Poll: How do you make the Sign of Cross?

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savedbychrist

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I was taught to draw the Sign of Cross like this: touching the forehead, lower chest and both shoulders.
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But I also see people doing it like this: touching the forehead, lower chest and both armpits.
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How do you make the Sign of Cross?
  • On the sholders
  • On the armpits
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Fyi, Pope Francis does it the “armpit way”:


(at 2:23)
 
I would say that it’s not so much armpits as below the shoulder, particular based on the video example from Pope Francis. Since you only had two options I picked the nearest. Reaching the armpits is a bit extreme perhaps! 😁
 
I had to actually try and check. Seems my hand seems to make contact about an inch below the top of my shoulder. When doing the downwards motion I seem to make contact around my heart, which is probably a little higher than some people.
 
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I do it both ways, depending on my posture… so I didn’t vote.
 
I think I do shoulders, but I doubt the armpitters of the world actually think it is their armpit or were taught armpits. I think think people have sort of a large area they consider their shoulders when they aren’t thinking about it too hard.
 
I think most people do not think about it honestly and touch in the general area of the chest/shoulder. I wonder why it could possibly matter in any context. The idea is a sign in the form of a cross, which it is either way.
 
Yes this. Shoulders. Armpits. It’s all the same general area to me.

I mean maybe I armpit-shoulder one day and then shoulder-armpit the next.
 
I’m a hybrid. I aim for the shoulder on my left but don’t always reach it and can’t reach more than maybe mid-way to my right shoulder due to mobility issues. My sign of the cross is a bit wobbly shaped.
 
Most of the time I make the normal Catholic sign of the cross (shoulders, not armpits. However sometimes I do it the way that the early church did, tracing a cross on my forehead with the end of my thumb.

D
 
I do both. I tend to do “armpits” when praying by myself. I tend to do shoulders when at mass or at some other public liturgy at Church.

From what I understand, the shoulders way is it should be done when vested for Mass (priests, deacons, altar boys, etc.)

The “armpits” way is the everyday way.

At least that’s why I’ve heard.
 
Neither.

Forehead, heart, and what would be considered collar bone
 
I was taught shoulders. I usually touch the front of my shoulders rather than the top of them. So somewhere between shoulders and armpits I guess…
 
I touch my pecs just beneath my collar bone, but I don’t always necessarily touch. Sometimes it’s more of a hover.
 
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The pits . . . The P I T S ??? From the lips of a Catholic??? Say it’s not so!

An anatomy lesson is desperately needed!

PLEASE! Lose this terminology immediately! It’s disgusting, as well as being inaccurate! I have NEVER seen anyone put their fingertips under their arms, where deodorant is applied. NEVER, EVER!!! Even bored, fidgety little boys don’t do that!

Shoulder and chest, yes, but NEVER the armpits! Lord, have mercy!
 
I agree…it sounds like they lift their arm and touch their pits!😂😂😂

Perhaps pectoral or just pecs would be better?

I’m out of hearts for today so here ya go ❤️
 
But if you have lots of armpit hair are you doing the sign of the cross with your armpits or with your hair?
 
TK421 said:
But if you have lots of armpit hair are you doing the sign of the cross with your armpits or with your hair?
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LOL! Now THAT sounds like vintage CAF!
ROTF! Too funny!

Whaddaya do for an encore??? 😂😂😂
 
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