Are there any Non Catholics that cross themselves before praying?

[t68ware]

Yes I do. I have great respect for the Catholic traditions and I believe crossing oneself is a sign of respect for the Most Holy Trinity.

 

[EHRAM]

Many Protestants do not cross themselves because they think that public displays of piety are wrong, citing Matthew 6:1-6 as their basis for this belief. Of course, Jesus also said to “let your light shine before others” (Matt 5:14-16), and there is nothing wrong with public displays of piety if the intent is reverence for God rather than impressing human beings.

I was Episcopalian for about 10 years before becoming Catholic. I was a catechist for young children, and we did teach them the sign of the cross. Our priest explained that a good way to think of this gesture was as follows:

I (vertical movement)
Not I (horizontal movement)
Christ in me (heart)

 

[rr1213]

In the Episcopal Church I formerly attended (low, evangelical) there were folks who crossed themselves, but probably most people did not. There seems to be more people crossing themselves in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation I’m currently attending. Whether my experience is representative of either tradition I don’t know.

 

[lak611]

I am among about 5 people at my Lutheran church who cross ourselves during the liturgy whenever the Trinity is invoked.

As for crossing before and/or after prayer, I don’t do that but I’m not against it.

As someone has said, both Lutherans and Anglicans cross themselves though American Lutherans and Anglicans don’t do it very much by and large; i.e. it isn’t all that common though in certain corners of these communions it is.

Lutherans also hold a strong affection for crucifixes, and this is very common.

I have been to Lutheran services. The Lutheran churches I went to had crucifixes. The majority of the congregation crossed themselves when the pastor made the sign of the cross at the beginning and end of the service.

 

[lak611]

Actually, I’m pretty sure that American Anglicans/Episcopalians do it a lot more than most Anglicans worldwide. You may have hung out with some unusually low church Anglicans. Generally the U.S. represents the “high church” side of Anglicanism more than the “low church,” because the low-church folks have mostly drifted off to other Protestant groups.

I would have thought that the same was true in Lutheranism. But that’s something you obviously know a lot more about than I do!

Edwin

I have been to Choral Evensong at the Episcopal Cathedral here in Cleveland. The congregation did make the sign of the cross. They also bowed their heads at the Name of Jesus. They were more reverant than many Catholics.

 

[lak611]

This comes from the beginning of our Lutheran worship liturgy:

In my congregation, there are only a couple who do make the sign of the cross, but I have been in Lutheran churches where it is very common. I encourage it for the very reason given in the rubric but it isn’t a requirement.

I have had a few people leave our congregation because they think that I am “too Catholic” and my use of the sign of the cross is part of that. Even though the rubric exists in our liturgy, they are convinced that no Lutheran should ever make the sign of the cross. It saddens me that anyone should think that way.

The pastors at the two Lutheran parishes I have attended services at both made the sign of the cross, as did most of the congregation. Both Lutheran churches also had crucifixes, not plain crosses in the church.

 

[lak611]

In the Episcopal Church I formerly attended (low, evangelical) there were folks who crossed themselves, but probably most people did not. There seems to be more people crossing themselves in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation I’m currently attending. Whether my experience is representative of either tradition I don’t know.

The Lutheran churches that I attended (with crucifix and pastor/congregation making sign of the cross) were LCMS.

 

[po18guy]

I did when I first learned about it in RCIA. But after that, I realized there really isn’t a need. I can believe in the Trinity without performing that little tradition. I pray to God in the name of Christ. Christ commanded us to baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but I don’t recall reading about being commanded to pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

-Mark

There might just be a good reason for it - in older times when evil, sin and the evil one were much more spoken of than today. The evil one, and his servants, flee from holy things, such as crosses, crucifixes, bibles, etc. When under spiritual attack, the sign of the cross helps ward evil away. It is a powerful tool used in spiritual warfare. Mind you, it is but one small thing, but its value is in the spiritual realm, rather than the physical.

Christ’s peace.

 

[Steadfast]

Actually, I’m pretty sure that American Anglicans/Episcopalians do it a lot more than most Anglicans worldwide. You may have hung out with some unusually low church Anglicans. Generally the U.S. represents the “high church” side of Anglicanism more than the “low church,” because the low-church folks have mostly drifted off to other Protestant groups.

I would have thought that the same was true in Lutheranism. But that’s something you obviously know a lot more about than I do!

Edwin

You’re right, my episcopal experience has been pretty low church (and, admittedly, pretty limited).

I was definitely under the impression that while things like the Oxford movement and the whole Anglo-Catholic thing had impacted American Anglicanism, it’s influence has remained fairly limited, the majority being “broad church” middle-grounders.

 

[Steadfast]

It is worth making a small distinction here, I think:

In nearly all Lutheran churches, at several times during the liturgy the minister will make the sign of the cross either “toward” the congregation or over the eucharistic elements, for example.

It is uncommon in my church for the people in the pews to respond by crossing themselves though, as I’ve said, a few do.

In the LCMS we have two seminaries, one in St. Louis and one in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ft. Wayne is developing a reputation for turning out more “liturgically sensitive” pastors, by which I mean Pastors who are more inclined to use and implement regular liturgical norms and encourage things like crossing oneself.

If anyone is interested, here is a fairly new website developed by a representative of this more liturgically minded variety of conservative Lutheran.

And may we all pray that their tribe prosper.

 

[JonNC]

I’m LCMS Lutheran, though raised LCA, which merged into ELCA. As a kid, I noticed very few people crossing themselves.
But then, it was in an area where “union” churches and the reformed had an influence over Lutheran practices.
I notice more and more Lutherans crossing themselves now, at the invocation of the Trinity, during the Eucharist, etc.
I have also been moved to cross myself at the announcement of the Holy Gospel.

As an aside, my mother’s church also had the baptismal font open during the Eucharist, so those inclined could remember their Baptism as they went up for communion. I thought this a very appropriate practice.

 

[Syele]

I have crossed myself when at Catholic Mass. I felt uncomfortable with it because I didn’t grow up with it and felt self conscious that I was doing it wrong. Somehow the idea that I was focusing on how I was doing it instead of Focusing on God as I did it made me feel it defeated the purpose. I don’t recall anyone in the episcopal churches I’ve attended crossing themselves.

Prayer postures are all about showing respect and reverence to God. When I first went to a Mass I was shocked that no one bowed their heads and closed their eyes when praying… showing no humility before God. They were looking all over the place. Later, I learned they showed this in a different manner and I can accept that.

I have no problem with the Sign of the Cross. But I don’t do it anymore. It makes me feel irreverent and self-focused. I do not think others who do it are being irreverent and self-focused. It is just how I behave because I am uncomfortable with it. I grew up with strict teaching that you should shut out the rest of the things and people around you closing eyes is a part of that. For this reason, I am really comfortable praying with a mantilla or a scarf over my head, even though women in my Church do not do that. It helps me focus on God and not myself.

I think the #1 reason most protestants don’t do it is because they were never taught how or why to do it by anyone.