Sign of the cross and prayer

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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 do the Sign when beginning my prayers and ending my prayers, but that could just be me, God bless
 
CCC
2157 The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” the baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior’s grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. the sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.
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codefro said:
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?
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It is a powerful sacramental. Do the sign of the cross with reverence and attention before and after prayers.
 
Before and After. I’m in my 20’s. Never seen anyone do the SOTC only at the end before.
 
The sign of the cross is considered a prayer itself, isn’t it? If so, can someone explain to me how…I don’t understand how it is an actual prayer opposed to a thought or statement. Not that I disagree with it, I just need someone to help me understand it! Thank you. God bless. Xoxo! 😛
 
komeeks18 said:
The sign of the cross is considered a prayer itself, isn’t it? If so, can someone explain to me how…I don’t understand how it is an actual prayer opposed to a thought or statement. Not that I disagree with it, I just need someone to help me understand it! Thank you. God bless. Xoxo! 😛
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Yes the sign of the cross is a prayer as well. It is putting one’s self in the Presence of the Trinity.

When I end my prayer with the sign of the cross I acknowledge His love and glorify Him.
 
Well if you pray the Divine Office there are rubrics… for instance at the opening before the invitatory (“Lord open my lips…”), you cross your lips with your right thumb. Benedictines typically don’t cross themselves after the Divine Office, but do so at the opening verse (except as above), “Lord come to my assistance…”. They also cross themselves at the Gospel Canticle (Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis in the monasteries that do recite it… it’s not part of the Benedictine tradition but some do it).

And since my prayer is mainly the Divine Office and I’m a Benedictine Oblate, I tend to follow the above.😉
 
komeeks18 said:
The sign of the cross is considered a prayer itself, isn’t it? If so, can someone explain to me how…I don’t understand how it is an actual prayer opposed to a thought or statement. Not that I disagree with it, I just need someone to help me understand it! Thank you. God bless. Xoxo! 😛
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I think one way to think of it is in the same light as when, in a Baptist church (I see that you were raised Baptist) the pastor will end the prayer “In Jesus’ name we pray”. The sign of the cross is “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. So both are stating that the prayers are being said in Jesus’ name, as we are instructed to do in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

ETA: I forgot to answer the original question…I make the sign of the cross both at the beginning and at the end of each prayer.
 
creole54 said:
I think one way to think of it is in the same light as when, in a Baptist church (I see that you were raised Baptist) the pastor will end the prayer “In Jesus’ name we pray”. The sign of the cross is “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. So both are stating that the prayers are being said in Jesus’ name, as we are instructed to do in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

ETA: I forgot to answer the original question…I make the sign of the cross both at the beginning and at the end of each prayer.
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Okay, thank you. When you make the sign of the cross before you begin your actual prayer, do you say “amen” after “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”? Or after you cross yourself do you go straight into your prayer without saying amen? Sorry if that’s confusing.
 
komeeks18 said:
Okay, thank you. When you make the sign of the cross before you begin your actual prayer, do you say “amen” after “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”? Or after you cross yourself do you go straight into your prayer without saying amen? Sorry if that’s confusing.
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You always say “Amen”

After any prayer, including “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” Which is also a prayer.

God Bless You!
 
I ALWAYS do the sign of the cross BEFORE and AFTER praying. … How else would God know when you are beginning or ending a prayer ??? :D:p:p
 
wcknight said:
I ALWAYS do the sign of the cross BEFORE and AFTER praying. … How else would God know when you are beginning or ending a prayer ??? :D:p:p
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Lol. Is the SotC mandatory? Can Catholics say quick prayers without using it?
 
codefro said:
Lol. Is the SotC mandatory? Can Catholics say quick prayers without using it?
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Of course! Such as “Lord, have mercy” when an ambulance goes by.

Oddly enough, when I make the sign of the cross at the beginning of a prayer I don’t say Amen. I only say amen when I make the sign of the cross at the conclusion of my prayers. I guess just to let God know I’m done. 😃
 
Fr Conner on EWTN has a series airing on the sacraments “sacraments through the ages” or something like that.

I think he was just talking about confirmation and how it includes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the “confirmand” (person being confirmed).

He went into the theory of the sacrament. The sacrament was created by Jesus Christ, but the form of the sacrament today includes the sign of the cross.

He mentioned that making the sign of the cross on the forehead was a common ritual in the early Church. And, at that, it was just on the forehead. A version of that is retained in the signing that takes place at Mass at the gospel.
 
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