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Holly3278
Guest
I grew up Southern Baptist and we never made the Sign of the Cross. I didn’t even know about it until I learned about the Catholic Church.
Is it difficult for some non Catholics to start a prayer with the sign of the cross?
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onthisrock
Guest
I was raised Lutheran. When I go anywhere we start our prayers with the sign of the cross, though since I’ve been going to a Byzantine church, I found myself crossing myself backwards during a Roman Catholic Mass…I don’t care iwhat my sister who hates my faith thinks. Like I was saying, there was a woman in my Lutheran church. She would cross herself…she was the only one who did and is probably Catholic today…I have no way of knowing…Be true to your faith even if it “annoys, or discomforts” anyone. You are opening a prayer in rememberance of the crucifiction, and Holy Trinity…not just listening to nice words, which Non Denominationals are perfected at reciting off of the top of their heads.
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Anna_Scott
Guest
The Sign of the Cross comes up often on the forums.
As I have posted on other threads: We, Anglicans, cross ourselves at different points during the Liturgy–very similar to Catholics in Communion with Rome—and in our prayers.
Catholic author, Scott Hahn, writes in his book entitled The Lamb’s Supper (pages 43-44):
“Among early Christians, the Sign of the Cross was probably the most universal expression of faith. . .Great saints also testify to the tremendous power of the sign. St. Cyprian of Carthage, in the third century, wrote that ‘in the. . .Sign of the Cross is all virtue and power. . .In this Sign of the Cross is salvation for all who are marked on their foreheads’ (a reference, by the way, to Revelation 7:3 and 14:1). A century later, St Athanasius declared that ‘by the Sign of the Cross all magic is stopped, and all witchcraft brought to nothing.’ Satan is powerless before the cross of Jesus Christ. The Sign of the Cross is the most profound gesture we make. It is the mystery of the Gospel in a moment. It is the Christian faith summarized in a single gesture. . . .”
I read the full section in Hahn’s book to my best friend (a Southern Baptist). She now crosses herself during her prayers. She is probably the only Southern Baptist who does this.
Peace,
Anna
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cajunhillbilly
Guest
You are proably right about Southern Baptists. I have attended Southern Baptist churches and you never see it. I do it myself even when visiting a Baptist church. It is part of my prayer life.The Sign of the Cross comes up often on the forums.
As I have posted on other threads: We, Anglicans, cross ourselves at different points during the Liturgy–very similar to Catholics in Communion with Rome—and in our prayers.
Catholic author, Scott Hahn, writes in his book entitled The Lamb’s Supper (pages 43-44):
“Among early Christians, the Sign of the Cross was probably the most universal expression of faith. . .Great saints also testify to the tremendous power of the sign. St. Cyprian of Carthage, in the third century, wrote that ‘in the. . .Sign of the Cross is all virtue and power. . .In this Sign of the Cross is salvation for all who are marked on their foreheads’ (a reference, by the way, to Revelation 7:3 and 14:1). A century later, St Athanasius declared that ‘by the Sign of the Cross all magic is stopped, and all witchcraft brought to nothing.’ Satan is powerless before the cross of Jesus Christ. The Sign of the Cross is the most profound gesture we make. It is the mystery of the Gospel in a moment. It is the Christian faith summarized in a single gesture. . . .”
I read the full section in Hahn’s book to my best friend (a Southern Baptist). She now crosses herself during her prayers. She is probably the only Southern Baptist who does this.
Peace,
Anna
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batman1973
Guest
Since becoming a Lutheran, I’m learning to use the sign of the cross. It takes some getting used to.
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Yeah, before becoming Catholic, I looked up on the internet (including catholic.com) on instructions on how it’s done, and why.
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Anna_Scott
Guest
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Kal2012
Guest
Most non-Catholics don’t make the sign of the cross.
They never think about doing it.
I went to a mixed wedding once where the bride’s side was mostly protestant and didn’t cross themselves at the right times and the groom’s side always crossed themselves. I assumed they were Catholic.
Until I read the replies, I really didn’t know that there were protestant groups made the sign.
I’ll make the sign out of respect when I am at dinner or something with my Catholic friends and there’s a prayer.
However, it’s just not part of how protestants do things (for the most part).
They never think about doing it.
I went to a mixed wedding once where the bride’s side was mostly protestant and didn’t cross themselves at the right times and the groom’s side always crossed themselves. I assumed they were Catholic.
Until I read the replies, I really didn’t know that there were protestant groups made the sign.
I’ll make the sign out of respect when I am at dinner or something with my Catholic friends and there’s a prayer.
However, it’s just not part of how protestants do things (for the most part).
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Byzantine_Wolf
Guest
Doing the sign of the cross before prayers will not resolve the issue of how someone understands God the Holy Spirit’s relationship with the other Persons in the Trinity. I’ve known many who did the sign of the cross at church or before meals and held warped views regarding the Triune God.
LaughingBoy1503
Well-known member
I know from my own experience that some protestants think that making the sign of the cross is pagan and Catholics only stated doing this after Emporer Constintine legalized Christianity in the seccond century. My mother who is a non-denominational protestant believes this. She also does not consider herself a protestant and gets offended if you call her a protestant because she is “above” that.
When I was a protestant I saw making the sigh of the cross as just a ritualistic thing that Catholics did for some reason. I never bothered to do my reasearch at that time though.
LaughingBoy1503
Well-known member
And I know many who did not make the sigh of the cross at church or before meals and held warped views regarding the Triune God.
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Byzantine_Wolf
Guest
I don’t deny those exist, nor did I imply I did in my post. In the context, I was responding to the suggestion that doing the sign of the cross before prayers will make us more focused on all three Persons in a healthy manner.
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Anna_Scott
Guest
LaughingBoy1503
Well-known member
I understand. And you have a point too.
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rissa87
Guest
I am a convert… Before I was Catholic, I never used the sign of the cross. And once I decided to convert, it was something that I had to get used to. I never thought there was anything inherently wrong in doing it–I just didn’t grow up doing it my whole life, so it felt strange to me to do it. Same with genuflecting before entering a pew or passing by the tabernacle, bowing before the altar, asking to have items blessed by the priest, talking to the saints and angels… All these are perfectly normal Catholic things to do, but I felt funny doing them until they became the norm for me.
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skigirl1689
Guest
This actually came up at a family party over Christmas as my sister did not make the sign of the cross when we said grace. My dad asked her why as “it would not kill you to do it” in a joking way. I found her response insightful. She said she did not know how to do it properly and did not want to do it wrong. Perhaps this is one of the reasons some non-Catholics refrain from making the sign of the cross.
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4Squarebaby
Guest
It is a learned natural response and if it has not been drilled into you to do it you don’t do it. Ten years coming to belief after decades of not believing I still find it strange to give the culturally still appropriate "God bless you " response to someone sneezing in my presence. I have to give an active thought command to say it
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rajun
Guest
Dont put foolish comments .Mar thoma church came from malankara church,which is then divided into two churches one marthoma church and other the malankara orthodox church, which was an oriental orthodox church, and not from anglicans as all catholics tthink.
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