Do we always have to make the Sign of the Cross at the start and end of prayers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter vanessabyrne
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
V

vanessabyrne

Guest
Is it necessary to always make the Sign of the Cross at the start and end of praying? I know the Sign of the Cross itself is a prayer. Sadly, I don’t say it as much as I should. I find it a struggle to pray specific prayers, my mind tends to wander and I lose concentration. I find myself taking long breaks between words and sentences. To try and mean the words better, I kind of word them in my own way, is this alright?

Since I find it difficult to concentrate on specific word prayers at times, I usually just say prayers in my words - as in, not only do I say certain prayers in my words, I talk to God about what’s on my mind etc. I know this is a way of praying.

So since I usually pray as if I’m talking to God, I kind of just tend to start praying, all of a sudden. Sometimes for a few minutes or sometimes longer. Because a lot of the time, I’m talking to God, I don’t really make the sign of the cross before and after.

Is it a sin? I know I should pray specific worded prayers more, but it’s hard for me to do.

So any advice, help or suggestions on any of this?

And to my first question, do we always have to make the Sign of the Cross before and after/start and end of prayers? Is it necessary to do this with every prayer? Is it sinful if we don’t?

God Bless
 
Since we go to the Father through the Son the sign of the cross opens the door. IMHO
 
Nobody’s going to stab you if you don’t but that’s been the tradition for two-thousand years.
 
No you don’t. And. you can pray in any manner and using any format that you are comfortable with. Standing, sitting, laying down, kneeling, running, walking, cooking etc etc. No sin, no muss, no fuss if you are not letter perfect on everything.
 
No… but… normally, in ordinary everyday situations, why not?

An exception in my mind would be in praying an aspiration e.g. a spontaneous, from the heart
prayer-- " Jesus, Mary, and Joseph." " Jesus, be merciful to me, a sinner." Etc.
 
Hmm, in reading your question and the replies I realize I don’t often.

If I am doing formal prayers - such as the Mass, kneeling when I enter the church, saying the rosary etc., I do so. As I think of it, it would be a really good idea for morning and night prayers also.

The Sign of the Cross is a prayer, but is is also a SIGN that identifies us a belonging to Christ. That is rather a good announcement to begin and end our day!

I was also challenged recently to say a prayer before meals when out to a meal in a restaurant and to make the Sign of the Cross before doing so instead of a thumb Cross on the forehead. That is a mean of evangelization, and one that I have real difficulty remembering. I will keep trying.

The other kind of prayer you mention, dialogue with God, is something else again. I like to try to practice “mindfulness” of God, Jesus, The Spirit all day and sometimes fall into conversation with one or all. OK sometimes one-sided for sure! I do not think a Sign of the Cross is necessary then - think about doing something like that when you are talking to a friend. Which you are of course! :)🙂
 
In formal lilturgical prayer, such as the Liturgy of the Hours or Mass, we begin with the sign of the cross. But for private prayerful conversation with God, we don’t need to be so formal. Did you ever watch Fiddler on the Roof? Tevye had such a natural spontaneous way of just talking to God that made him a rather endearing character in the movie. God was such a complete part of his day that he related everything back to God in conversational prayer.

I believe that is a goal for all of us, to find God everywhere, in everything, at all times, and lovingly bring our hearts to Him in order to share these moments with Our Father. We pray at Mass, "Through HIM, with HIM, and in HIM, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty Father. Since God dwells within us, it is absolute truth that we render to Him all honor and glory with every action we perform, and our morning offering covers them all without a specific necessity to bless ourselves.
 
I dont think it is a ‘must’. What about those without arms? I am sure a mental sign of the cross would also suffice.

God Bless
 
A partial indulgence is also received each time we devoutly make the sign of the cross. I frankly can use all the grace I can get! 😃
 
vanessabyrne said:
Is it necessary to always make the Sign of the Cross at the start and end of praying? I know the Sign of the Cross itself is a prayer. Sadly, I don’t say it as much as I should. I find it a struggle to pray specific prayers, my mind tends to wander and I lose concentration. I find myself taking long breaks between words and sentences. To try and mean the words better, I kind of word them in my own way, is this alright?

Since I find it difficult to concentrate on specific word prayers at times, I usually just say prayers in my words - as in, not only do I say certain prayers in my words, I talk to God about what’s on my mind etc. I know this is a way of praying.

So since I usually pray as if I’m talking to God, I kind of just tend to start praying, all of a sudden. Sometimes for a few minutes or sometimes longer. Because a lot of the time, I’m talking to God, I don’t really make the sign of the cross before and after.

Is it a sin? I know I should pray specific worded prayers more, but it’s hard for me to do.

So any advice, help or suggestions on any of this?

And to my first question, do we always have to make the Sign of the Cross before and after/start and end of prayers? Is it necessary to do this with every prayer? Is it sinful if we don’t?

God Bless
Click to expand...
For me, if I’m in public, I usually do the sign of the cross before and after I say a prayer. However, if I’m at home by myself, I could just say a silent prayer, like before a meal or before going to bed, without doing the sign of the cross.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s required. A prayer is a prayer.
 
Personal prayers can be as short and quick as a word or a few words; no, Catholics are not required to make the sign of the Cross for prayers.

That being said, I can see at least a few benefits from making the sign of the Cross. As some users have said above, it reminds us of Christ. It reminds us of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; they are with us in our prayers. The action may also remind the person should pray wholeheartedly.
 
vanessabyrne said:
And to my first question, do we always have to make the Sign of the Cross before and after/start and end of prayers? Is it necessary to do this with every prayer? Is it sinful if we don’t?
Click to expand...
It’s not a sin not to make the sign of the cross before and after prayers, but I think it’s a good idea. Then again, I usually don’t make the sign of the cross before prayers when praying aloud with others; but always after the prayer has ended.
 
“…whereas by the sign of the Cross all magic is stopped, and all witchcraft brought to nought, and all the idols are being deserted and left, and every unruly pleasure is checked, and every one is looking up from earth to heaven…” - St Athanasius the Great

“And let him come who would test by experience what we have now said, and in the very presence of the deceit of demons and the imposture of oracles and the marvels of magic, let him use the Sign of that Cross which is laughed at among them, and he shall see how by its means demons fly, oracles cease, all magic and witchcraft is brought to nought.” - St Athanasius the Great

“…but what there is is now fading away: and demons, so far from cheating any more by illusions and prophecies and magic arts, if they so much as dare to make the attempt, are put to shame by the sign of the Cross.” - St Athanasius the Great

“And whereas formerly demons used to deceive men’s fancy, occupying springs or rivers, trees or stones, and thus imposed upon the simple by their juggleries; now, after the divine visitation of the Word, their deception has ceased. For by the Sign of the Cross, though a man but use it, he drives out their deceits.” - St Athanasius the Great

“If we are striving to drive out demons, we use the Cross, and it is also of aid in healing sickness.” - St John Chrysostom
 
Sirach2 said:
In formal lilturgical prayer, such as the Liturgy of the Hours or Mass, we begin with the sign of the cross.
Click to expand...
Interestingly at the Benedictine abbey I’m associated with, the sign of the cross is not used at the end of the LOTH. It is used at the beginning except at the invitatory where at the first invocation of “Lord open my lips” one makes a cross on one’s lips with the thumb.

At the end, all bow deeply as the abbot (or prior in his absence) gives the final blessing.
 
Sirach2 said:
In formal lilturgical prayer, such as the Liturgy of the Hours or Mass, we begin with the sign of the cross. But for private prayerful conversation with God, we don’t need to be so formal. Did you ever watch Fiddler on the Roof? Tevye had such a natural spontaneous way of just talking to God that made him a rather endearing character in the movie. God was such a complete part of his day that he related everything back to God in conversational prayer.

I believe that is a goal for all of us, to find God everywhere, in everything, at all times, and lovingly bring our hearts to Him in order to share these moments with Our Father. We pray at Mass, "Through HIM, with HIM, and in HIM, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty Father. Since God dwells within us, it is absolute truth that we render to Him all honor and glory with every action we perform, and our morning offering covers them all without a specific necessity to bless ourselves.
Click to expand...
What about communal prayer which is non-liturgical? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Catholics at the church I attend begin or end a communal prayer with the Sign of the Cross (in situations such as picnics, outings, etc.) I had no idea it was a tradition to do so outside of liturgical contexts. I’m a non-Catholic who has been tagging along with a Catholic church for a long time, so all I really know is what I’ve been exposed to.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top