Crossing myself correctly

[MaeganFlinchum1]

Ok so i was taught in rcia how to cross myself (i was already) so is it head chest (chest being your breastboneish area) then left shoulder right shoulder? Or do i go down to my stomach (belly button area). Alsk how do i hold my fingers. We were taught 3 ways but i have heard many more. And whe i or anyone else goes down to just there chest it seriously is and looks lime an inverted cross. Why? Sourcss are appreciated

 

[MaeganFlinchum1]

Ok so i was taught in rcia how to cross myself (i was already) so is it head chest (chest being your breastboneish area) then left shoulder right shoulder? Or do i go down to my stomach (belly button area). Alsk how do i hold my fingers. We were taught 3 ways but i have heard many more. And whe i or anyone else goes down to just there chest it seriously is and looks lime an inverted cross. Why? Sourcss are appreciated

Sorry for spelling errors. My keyboards messed up

 

[jtodisco]

I think that you may be over-thinking this a little bit. But just a quick run down. When signing yourself you touch your forehead, then your chest, then your left shoulder followed by your right shoulder. Now, some people touch their chest near their heart so it’s rather high up on the chest, others touch further down. Where exactly you touch your chest doesn’t matter all that much. There are different variations on how many fingers some people use depending on their religious background (i.e. Catholic, Orthodox) or cultural heritage (some groups of people have additional little practices they do, some that I have witnessed involve tapping their chest afterwards or kissing their fist). None of these additions are necessary, but as far as I know none of them are considered sinful. Anyway, again the basic motion is forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder. I’m sure there are people on CAF who could give you a much more detailed run down of things, but I honestly think this is more than enough information for you to cross yourself properly.

So glad you’re coming into the Catholic Church by the way. Welcome home!

 

[jtodisco]

Here’s a link to an article on crossing oneself along with some history on the sign of the cross. It also includes some variations on crossing oneself.

fisheaters.com/sign.html

 

[SMHW]

What jtodisco said.

There are some variations and you may see some people use them. But the vast majority of Western Catholics do just what you are doing now.

 

[Shirtless]

I think that you may be over-thinking this a little bit. But just a quick run down. When signing yourself you touch your forehead, then your chest, then your left shoulder followed by your right shoulder. Now, some people touch their chest near their heart so it’s rather high up on the chest, others touch further down. Where exactly you touch your chest doesn’t matter all that much. There are different variations on how many fingers some people use depending on their religious background (i.e. Catholic, Orthodox) or cultural heritage (some groups of people have additional little practices they do, some that I have witnessed involve tapping their chest afterwards or kissing their fist). None of these additions are necessary, but as far as I know none of them are considered sinful. Anyway, again the basic motion is forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder. I’m sure there are people on CAF who could give you a much more detailed run down of things, but I honestly think this is more than enough information for you to cross yourself properly.

So glad you’re coming into the Catholic Church by the way. Welcome home!

In the Eastern Catholic church (which is in full communion with the Apostolic See of Rome, by the way), it is customary to make the Sign of the Cross right shoulder first. We also hold three fingers together, in symbolism of the Trinity. We also ordain married men to the priesthood, but that is another topic!

 

[J.J]

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
(Glory to Jesus Christ!)

As a Ruthenian Byzantine from birth, I quite often use the of direction question w/visitors regarding “sign of the Cross” direction as a “trick” question: which way is correct?

ANSWER:Both are correct! There is no “correct” way!
Direction = Left - Right in the “Roman” Catholic West (known as “Latins” to Catholics worldwide); Right - Left in the East — it’s all about cultural development - East or West, as w/genuflecting in the West vs bowing in the East.

Another question: Make note when in an Eastern Church re: which direction you are facing — unless the building was acquired from some other Church or different previous use, you will always face EAST in an Eastern Church – facing Jerusalem!

Nothing in an Eastern Church is random or insignificant.

J. J.

 

[cheezey]

Here’s a link to an article on crossing oneself along with some history on the sign of the cross. It also includes some variations on crossing oneself.

fisheaters.com/sign.html

Thank you! though I wasn’t the one asking!! That site answered a similar question for me:

**Yet another is the series of three small Crosses traced by the thumb of the right hand – one small Cross on the forehead, one small Cross on the lips, and one small Cross on the breast – just before the Gospel reading at Mass. The sign on the forehead is to show that we believe the Gospel, the sign on the lips is to show that we respect the Gospel and desire to spread the Good News, and the sign on our breast is to show that we love the Gospel and want it kept in our hearts. **
I was wondering why I was seeing this in Mass…

(I prefer option D. as the Sign. Raised as a Protestant, I never understood why not the crucifix, even though I had little knowledge of either of these faiths. * It is a visual remembrance that He died for us.)*

 

[MaeganFlinchum1]

Thank you! though I wasn’t the one asking!! That site answered a similar question for me:

**Yet another is the series of three small Crosses traced by the thumb of the right hand – one small Cross on the forehead, one small Cross on the lips, and one small Cross on the breast – just before the Gospel reading at Mass. The sign on the forehead is to show that we believe the Gospel, the sign on the lips is to show that we respect the Gospel and desire to spread the Good News, and the sign on our breast is to show that we love the Gospel and want it kept in our hearts. **
I was wondering why I was seeing this in Mass…

(I prefer option D. as the Sign. Raised as a Protestant, I never understood why not the crucifix, even though I had little knowledge of either of these faiths. * It is a visual remembrance that He died for us.)*

I also prefer option D

 

[Skye_Ariel]

I sometimes forget and do it with my left hand because I’m left handed, is that bad?

 

[SHoJ]

There are different variations on how many fingers some people use depending on their religious background (i.e. Catholic, Orthodox) or cultural heritage (some groups of people have additional little practices they do, some that I have witnessed involve tapping their chest afterwards or kissing their fist).

My friend is Latino and a lot of the people at his parish do this (kinda). He said they actually place their index finger over their thumb to form a cross and “kiss the cross” after making the sign of the cross.

Me, I’m an Option C person.

 

[Shirtless]

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
(Glory to Jesus Christ!)

Glory to Him forever!

I am a Ukrainian Catholic. The various rites are part of the universal church, and they do not disagree as to matters of faith and morals. Each rite is sui juris, however, and is entitled to maintain its own liturgies, disciplines, and practices. If you participate in more than one rite, you will learn that many things, regarding as “essential” by some, are really not, in terms of faith and morals.

For example, Byzantine Rite Catholics administer baptism and confirm to infants, while the Roman Rite waits until later to administer confirmation. Both are correct. The Eastern church takes the position that we never know when the child might need the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the Roman Rite will confirm earlier if the child is in danger of death.

Other differences: the Roman Rite believes that transubstantiation occurs at the moment the priest speaks the words of consecration. The Eastern church does not presume to say when it occurs, but acknowledges that it may occur anywhere from the Great Entrance to the Epiclesis (the calling down of the Holy Spirit after the consecration).

In the Roman Rite, the parties to a marriage are deemed to confer the sacrament of matrimony on each other, with the priest or deacon merely being a witness. In the Eastern churches, the priest confers the sacrament (through the crowning), and, accordingly, in the Eastern church, a deacon has no authority to officiate at a marriage ceremony.

Who is right?

Both are.

 

[Aramis]

In the Eastern Catholic church (which is in full communion with the Apostolic See of Rome, by the way), it is customary to make the Sign of the Cross right shoulder first. We also hold three fingers together, in symbolism of the Trinity. We also ordain married men to the priesthood, but that is another topic!

The Byzantine tradition is Right to Left - but note that the Alexandrian Tradition is Left to Right.

The Byzantine tradition is thumb, index and middle together to represent the trinity, the ring and pinkie flat on the palm to remind the two natures of Christ. But it also traditionally is done with at least a minor bow as well.

Certain groups of Byzantines (Including at least one Russian Greek Catholic parish in Russia) instead curve the middle finger to cross the straight index finger, referencing both the two natures of Christ and forming IC XC, with their hand, with the thumb touching the ring. They also do Right to Left.

 

[St_Hilary]

Ok so i was taught in rcia how to cross myself (i was already) so is it head chest (chest being your breastboneish area) then left shoulder right shoulder? Or do i go down to my stomach (belly button area). Alsk how do i hold my fingers. We were taught 3 ways but i have heard many more. And whe i or anyone else goes down to just there chest it seriously is and looks lime an inverted cross. Why? Sourcss are appreciated

 

[St_Hilary]

St_Hilary:
The correct way of making gthe sign of the cross is: in the name of the Father [on forehead]. the Son [towards the stomach],the Holy right hand on left breast and Spirit right haand on right bfreast.

God love you now

 

[J.J]

Christos Razhadayet’sya!

Re: “Correct way to cross ones self” —
It occurs to me in the “Also” vein —
Many posts reflect a habit with mainly Latin Catholics (“Roman” Catholics to many in the US) in using the term “Rite”. In most Eastern Churches worldwide, that term is not only passe’, but considered less than complimentary, especially when used by Latins.
Rome has confirmed that each of the many (26 + -) worldwide “Catholic Churches” are, in fact, “Churches” unto themselves vs. “Rites” of the Latin Church and would prefer to be referred to as such.

After excommunicating each other for about 500 years, and then “making up”, one would hope that all parties would, as brothers of different Mothers, respect each others habits and practices.