Am I allowed to make the sign of the fross that the priest does?

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Nelka

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You know the one where he does it over the gifts or us, can I do that over my food, a doorway, a person?

Thanks.
 
I did a cross sign on my dad’s forehead with healing oil from the relics of a saint when he was in intensive care. I never could get a priest to come and see him. I am not aware if laity can bless things in the manner you decribe. I personally do not feel comfortable when an EMHC blesses someone in the communion line.
 
In your own home and as long as you’re not usurping some duty reserved to a priest under canon law, I don’t see a problem. I’ve seen people bless their food before meals and I’ve made a sign of the cross on my sick or dying pets.

I’d hesitate to do it in public though, as I don’t want to give the impression I’m holding myself out to others as being a priest, or the same as a priest.
 
Nelka said:
You know the one where he does it over the gifts or us, can I do that over my food, a doorway, a person?

Thanks.
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Hi!

Yes. St. Paul states that Jesus bought for God a Priestly Kingdom… so each one of us (Christians) are Called to be alter Christus–of course, unless we have taken the Priestly Orders we cannot officiate as Priests. Everything else (prayer, Blessing, preaching, counseling, Bible Study…) is our obligation as Followers of Christ.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Nelka said:
You know the one where he does it over the gifts or us, can I do that over my food, a doorway, a person?

Thanks.
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I can’t imagine why there would be a prohibition on you making the sign of the cross, provided you’re not misleading someone to think you’re a priest.

Frankly, it sounds like you’ve got a touch of scrupulosity going on. This is an odd thing to wrack your brain over.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
I can’t imagine why there would be a prohibition on you making the sign of the cross, provided you’re not misleading someone to think you’re a priest.

Frankly, it sounds like you’ve got a touch of scrupulosity going on. This is an odd thing to wrack your brain over.
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I don’t think it’s too odd, considering how seriously some feel about others using priestly gestures, such as the orans position. I believe the OP is specifically referring to the sign of the cross drawn in the air, usually with the right hand with three fingers (thumb and two fingers) extended to represent the Trinity. I can definitely see how some people would see that as a priestly gesture. When one of our priests caught me off-guard and asked me to bless him, during mass, I used that sign before using the aspergillum. I used to use it as an interfaith minister, and the gesture still is a part of what I do (I use it over my food when praying, for example.) I can imagine some people thinking it’s something only for priests, but I don’t see it that way.
 
My wife goes to mass everyday.
When she comes back on weekdays, she comes in and makes the sign of the cross to me. I like it.
 
There’s a long-standing tradition of parents blessing their children, deriving from the theology of patriarchal authority. I’ve always heard the gesture described as the cross traced over the forehead with a thumb (and perhaps holy water).
 
Ad_Orientem said:
There’s a long-standing tradition of parents blessing their children, deriving from the theology of patriarchal authority. I’ve always heard the gesture described as the cross traced over the forehead with a thumb (and perhaps holy water).
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Like the crosses at the beginning of the gospel during Mass?
 
Ad_Orientem said:
There’s a long-standing tradition of parents blessing their children, deriving from the theology of patriarchal authority. I’ve always heard the gesture described as the cross traced over the forehead with a thumb (and perhaps holy water).
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Hi!

…that was mom’s tradition–also, at least in our neck of the woods, it was tradition to ask for the parents’ blessings when leaving the home (school, work, etc.) when going to bed, and at waking up… people just don’t get how beautiful and how efficient this is… we open and close each day with God’s Blessings!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
The general wording of the Book of Blessings, for those celebrations permitted to laymen, always excludes laity making of the sign of the cross over anyone or anything. Laymen are always directed to make the sign of the cross on themselves where a priest or deacon would be directed to make the benediction sign of the cross.

It is consistent with the practice of the Church. Only those ordained deacons make the sign of the cross in the air. Others who have authority to bless (parents their children, for example) trace a small sign of the cross on the person being blessed, and for general blessings such as at meetings and events, the lay presider signs himself.

PS EMHC blessings. Also one reason I do not approach them. They have no authority over me, unlike, for example, my mother.
 
porthos11 said:
The general wording of the Book of Blessings, for those celebrations permitted to laymen, always excludes laity making of the sign of the cross over anyone or anything. Laymen are always directed to make the sign of the cross on themselves where a priest or deacon would be directed to make the benediction sign of the cross.

It is consistent with the practice of the Church. Only those ordained deacons make the sign of the cross in the air. Others who have authority to bless (parents their children, for example) trace a small sign of the cross on the person being blessed, and for general blessings such as at meetings and events, the lay presider signs himself.

PS EMHC blessings. Also one reason I do not approach them. They have no authority over me, unlike, for example, my mother.
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Hi!

…so you can’t bless (air sign of cross) your food?

Maran atha!

Angel
 
porthos11 said:
The general wording of the Book of Blessings, for those celebrations permitted to laymen, always excludes laity making of the sign of the cross over anyone or anything. Laymen are always directed to make the sign of the cross on themselves where a priest or deacon would be directed to make the benediction sign of the cross.

It is consistent with the practice of the Church. Only those ordained deacons make the sign of the cross in the air. Others who have authority to bless (parents their children, for example) trace a small sign of the cross on the person being blessed, and for general blessings such as at meetings and events, the lay presider signs himself.

PS EMHC blessings. Also one reason I do not approach them. They have no authority over me, unlike, for example, my mother.
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I’d agree with this…
 
jcrichton said:
Hi!

…so you can’t bless (air sign of cross) your food?

Maran atha!

Angel
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I don’t know for sure, but I know we can’t bless objects the same way a priest does… I just ask God to bless my food and make the sign of the Cross on myself 🙂
 
porthos11 said:
I wouldn’t. I’m not a priest or deacon.
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Hi!

…yeah… I don’t know when I picked it up but I’ve been blessing my food for years… I know I’m not a Priest/Deacon but I thought it was just a matter of zealousness… Is the source quoted on-line? (I’ll have to read up on this.)

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Monica4316 said:
I don’t know for sure, but I know we can’t bless objects the same way a priest does… I just ask God to bless my food and make the sign of the Cross on myself 🙂
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Hi, Monica!

I understand that only the Priest (or a Deacon in certain occasions) can do Sacramental Blessing; I just picked up the custom of blessing the food before eating–and offering it up to God. But I’ll research this issue… cause I still enjoy Blessing my food. 😃

Maran atha!

Angel
 
I gotta say, it’s stuff like this which makes me question my decision to become Catholic. Sounds like rules of Pharisees. There’s still enough about the church itself I love and believe, but between legalism and the ultra-conservative (ultra-liberal would bother me at least as much) some Catholics and Catholic sources make me question. Thank God for Francis of Assisi and Franciscans or I probably wouldn’t have joined or would have walked away quickly.
 
newcalling said:
I gotta say, it’s stuff like this which makes me question my decision to become Catholic. Sounds like rules of Pharisees. There’s still enough about the church itself I love and believe, but between legalism and the ultra-conservative (ultra-liberal would bother me at least as much) some Catholics and Catholic sources make me question. Thank God for Francis of Assisi and Franciscans or I probably wouldn’t have joined or would have walked away quickly.
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Hi!

You understand that not knowing about the Doctrine of the Church and investigating it has nothing to do with legalism or conservativism; and you know that we are free to hold certain personal practices that do not detract from the Faith, right?

IE: I use holy water to make the sign of the Cross and I carry a Crucifix with me at all times… as long as I do not demand that everyone else do as I do, how is that wrong?

Yet, once we speak about Church Doctrine, we must make sure that we follow her Teachings.

Mom was a Third Order Franciscan… but she also joined other groups/Ministries; the Beauty of the Church is that we have a plethora of choices to follow in the footsteps of Christ… all converging in the Doctrinal Teachings of the Church.

I am glad that you can find Beauty in the Church, even and in spite of the practices that you do not understand or deem important/necessary. Welcome Home!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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