at least when attending Mass. You certainly can’t go all your Christian life without using it on Sundays, not to mention at baptism.
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pamnbam
Guest
You can do it as much as you like, no matter what others may think of you. It’s never required, per se, but it is a very good and pious practice.
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purplesunshine
Guest
Besides weekly Mass, annual confession and your run of the mill being a good person we are not required to do anything. What occurs between masses is personal devotion and can take most any form we please so long as it dosn’t contridict the faith.
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grasscutter
Guest
Thank you very much for this information!
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bearer
Guest
The Sign of the Cross is a separate prayer in itself. It is prefigured in Ezekial 9:4, and acts as a mark of faith, in addition to warding off demonic influences.
From the CCC:
From the CCC:
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NewsTheMan
Guest
The bare minimum is lukewarmness. That attitude will send you to hell. You are required to do much more than just go to Mass, confess once a year and “be a good person”. I mean that in terms of the bare minimum the Church prescribes (since they require much more than what you have said) and in terms of salvation and a relationship with Christ. The Church law has to be at the bare minimum, because it covers people who are poor, lack transport and live 100miles
away from a priest or a Church. For us, we must do much much more than just what you describe.
Imagine this:
Besides saying I love you once a week, annual Birthday gift and generally being an agreeable person, you don’t have to do anything else to be a good spouse.
Does that sound good to you? Does that sound loving? Caring? Lasting? Friend, we must do much more than just what you describe, lest we be cut off from the tree and thrown into the fire!
For the most part, yeah. But it’s still good to conform to the prayers properly in my opinion. Otherwise arguments about “how far am I going before this isn’t the particular devotion” come up. For example, if I prayed 6 Ave’s in between 3 Pater Nosters am I praying the Rosary? No. Obviously extreme example but you get the point I am making. I think one should stick to the prayers when it is a chaplet or that kind of thing. When it’s just a personal prayer from the heart, of course, go wild and just speak from the heart
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oneGODoneCHURCH
Guest
The fact that they do not expect to see is a good reason to do. It maybe the only evangelizing that they get that day and it maybe what they need to bring them to God.
Never be embrassed to profess your faith be it by word or action.
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purplesunshine
Guest
DUH. I said requirement. That means BARE MINIMUM. However, we must be careful not to turn any particular devotion outside of these requiremnts into it’s own requirment. For instance, we are free to pray the rosary or not. It is GOOD to do so, but you can make it to Heaven without it. It is a devotion to like a particular saint, but one can make it to heaven without that. God shows TONS of biblical favor to music but those deaf…or dislike music are welcome into Heaven with open arms. My point is that nothing, EVER, besides the 3 things listed above can ever be made into a requirement. They are all good ideas, but nothing more.
The bare minimum is lukewarmness. That attitude will send you to hell. You are required to do much more than just go to Mass, confess once a year and “be a good person”. I mean that in terms of the bare minimum the Church prescribes (since they require much more than what you have said) and in terms of salvation and a relationship with Christ. The Church law has to be at the bare minimum, because it covers people who are poor, lack transport and live 100miles
away from a priest or a Church. For us, we must do much much more than just what you describe.
The reason for this is to make sure that devotions do not turn into a kind of religion themselves (which has happened in history and exemplified in orginizations such as sspx) or into scrupolocity. It’s also important to keep in mind to fight legalism and such foolish quotes as “everyone should do x (pray the rosary, get the franciscan pet blessing)” Becuase no devotion is the perfect spiritual practicice for all individuals.
And this is emotinal psycobabble. The comparison isn’t quite there, though there’s the relationship aspect. To say you need a particular devotion, to me, is quite as insane as saying that every woman must cook her husband dinner and every man must give his wife flowers to have a good marriage. It’s simply not so. They are signposts of a good marriage, but that’s it. In themselves they don’t really mean anything.
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NewsTheMan
Guest
Ah, yes okay I think I agree then. Except for…
You are also required to receive Holy Communion once a year. Also required to be baptised. Also, the whole “being a good person” isn’t a great way to phrase what you mean. Being a good person, being a good Catholic, means to follow all the Church teachings. That sounds better.
I think you missed my point there. Overthinking it. But that’s fine I was just making a general point, no biggie.
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bostonboy23
Guest
simple answer: yes
long answer: yes because you are praying in the name of something. your not simply praying to a invisible God somewhere up there.
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Ruth_Catherine
Guest
I think we should, but there have been times I haven’t. I agree with the person who said it shows whose name we are praying in. Also, I Iike the thoughts of this quote:
“Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor’s sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for He has triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, Who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the Gift; but for this rather honor thy Benefactor.”
– St. Cyril of Jerusalem, A.D. 315 - 386
“Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor’s sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for He has triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, Who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the Gift; but for this rather honor thy Benefactor.”
– St. Cyril of Jerusalem, A.D. 315 - 386
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hn160
Guest
My wife and I make the sign of the cross every time we pray, receive Absolution, after we receive Holy Communion and when we say grace before meals.
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Dymphna82
Guest
Well, there’s obvious limits. I can’t imagine saying he sign of the cross between each rosary prayer. The sign of the cross for that is done at the beginning and the very end.
I would say do it for your morning and evening prayers, as well as for every meal. That should be enough.
I would say do it for your morning and evening prayers, as well as for every meal. That should be enough.
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Elizium23
Guest
Actually, in a way, we say it after each decade, with the Glory Be. That is, at least, a Trinitarian invocation.
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Daniel_David
Guest
When I’m in public (say waiting in line at the bank) I make a discrete sign of the cross over my heart.
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