Sign of the Cross drive by?

[Minks]

HOur family tradition included making the sign of the cross before and after all prayers, of course, which included a group oral prayer before meals. However, unless we were having a formal meal, when all also joined together for group after-meal prayer, we each made the sign of the cross and said the after-meal prayer individually, as we were excused from the table. I maintained those practices in my home.

When driving, we say a short prayer or ejaculation while either making the sign of the cross or nodding when we pass a Catholic Church, a cemetery, roadside crosses in memory of those killed where the commemorations have been erected, vehicular accidents, fires, at sight of first responder vehices (police, ambulances, fire trucks), and at the sound of their sirens.

We also nod upon hearing the names of God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost, and cursing that involves God or Jesus.

I don’t know if these practices initially originated in Ireland, since my dad was 100% Irish, or if they originated in the geographical area here in the states where his grandparents settled. I think his mother was born in 1878. Of course, some of the occasions, like sirens and roadside crosses, have been added by family members. When I was a little girl, we would run outside at the sound of a plane, crossing ourselves and saying a prayer.

Lol! Back in the 50s, I was shocked by the number of sirens in New York City, when our graduating class spent part of our senior trip there—sort of felt like the nodding head on a jack-in-the-box!

 

[Reverent_Howler]

Pat Buchanan mentioned in his biography that his father tipped his hat when passing by a Catholic church. My Dad would cross himself, I was told. I picked up the custom.

 

[Limoncello4021]

I was taught to bow when passing a Catholic Church and say a silent prayer–and that’s what I still do. I also habitually say a prayer when I hear or see an ambulance.

 

[Justin_Mary]

I’m not sure what you mean by “should” because it’s not a requirement for our faith.

I mean what’s the reason that we cross ourselves, tip our hats, nod our heads when we pass a Catholic Church. If we do it to honor the real presence inside, do we extend the same salute to the real presence in an Orthodox Church.

 

[dochawk]

It is a valid, if illicit Sacrament.

I don’t know where you’re getting the notion that Orthodox sacraments are illicit: that is not the teaching of the RCC . . .

I think their spirituality is pretty cool.

It’s the same as Eastern Catholics, and there are plenty of us around here.

Too bad they’re still at war with us.

Huh?

guesss I better go take @ReaderT prisoner . . .

Pat Buchanan mentioned in his biography that his father tipped his hat when passing by a Catholic church.

The part of the book that really made me smile was the description of starting high school. His grandfather abandoned his grandmother while his father was young, and the father grew up poor. At the time, he could still go to Catholic grammar school, as the parish funded it from the collection plate. High school was another story . . .

A couple of days into his freshman year, three (!) jesuits showed up in cassocks at his grandmother’s door, asking where her son was. She explained that she couldn’t afford tuition.

“We don’t want your money, ma’am. We want your son.”

And they made it happen, in a world sos far from today’s . . .

 

[Renewedfaith]

I’m no expert but as a Greek Orthodox myself I see the catholic and orthodox churches as connected.
I mean before the schism they were one church. There are some differences but in my opinion they aren’t that big.
I read about efforts from the Vatican to end this “war” as someone here called it.
I really hope they’ll succeed. ray:t2:

 

[Pattylt]

sort of felt like the nodding head on a jack-in-the-box!

Bobble head Catholics! I imagine in NYC you’d be bobbling and crossing yourself so much, it would begin to look…ummm…disconcerting!

 

[Minks]

Minks:

sort of felt like the nodding head on a jack-in-the-box!

Bobble head Catholics! I imagine in NYC you’d be bobbling and crossing yourself so much, it would begin to look…ummm…disconcerting!

That was in the 50s. I was only trying to nod at each one, but it became impossible. We stayed in a posh hotel, but the constant sirens were new for us and made sleeping difficult, so my nodding was of a different variety the following days. We didn’t notice so many sirens in DC.

 

[Pattylt]

When ever I stay in a large city the first thing I notice is how noisy it is! Second would be the smell . I usually can’t sleep the first night as the sirens and honking are so distracting. By the second night, I’ve adjusted and don’t notice it nearly as much!

Then I get home to my nice quiet town and THAT bothers me the first night! It’s too quiet. Second night, I’m back to my nice peaceful sleep.