Do you make the Sign of the Cross among unbelieving friends?

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milimac

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I shamefully admit that I am a coward, but I’m making progress.

I used to not pray with my wife (she is not baptized), but when we had kids I worked up the courage to at least say a prayer before meals. Now she even helps the kids say their prayers if I cannot be there and she even asked me to pray for her brother one evening.

Next, I worked up the courage to say prayers at the restaurant with my family. That actually wasn’t as hard, when you have the support and help of your family.

Then I prayed among my wife’s family who is not religious, both at home and when we went out to eat. Again, strength in numbers helped.

But now I’ve gone out a couple times to eat with old co-workers and with new ones. All I planned to do was pray silently and then make the sign of the cross, but I wasn’t able to muster the courage to make the sign of the cross either time. Frustrating, especially since both times also happened to be on a Friday.

So, have any of you been in the situation where you are with friends or family you know are not Catholic and a situation comes up where it is appropriate to pray – such as before meals in a restaurant? If so, did you just do it? Did you invite them to pray with you? Was it difficult?

I’m looking for some encouragement. Thank you in advance for your help.
 
I was in the same boat you are. The only thing I can say is that the more you do it, the more comfortable it gets. I say grace, with the Sign of the Cross, at every meal now, whether it be at home, at McDonalds, at the Costco food court, anywhere.

I remember one situation a couple of years ago. I was out with some close friends who are non-denominational Christians, and we were all out grabbing a bite to eat. Before we ate, my girlfriend’s husband put his hands out indicating that we were going to give thanks while holding hands. Before I clasped my neighbor’s hand, I did the Sign of the Cross, held hands, heard the thanksgiving prayers, said grace to myself, and after we let go, I did the SOTC again. Nobody in my group said anything to me, and honestly, I felt very united with this group - giving thanks for the food to Our Lord.

It does take time, especially if you haven’t done this for a long time. Preservere in the Faith, my friend.

God Bless!
 
I do all the time. My family prays at restaurants, and we’ve made waitors and waitresses wait until we are finished.
 
We do it in restaurants, among nonCatholics, too; after the World Trade Center, I think folks are much more understanding.
 
milimac said:
I shamefully admit that I am a coward, but I’m making progress. I’m looking for some encouragement. Thank you in advance for your help.
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milimac, my family and I make the sign of the cross everywhere. It was not always so, however. The “secret”? I lost my fear after being “baptized” in the Holy Spirit. At a Catholic Charismatic Renewal seminar, a priest laid hands on me and prayed for the release of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all received the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, but the gifts can be imprisoned in a hardened heart. Since their release, I have lost all fear of faith. My faith is on fire now-no turning back. My prayer life has really benefitted. A co-worker, after listening to me rave about God’s mercy, decided that he needed to return to the faith after a five year absence. He is reconciled and in a state of grace once more. Praise God! And, it was not me, but the Holy Spirit that accomplished this. It is waiting for you, as well.

You’ve seen those “No Fear” stickers on car and truck windows? Little did we know that it was God who was speaking to us.

Christ’s peace be with you. Be of good courage.
 
Yes, at home and in public with family and friends (Catholic and non), we make the the sign of the cross with our meal blessing.

My brother who was never confirmed in the church (and is still not practicing the faith:( ) looks to us to say the prayer when we’re at family meal. He now assumes we will have a blessing. That makes me feel good! 😃

I am not this open with employees and co-workers however on a business lunch. In that case, I silently bow my head and pray before the meal.

In Peace,
DS
 
Thank you for your responses. I’m curious too how you first began. Did you do it by yourself silently or audibly? If audibly, did you invite them to pray with you first?
 
milimac said:
Thank you for your responses. I’m curious too how you first began. Did you do it by yourself silently or audibly? If audibly, did you invite them to pray with you first?
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I am either with family and Catholic friends, or alone when I eat. There is strength in numbers, but there is faith when you are alone. There is someone who is waiting to see you make the sign, because they need to talk to a fellow Catholic. Wait and see. This will encourage you. Remember that Christ will not be ashamed before His Father of those who are not ashamed of Him. If you love Him before men, He will love you before the Father. Pretty good deal. 👍
 
I am as much of a coward as anybody else, and continue to try make progress in this area. DEFINITELY much easier when with Catholic family or friends.

For encourgement, I try to remember what a very good non Catholic friend once said to me-- “Why is it that all the nicest people I know are always so religious?!”

So I tell myself that a number of people will see what I am doing. It will stick in their heads, and after they eventually see one or more other courageous Catholics doing the same thing, the thought will start to bug them into thinking more about faith in general and the Catholic Church in particular.

When nobody makes public expressions of faith, it becomes easy for others either to forget about faith, or to assume that in modern times there is no need for faith.

When I am eating with non Catholic friends, I do not invite them or call attention to myself. I just say grace quietly to myself, preceeded and followed by the sign of the cross. That makes it evident what is going on, with no pressure placed on others.

.
 
I’m a new Catholic, also in RCIA.

I do pray the Sign of the Cross in public. Some people are like this: :eek: . I pray for them. Others are like this: 👍 I smile at them. The ones that are like this 😊 I encourage to do the same. The ones like this: :confused: I tell them to try it.

It’s liberating!!!
 
heathernoel said:
I’m a new Catholic, also in RCIA.

I do pray the Sign of the Cross in public. Some people are like this: :eek: . I pray for them. Others are like this: 👍 I smile at them. The ones that are like this 😊 I encourage to do the same. The ones like this: :confused: I tell them to try it.

It’s liberating!!!
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😃 😃 😃
 
Faithful2 said:
I am as much of a coward as anybody else, and continue to try make progress in this area. DEFINITELY much easier when with Catholic family or friends.

For encourgement, I try to remember what a very good non Catholic friend once said to me-- “Why is it that all the nicest people I know are always so religious?!”

So I tell myself that a number of people will see what I am doing. It will stick in their heads, and after they eventually see one or more other courageous Catholics doing the same thing, the thought will start to bug them into thinking more about faith in general and the Catholic Church in particular.

When nobody makes public expressions of faith, it becomes easy for others either to forget about faith, or to assume that in modern times there is no need for faith.

When I am eating with non Catholic friends, I do not invite them or call attention to myself. I just say grace quietly to myself, preceeded and followed by the sign of the cross. That makes it evident what is going on, with no pressure placed on others.

.
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Thanks for the encouragement. What’s worse for me is that I can actually think of very good reasons for doing the sign of the cross. I had even heard recently a podcast somewhere where a saint or martyr had his hand chopped off for making the sign of the cross. The worst response that I might get is someone rolling their eyes.

I even tell myself not to make a big deal of it and that I will be very happy I did it when I look back on the day. I pray to St. Peter who also had some trouble publicly witnessing to Christ when he denied him. I think of the many times Christ said to have no fear. Yet still the hand is heavy.

I hate to say it, but I must really care about others opinions of me. I am really hoping I can be more courageous than that, and for such a piddly thing. Martyrs forgive me and help me. The hardest step for anything is the first step, and the earlier you make it and continue with it, the easier it is.

Again, I have made progress for the most part. It’s just when I’m alone with non-Catholics where it seems to be a trouble spot.
 
milimac said:
Thanks for the encouragement. Again, I have made progress for the most part. It’s just when I’m alone with non-Catholics where it seems to be a trouble spot.
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Let those around you know you are Catholic. They may not understandthe sign of the cross, but they will expect it. And, upon seeing it, some may just question you about your faith. If you saw Christ in their eyes, would you still be ashamed to do it? 👍

Christ’s peace be always with you.
 
You know what’s cool? Here in India, I see many people- Hindus, and other non-Catholics making the sign of the cross when they pass our church. For them it’s like acknowledging God. Although I still have to get in the habit of doing it around others- in restaurants and friend’s houses.
 
I remeber waiting for my friends and family members to close their eyes before I made the sign of the cross (SOTC). As I grew in my devotion I became more bold. My children and wife actually asked me if I would not make the SOTC when we had company. I was quizzed by my wife because she said sometime I would cross my self and other times I would not. One day while reading the CCC I came across this: 2157 The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior’s grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties. So even though it shows to the world that we are Catholic let us remember the grace it imparts and the testimony it shows. Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who beleves…
For the sake of his sorrowful passion,

Tiber swim team 2003
 
You bet I/we do! Good for you for wanting to do this. Just remember that it’s more important what God thinks than anyone else! Good luck and God bless you!
 
milimac said:
I shamefully admit that I am a coward, but I’m making progress.

I used to not pray with my wife (she is not baptized), but when we had kids I worked up the courage to at least say a prayer before meals. Now she even helps the kids say their prayers if I cannot be there and she even asked me to pray for her brother one evening.

Next, I worked up the courage to say prayers at the restaurant with my family. That actually wasn’t as hard, when you have the support and help of your family.

Then I prayed among my wife’s family who is not religious, both at home and when we went out to eat. Again, strength in numbers helped.

But now I’ve gone out a couple times to eat with old co-workers and with new ones. All I planned to do was pray silently and then make the sign of the cross, but I wasn’t able to muster the courage to make the sign of the cross either time. Frustrating, especially since both times also happened to be on a Friday.

So, have any of you been in the situation where you are with friends or family you know are not Catholic and a situation comes up where it is appropriate to pray – such as before meals in a restaurant? If so, did you just do it? Did you invite them to pray with you? Was it difficult?

I’m looking for some encouragement. Thank you in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
yes i do. i don’t let unbelievers stop me from being absolutely respectful to the Blessed Trinity. 👍
 
I will make the sign of the cross in front of others and non catholics. I have been afraid to do this in the past and even still am sometimes, but I figure God never leaves me no matter how much I sin or possibly embarrass him so I owe him to stand up for him especially when it seems harder which makes me think it is most important at that moment sort of like a test.
So don’t feel bad and keep learning just like the rest of us.
God Bless you and your family!🙂
 
I do!! Most of the people I know are Catholics, and if I have to cross myself for any reason, I do it. My DH is a JW and I do it in front of him all the time, maybe I am a bit hesitant in front of his JW sister, but I try to make it clear I am Catholic and will never be a JW.
 
i did it this morning at a dunkin donuts in manhattan before eating a donut for breakfast. it was very liberating!

however, i suspect it’s easier to cross oneself in the relative anonymity of a fast food franchise in new york than it would be at my parents’ home around my fallen away family members.

i hope that by making it a habit i will get over feeling self-conscious about it.
 
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