Sign of the Cross is a Ancient Christian tradition.

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Jeepmeade said:
I go to a Protestant university, many do not understand the necessity of signing. And you would be amazed about how much they still do not know about Catholicism. Almost every day there is someone in my dorm room or in the caf talking with myself or the few other Catholics there about doctrine.
And as for the above comments the Orthodox do cross themselves but they go top, bottom, right left. One of my friends who is Orthodox told me it is because when the sheep and the goats are split the sheep to go the right and the goats go to the left so the right is holier, something like that.

And many traditional Lutherans sign themselves but with the contemporary movement moving through the Protestant churches many of the younger folks do not sign. I hope I was of at least a little help.
God bless,
Tyler
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That with what I had posted about the positions of the fingers and thumbs having meaing, is great. It is amazing just how much meaning can be in one simple gesture.
 
Jeepmeade said:
I go to a Protestant university, many do not understand the necessity of signing. And you would be amazed about how much they still do not know about Catholicism. Almost every day there is someone in my dorm room or in the caf talking with myself or the few other Catholics there about doctrine.
And as for the above comments the Orthodox do cross themselves but they go top, bottom, right left. One of my friends who is Orthodox told me it is because when the sheep and the goats are split the sheep to go the right and the goats go to the left so the right is holier, something like that.

And many traditional Lutherans sign themselves but with the contemporary movement moving through the Protestant churches many of the younger folks do not sign. I hope I was of at least a little help.
God bless,
Tyler
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Interesting, an Orthodox told me they sign to the right before the left because “Jesus is on the right hand of the Father”. So, I am not sure which is correct. I seem to have the opposite notion. If we were facing the Father and the Son on their thrones, Jesus would be on our left? Correct? Not sure if this is why we Catholics go to the left before the right. Maybe I’ll read the book by Ghezzi that was previously recommend. Sounds like it may have more info…
 
Didn’t Constantine start the sign of the cross as he saw a vision of a flaming cross in the sky before a battle? Tim
 
I learned that while making the sign with holy water, we are remembering our baptism. I was also told that by putting the thumb and two fingers together, it signifies the Holy Trinity.When I cross myself, I’ve come to do it this way now, with my thumb and two fingers together, while reflecting on my baptism.

What are some other reasons for making the sign?
 
Prayer_Warrior said:
Interesting, an Orthodox told me they sign to the right before the left because “Jesus is on the right hand of the Father”. So, I am not sure which is correct. I seem to have the opposite notion. If we were facing the Father and the Son on their thrones, Jesus would be on our left? Correct? Not sure if this is why we Catholics go to the left before the right. Maybe I’ll read the book by Ghezzi that was previously recommend. Sounds like it may have more info…
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You heard correctly. We Eastern Rite Catholics also sign this way and for that reason. It’s kinda cool that our theology is also in the sign of the cross isn’t it? 🙂
 
TOP said:
Didn’t Constantine start the sign of the cross as he saw a vision of a flaming cross in the sky before a battle? Tim
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No. Read post #4. We have reason to believe it came from the Apostles themselves. He did claim to see the “sign in the sky” though.
 
For a cradle Catholic, like myself, who was raised by people who knew NOTHING about the faith and history, this has been fascinating.

Thanks for all this information! 👍
 
Prayer_Warrior: Interesting, an Orthodox told me they sign to the right before the left because “Jesus is on the right hand of the Father”. So, I am not sure which is correct. I seem to have the opposite notion. If we were facing the Father and the Son on their thrones, Jesus would be on our left? Correct? Not sure if this is why we Catholics go to the left before the right. Maybe I’ll read the book by Ghezzi that was previously recommend. Sounds like it may have more info…
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Here is a good link: unicorne.org/orthodoxy/2005/signofthecross.htm🙂

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius:cool:
 
Unfinished said:
No. Read post #4. We have reason to believe it came from the Apostles themselves. He did claim to see the “sign in the sky” though.
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Thanks, I thought that I read this in an alter servers book at church about the history of the sign of the cross. It described how he had crosses put on all the shields of his soldiers and came up with the sign. Maybe it was that he just used the sign instead. Tim
 
Jeepmeade said:
And many traditional Lutherans sign themselves but with the contemporary movement moving through the Protestant churches many of the younger folks do not sign.
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I have attended Lutheran services (LCMS), and the pastor and congregation signed themselves.
 
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