Am I renouncing our faith if I don't make the sign of the cross every time I pray?

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Annemariels

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I am a devout Catholic and work at a Baptist church’s preschool. We pray with the children a few times every day, and also pray at every luncheon and staff meeting.

There are several Catholic’s on the staff, and lots of Catholic children in the preschool b/c there aren’t any Catholic preschools in our area.

When we pray, we all bow our heads and pray reverently, but I never make the sign of the cross. It never occurred to me that I was “renouncing” my faith until a very holy friend of mine gently told me that I was doing just that.

Could this be true? Everyone on the staff knows I am Catholic and I never, ever meant to renounce my faith.
 
No, you are not renouncing your faith by praying without making the sign of the cross… just as when you drive and pray at the same time, you are not renouncing your faith by omitting the act of bowing your head and closing your eyes.

HOWEVER, the sign of the cross is the outward sign of your catholic faith. Don’t be too ashamed to do it. Example, I’m in the military, and we have chaplains lead an invocation at any major event. I generally make the sign of the cross as the prayer ends, but not before. I find it to be a generally good comprimise.
 
Please don’t let this bother you. Crossing youself is a small “t” tradition 😉 You’re fine.
 
If you think about it, not every prayer in the Mass is accompanied by the sign of the cross.
 
I see no benefit to confusing the children with this gesture, which you would probably not be allowed to explain. Also if I were a parent who chose the school because of its religious affiliation, I would not appreciate my child being taught what I regard as a prayer form outside the practice of my own faith. I would also object to a Baptist teacher in a Catholic school teaching her students a manner of prayer contrary to our faith (just tell your sins to Jesus and don’t go to confession, for example).
 
Todd_Easton said:
If you think about it, not every prayer in the Mass is accompanied by the sign of the cross.
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Well actually it is. The Mass is one entire prayer. The priest starts and ends the Mass with the sign of the cross.

To the OP, I think you can go either way on this. Which choice will reflect the most charity in your heart?
 
Annemariels said:
It never occurred to me that I was “renouncing” my faith until a very holy friend of mine gently told me that I was doing just that.

Could this be true? Everyone on the staff knows I am Catholic and I never, ever meant to renounce my faith.
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Oh my gosh, I hope it’s not true! :eek:

I am in the process of converting from a Protestant faith, and I forget to cross myself all the time during private devotions–just because I’m not used to doing it…

*Stella
 
Thank you, everyone, for your comments. I am relieved that you all feel as I do about whether or not I am denouncing my faith if I don’t cross myself before I pray, especially in non-Catholic environments.

All day long I pray those little silent, blip-like prayers (Lord, please help me find that paper, Lord, please help that child to feel your love…) and I never start or end those prayers with the sign of the cross. And I am certainly not one to deny my faith at work - everyone on the staff knows I am a devout Catholic and there is a lot of good-natured teasing that goes on about it. And, yes, there have been times at staff meetings when I have crossed myself. It just hasn’t been an “issue” for me until now.

I guess that if I look at it from the “charity” point of view, I do feel that if continue to bow my head and pray like the group does, it would be a show of Christian unity. And I totally agree with the poster who pointed out that I am on Baptist turf and it would be best to do it their way for the sake of the many protestant families who send their children there for religious reasons. I was on the flip side of the coin once, and my own children were being taught by a few protestant teachers at a Catholic school. Unfortunately, protestant teachings were slipping into the classrooms, so I switched my kids to a public school.

As long as I am not denying my faith as my friend suggested I was, I will continue to pray the way I have been doing it. God knows my heart.

Thanks again!
Anne Marie
 
Exactly. God does know your heart. Those blip prayers that you mentioned are officially known as ejaculations. It is simply your heart giving praise to God, and of course they are not accompanied by the sign of the cross. God loves you.
 
Just a quick note…The sign of the cross IS a partial indulgence. You never can have enough of those stored up in your piggy bank. God Bless!😃
 
If we follow the example of the Liturgy of the Hours, you will notice that it does not begin with the sign of the cross as does the Liturgy of the Mass. The Liturgy of the Hours begins with “Oh God come to my assistance” followed by a response and the Glory be. The sign of the cross is made at the beginning of the Gospel canticle, because it is Gospel and again at the conclusion because it invokes a blessing.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the model for all prayer. The sign of the cross is used to acknowledge the Gospel and when God’s blessing is invoked.

Any other use of the sign of the cross is not mandatory in prayer. It is a pious practice and it is good, but not mandatory.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
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