Blessing ourselves during the day

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Growing up I was taught in school to bless myself on many occasions during the day when
passing a Catholic church, a cemetary, when a siren is heard etc.

We taught our kids do this. We seem to be the only ones, and have many Catholic friends, and so do our children.Our older kids go to catholic school too and as a matter of fact, their school friends don’t do it either.

Has this practice stopped and if so why?
 
I have no idea why the practice has fallen out of wide use. I think it is a good thing if done properly and reverently and not out of blind habit…

Peace
James
 
I still do this practice. It is a pious custom. However, it seems like I do it out of habit, not reverence, since doing this is like second nature to me.
 
bben15 said:
I still do this practice. It is a pious custom. However, it seems like I do it out of habit, not reverence, since doing this is like second nature to me.
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Just to clarify…as I may have given the wrong impression earlier…
Habit is not a bad thing. It is good that such things become “second nature” to us so long as they are built out of a firm reliance on God.
In fact I would say that we want such things, that spring from our faith in God, to become second nature to us. To me, this is the very essence of what growing in holiness means.

Now - if a person is driving along, drinking a beer and gossiping about their neighbor in crode and profane terms - then crosses themselves as they pass a church…That would indicate a mindless and irreverent habit.😃

Peace
James
 
As a new Catholic I am always open to new pious practices so have started making the sign of the Cross when I hear a siren, when passing a cemetary or a funeral procession. Just this weekend I went to a (Protestant) funeral service and it just seemed the right thing to do to make the sign of the Cross when Mr. Clark’s casket was initially revealed and when the grandsons took him away. I WANT these practices to become second nature to me.
 
crystal_waters said:
I know plenty in my town who do it…ive even seen taxi drivers do it…don’t stop doing it just because others don’t bother…
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Come on … I just don’t understand why we can’t encourage people to do something without taking a sideswipe of those that don’t. 🤷

It could simply be that those that don’t weren’t ever taught to do it. It isn’t that they “don’t bother.” It is that they have no idea what you are doing. Or why.

If you explain what and why, of course you would have to have an explanation as to why, they might pick up on it too. 👍

Remember, optional, but pious, practices can’t be shared. They aren’t the equivalent of a secret handshake.
 
The sign of the cross can be made anytime, anywhere as a small ejaculatory prayer.

Making it during the aforementioned times simply make it an expression of our reliance on God. Even if you ARE doing it out of blind habit, it will remind you of God and that is a blessing in itself.

Don’t get caught up on your scruples 😉 Continue signing yourself and encourage others to do so as well 👍
 
Thank you for your replies. I remember on the play ground when I was younger and a siren went by, the game froze for a few seconds while everyone crossed themselves! Times have certainly changed.

I didn’t know this was oprtional-i thought it was some how tied into why people stopped crossing themselves at various times in mass, or other gestures that are no longer done.

Of course we will continue, and perhaps lead to others following suit if they choose.

Happy New year-
Mommy k
 
mommy_k said:
Thank you for your replies. I remember on the play ground when I was younger and a siren went by, the game froze for a few seconds while everyone crossed themselves! Times have certainly changed.

I didn’t know this was oprtional-i thought it was some how tied into why people stopped crossing themselves at various times in mass, or other gestures that are no longer done.

Of course we will continue, and perhaps lead to others following suit if they choose.

Happy New year-
Mommy k
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A lot of simple devotions have fallen by the way. I link the Catholic Grout List often usually for converts who have questions but also for anyone who grew up and lost these practices.
 
Many pious customs, such as crossing oneself when passing a church, or saying a prayer when a siren is heard, fell by the wayside in the post-V2 era. Catholics, unfortunately sometimes encouraged by their own priests, were shedding many of their customs and traditions, in an attempt to appear more modern, up-to-date and less “old world,” as such things were being regarded as almost superstitious. They also wished to fit into the American mainstream, and since the liturgical reforms of the Church seemed to accomplish that, so many other non-liturgical devotions were casualties, as well. The departure of nuns from most Catholic elementary schools was a factor in this, too, as they often had been the ones to impart or at least support these practices.
 
Don’t assume because you don’t ‘see’ others doing it that they aren’t. You’d be surprised what’s going through my mind and heart when I’m driving down the street or highway, or standing in line at confession, or during many other ‘regular’ activities. I don’t always ‘sign’ myself when praying publicly; not because I’m ashamed of it, but because it’s between me and God. I don’t need the ‘street corner’ to proclaim my piousness. However, I like to think that my words and actions reflect my love for God and for others.
 
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