Making the sign of the Cross

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redrosetea

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Why do some Catholics kiss their their thumb after making the sign of the cross?

I was never taught to do that when blessing myself…Does it have a particular meaning? I have never seen a Pope or priest do it either

I am not criticizing it, just curious…it looks quite pious…🙂
 
Some people, after having made the sign of the cross as usual, will make a tiny cross with their index finger folded over their thumb and kiss this.
 
It’s popular in Hispanic Cultures…which is where I picked up the practice.
 
some people trace it to times of persecution, where one could not have a crucifix, hence one makes one with one’s own body and reveres it.
 
My step-father (mostly Irish, not a shred of “Hispanic” so I guess others have it too!) always finished off with the kiss on the fingers. It usually seemed more of a touching of the fingers to the lips than a kiss.
 
The gesture would seem to make more sense if one was actually holding the crucifix of a rosary, with which the gesture is usually accompanied.

If you happen to watch Detroit Tiger Ivan Rodriguez at bat, he is almost constantly making the gesture. Should we judge him? Perhaps we should not, but many people might, watching him, and wonder if the action is not purely superstition.
 
I certainly wouldn’t judge him and I hope no one else does either…This thread was not an attempt to put anyone on:confused: the defensive, or to judge anyone
 
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