Do you bless yourself?

[Dorothy]

In the Orthodox Church, you cross yourself from head, heart, right shoulder, left shoulder…I thought you crossed yourself head, heart, left shoulder, then right shoulder in the Western/Catholic Church…am I missing something?

You are not missing anything. The poster probably just thought and typed in a hurry.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

In the Orthodox Church, you cross yourself from head, heart, right shoulder, left shoulder…I thought you crossed yourself head, heart, left shoulder, then right shoulder in the Western/Catholic Church…am I missing something?

Oops

You’re right. In the Western Church the sign of the cross is forehead, heart, left shoulder, right shoulder; opposite in Eastern Church though I am not sure why.

In baptism, the pastor/ priest makes the sign of the holy cross [usually with holy oil] on the forehead and heart of the infant or adult. On Ash Wednesday, a cross of ashes/ oil is made on the forehead of all who desire the sign of our salvation through the holy Cross. Holy water [water that has been blessed] either in the baptismal font or smaller basins is available for anyone to dip fingers into and bless oneself. The sign of the cross is made several times at Mass both by the pastor/ priest and parishioners.

Lutherans have maintained the custom from the Early Church. I have observed Catholics and Anglicans/ Episcopalians bless themselves also. Is the custom becoming more common among other Christians?

 

[Novocastrian]

You’re right. In the Western Church the sign of the cross is forehead, heart, left shoulder, right shoulder; opposite in Eastern Church though I am not sure why?

I heard that in the early Church, priests would bless the way the Orthodox do. In the East, the laity copied what the priests actually did; in the West, they copied what they saw, i.e. the mirror image. This explanation may, however, be completely apocryphal!

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I heard that in the early Church, priests would bless the way the Orthodox do. In the East, the laity copied what the priests actually did; in the West, they copied what they saw, i.e. the mirror image. This explanation may, however, be completely apocryphal!

I also have noticed Orthodox crossing themselves twice or repeatedly when Catholics [including Anglicans/ Lutherans] only do it once at different times during the liturgy.

 

[cmodrmac]

I do bless myself upon entering CHurch - post Communion & other times -just realized I do it with left shoulder first-

most of our Congregation genuflects upon entering the pew and bows to the Altar-

about 1/3 makes the sigh of the cross on head -lips-heart before the Gospel

never really gave it any thought

 

[bben15]

I always bless myself, especially in danger. The Sign of the Cross is not a “hex sign.” It is how we stand up to Satan. The Sign of the Cross is basically a Creed. The devil hates the Sign of the Cross. We should always do it.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I’m Catholic so I do bless myself, but I think you are directing the question to non-Catholics. I just wanted to add that my grandpa, a Danish Lutheran, started making the sign of the Cross when we said grace before meals because I asked why my grandparents didn’t cross themselves. I interpret it as a great sign of his love and affection for little me…such a simple thing that he did but it’s a something I treasure more than words can say.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I do bless myself upon entering CHurch - post Communion & other times -just realized I do it with left shoulder first-

most of our Congregation genuflects upon entering the pew and bows to the Altar-
about 1/3 makes the sigh of the cross on head -lips-heart before the Gospel

never really gave it any thought

Lutherans don’t genuflect all that much even if a church has a tabernacle. But we bow quite a bit; before entering pew, when processional cross passes, at the words of the Creed pertaining to the holy Spirit and Virgin Mary, during the chanting of the Sanctus, to the altar at holy Communion and when walking by the altar or ambry . Some bow every time the name of Jesus is mentioned during Mass including the sermon but mostly seminarians.

 

[House_Harkonnen]

Curious if readers make the sign of the cross. Some Christians bless themselves during prayer at meals, upon entering a church, when in danger, when receiving holy Communion, etc.

Do you make the sign of the holy cross in the traditional Western Church way [head, heart, right shoulder, left shoulder] or Eastern Church [opposite shoulders], trace the cross over your own heart, bless yourself with little crosses on the forehead, lips and heart at the reading of the holy Gospel? Is the custom of blessing oneself “too catholic” for some Christians?

Only during service during the sign of the cross.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I always bless myself, especially in danger. The Sign of the Cross is not a “hex sign.” It is how we stand up to Satan. The Sign of the Cross is basically a Creed. The devil hates the Sign of the Cross. We should always do it.

I also instinctively cross myself when an ambulance approaches. We don’t get tornadoes in New York very often but really bad storms when the lights goes out would be another time. Many New Yorkers remember the tragedy of 9/11 and how they crossed themselves in terror. It is like immediately reaching out to Christ to save us.

 

[thequietsinger]

Thank you to everyone who said that I wasn’t missing anything! And OP, don’t worry about it. I can promise you that it happens to everyone on here sooner or later.

 

[JonNC]

Lutherans don’t genuflect all that much even if a church has a tabernacle. But we bow quite a bit; before entering pew, when processional cross passes, at the words of the Creed pertaining to the holy Spirit and Virgin Mary, during the chanting of the Sanctus, to the altar at holy Communion and when walking by the altar or ambry . Some bow every time the name of Jesus is mentioned during Mass including the sermon but mostly seminarians.

EC, I would like to see our pastors genuflect more after the consecration, for two reasons:

1. to reinforce to the laity that on the altar is the true and substantial body and blood of Christ, and 2) to combat the false teaching of receptionism, which still has a foothold in some Lutheran circles.

Jon

 

[cajunhillbilly]

Do it all the time.

 

[Kliska]

I read that the “opposite” crossing of East v. West was because of the filioque, and to symbolize the 2 different sayings or beliefs. Anyone confirm or deny this?

 

[teresa_lamb]

I cross myself, Eastern style, for all reasons stated above…but also when I catch myself having sinful thoughts, hear about some sins of others, and when someone takes our Lord’s name in vein.

I’m glad to read that so many of our non-catholic christian brothers and sisters do the same.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

EC, I would like to see our pastors genuflect more after the consecration, for two reasons:

1. to reinforce to the laity that on the altar is the true and substantial body and blood of Christ, and 2) to combat the false teaching of receptionism, which still has a foothold in some Lutheran circles.

Jon

I was mainly referring to the laity rarely genuflecting in Lutheran churches, My observations are that the clergy typically genuflect at the consecration, as my pastor does but agree that if a parish reserves the Sacrament, genuflection is the proper gesture for all who can do it. Getting down on one knee is the easy part; it is harder standing back up at my age!

 

[eschator83]

I urge caution in use of the phrase “bless yourself.” The sign of the cross has been offered in many varying circumstances through Christian history, but I think it is almost always as a request for God’s blessing or consecration, or as an action to demonstrate our faith in Jesus’ Resurrection and our Redemption.
My best sources are the Catechism, the Encyclopedia here at Ccom, Hardin’s Dictionary, and the Encyclopedia of Early Christianity.
The concept of blessing ourselves, as compared to asking God’s Blessing, seems arrogant and worse. Where in our literature does a Saint or Father bless himself/herself?
The phrase Bless me, Father, for I have sinned does not suggest we are blessing ourselves.

 

[Novocastrian]

I was mainly referring to the laity rarely genuflecting in Lutheran churches, My observations are that the clergy typically genuflect at the consecration, as my pastor does but agree that if a parish reserves the Sacrament, genuflection is the proper gesture for all who can do it. Getting down on one knee is the easy part; it is harder standing back up at my age!

EC, I confess myself surprised; I had always imagined you as a young man. I don’t know which you’d prefer! Haha

 

[CarolNoel]

Yes.

 

[andrewstx]

Yes I bless myself. And I do it Eastern style because I am Orthodox, I usually only do it once except when venerating icons. But some Greeks will always cross themselves thrice, I would assume for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.