Sign of the cross and prayer

[findingChrist]

Lol. Is the SotC mandatory? Can Catholics say quick prayers without using it?

I have been looking all over for this answer; if it’s mandatory, and if so when? What about when saying grace? So many questions…

And what if you fall asleep in the middle of praying? Is that horrible? I know it sounds odd but it happens sometimes.

 

[myc1972]

I have been looking all over for this answer; if it’s mandatory, and if so when? What about when saying grace? So many questions…

And what if you fall asleep in the middle of praying? Is that horrible? I know it sounds odd but it happens sometimes.

I think it happens to a lot of people. I fall asleep when praying the Rosary. St. Therese of Lisieux (“Little Flower”) started falling asleep during prayer too.

Normally it happens to me because I pray the Rosary before going to sleep. Maybe changing the time might help.

God Bless You!

 

[OraLabora]

And what if you fall asleep in the middle of praying? Is that horrible? I know it sounds odd but it happens sometimes.

A nice little legend says that if you fall asleep during your prayer, your guardian angel finishes it for you

 

[findingChrist]

A nice little legend says that if you fall asleep during your prayer, your guardian angel finishes it for you

I love that! That thought fills me with joy.

Thank you both for your replies. Now I don’t feel so bad for not finishing them properly. I get anxiety at night when I’m trying to sleep. The prayers help keep my thoughts on the right track and the pills come over me before I realize.

 

[wcknight]

Falling asleep while praying is how I go to bed every evening. I want the last thing I do in the day to be part of a prayer. Thank goodness for GAs, mine has to work overtime, because I sometimes begin a rosary at night and rarely get past the first mystery.

It’s great for insomiacs, tough on angels…

 

[myc1972]

Falling asleep while praying is how I go to bed every evening. I want the last thing I do in the day to be part of a prayer. Thank goodness for GAs, mine has to work overtime, because I sometimes begin a rosary at night and rarely get past the first mystery.

It’s great for insomiacs, tough on angels…

That is such a wonderful thought. To fall asleep with a prayer through your mind/lips.

On a EWTN show they advised to pray the Rosary every day, even if you only have time to pray one decade.

 

[catholicanne]

I make the sign of the cross before and after as well.

 

[Nelka]

Before and after.

 

[lssanjose]

Before, during (depending on the prayer), and after.

 

[SeekNFind]

A nice little legend says that if you fall asleep during your prayer, your guardian angel finishes it for you

Aww, that’s so sweet. I bever heard that before. When I first started saying the Rosary, I fell asleep. Even now, I can fall asleep if I do it while laying down. I find using Come Pray the Rosary and sitting up helps avoid that.

 

[SeekNFind]

Are there rules about crossing yourself when the cross passes you during the processional? Or is it if there’s a bishop, archbishop or cardinal passing you? Also, when you are splashed with holy water (asperges me) or incensed before the liturgy of the Eucharist, you’re supposed to cross yourself, right?

 

[domandcarols]

Traditionally, when beginning a prayer, do Catholics begin with the sign of the cross? Is it more modern to just do the SOTC at the en of the prayer?

I begin and end with the sign of the cross. It’s opinional but quite standard as far as I know…