Is this a mortal sin?

[BCRaven05]

Is praying in public, but not doing the sign of the cross (due to bring in piblic) a mortal sin? I feel bad because I am weak to not have the strength to do the sign of the cross in public.

 

[Zekariya]

Is praying in public, but not doing the sign of the cross (due to bring in piblic) a mortal sin? I feel bad because I am weak to not have the strength to do the sign of the cross in public.

That is not a mortal sin. If it is due to fear of expressing the faith, I’d say that it is venial at worst. It takes time to get used to it. I used to not like making the Sign of the Cross do to my dislike of getting attention from people (I still struggle at times).

 

[nkulhanek]

No it is not a sin. Praying is praying any way you look at it. Why would you think it’s a sin?

 

[BCRaven05]

That is not a mortal sin. If it is due to fear of expressing the faith, I’d say that it is venial at worst. It takes time to get used to it. I used to not like making the Sign of the Cross do to my dislike of getting attention from people (I still struggle at times).

Right… My fear is standing out in a crowd, to which I wish I had more strength.

 

[BCRaven05]

No it is not a sin. Praying is praying any way you look at it. Why would you think it’s a sin?

I feel bad that I was not willing to do the sign of the cross in public (prayed while waiting for oil change). I know the prayer part wasn’t wrong, but I feel bad for deciding not to start and end with the sign if the cross out of concern for acceptance.

 

[TuAutem]

It’s not a sin at all not to make the sign of the cross when you pray, as Catholics we have no requirement to begin and end our prayers that way. When we do so, it’s because of the indulgences and benefits it brings to our prayer, not because God will punish us if we don’t!

Some very holy people have gone to great lengths *not *to make their devotions outwardly visible–after all isn’t that what Jesus *says *to do in the Sermon on the Mount:

And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Now, being scared to show our faith in public (or even ashamed to) is a sign of weakness. It’s not a sin, though, unless you actually contradicted what our faith enjoins in order to not be seen as Catholic (like if you ate meat on a Friday in Lent because you didn’t want to stand out). It can’t be a sin for something optional (not praying the rosary on the street corner can’t be a sin, because no one ever said you had to).

Our weaknesses, offered up to God, become His strengths (2 Cor 12:9-10). But it’s not a mortal sin–mortal sin is our deliberate rejection of God and self-exile to hell; obviously if you’re praying you are not deliberately turning your back on God! It is a matter for prayer, perhaps a matter to take up with a priest of spiritual director for guidance on how to grow in your own faith, but it is not a sin (unless a venial one because you were *deliberately *being weak on some level).

 

[Jeanne_S]

Is praying in public, but not doing the sign of the cross (due to bring in piblic) a mortal sin? I feel bad because I am weak to not have the strength to do the sign of the cross in public.

Hey,sports figures make the sign of the cross all the time in front of God and everybody

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Right… My fear is standing out in a crowd, to which I wish I had more strength.

St. Paul took the approach of behaving like the people around him, in order to win them over. He was basically a chameleon, and he did it for the sake of the gospel. If you go into a situation and act in a way that sets you apart, that automatically redefines the relationship you have with others. This may or may not be a strategy you have chosen for evangelizing or having fellowship. In St. Paul’s case, seemed like he’d stay “under the radar” until he got to know the people a little better.

[BIBLEDRB]1 Cor 9:19-23[/BIBLEDRB]

So no, it is not a sin.

Alan

 

[BCRaven05]

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful!!!

 

[chimo]

No it is not a sin. I remember I did make the sign of the crosss once at the Royal Bank and the teller smiled and told me “you do that backwards.” I smiled back and I said to her “You must be Catholic!” I was crossing myself the Eastern way.

 

[Almosserdo]

Certainly not a mortal sin…

Go to ETWN USA 24/7 Catholic Channel on Sky. They are continually promoting the making of the Sign of the Cross before and after meals in public places. I confess I haven’t yet been able to achieve that on all occasions but I am working on it.—There are some places that you would be placing yourself at risk of arrest and even execution for doing same…but on reflection those regimes must be terrified of being overrun and annihilated by Christians…Food for thought. Don’t feel guilty lets move forward together and bite the bullet and feel the pain when offering up to God.
Its not easy…

 

[Nigel7]

Who cares what people think. Do not be afraid to acknowledge before others your faith in Jesus Christ.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."
Mat 10:32

 

[Almosserdo]

Who cares what people think. Do not be afraid to acknowledge before others your faith in Jesus Christ.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."
Mat 10:32

Got it in one Nige17. I am a fairly tall man so everyting I do can be seen by most people around - good for evangelisation you might say. OK lets go for it…Have the guts and garters and all!

 

[Nigel7]

Got it in one Nige17. I am a fairly tall man so everyting I do can be seen by most people around - good for evangelisation you might say. OK lets go for it…Have the guts and garters and all!