Sign Of The Cross

  • Thread starter Thread starter TristanCross
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TristanCross

Guest
What is that you do at the end of the sign of the cross? (Kiss your hand?) Why?
 
You fold the thumb and index finger into a cross, so you are ending the prayer by kissing the cross. You also don’t have to do this necessarily.
 
It’s not necessary, but it’s a pious custom.

We kiss the cross (we make with our fingers) to show our reverence for the Cross of Christ which has brought about our redemption. The Cross is our boast.
 
Greetings to you TristanCross and to our friend from Scotland. That’s the first time I’ve seen anybody from Scotland.

To muddy the waters even a bit more:
An old Hispanic lady named Rose whose dead now taught me this Spanish prayer.
You make the three crosses on forehead Por el signo de Santa Cruz on the lips Delibera a nos enimigos and the heart y todo del mal followed by the regular large sign En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo y del Espiritu Sancto. Translated it says: By the sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us from our enemies and every evil. In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen
At the end of which you cross your thumb and forefinger and kiss it.

I am pleased to hear the old celtic custom of making a cross with the thumb and kissing it is still alive in Scotland. Kinda like the rosary bracelets that Irish folks wear reminiscent of the penal days when being Catholic was illegal in the Brittish Isles.
 
Folding the thumb and forefinger together to make a cross is a Hispanic custom, principally.
 
I watch the show Murdoch Mysteries; Det Murdoch is a Catholic detective in the predominantly Protestant Toronto police in the Elizabethan/Edwardian era, who likes to do primitive forensic work (I like to call the show CSI: Toronto). Anyhoo, whenever Murdoch comes across a dead body, he makes the Sign and kisses his fingers.

Me, when I Sign, as a “pious practice” have just touched my closed fist to my breast over my heart, sort of a cross (pardon the pun) between striking the breast and touching my heart; I do it on the “Amen”, as there was no gesture in the Sign for the “amen” and it sort of seemed to be left “hanging”…so generally:

“In the Name of the Father” (touch forehead)
“and of the Son” (draw fingers down, touch sternum area)
“and of the Holy…” (touch left shoulder)
“…Spirit” (draw across to touch right shoulder)
“Amen” (thump)
 
I’ve seen people do it. Some Latin Americans make a small cross across their face.
 
The practice in the Eastern churches is to make the sign of the cross while holding the tips of the thumb and first two fingers together symbolic of the Trinity, with the last two fingers folded into the palm, symbolizing the two natures of Christ. The Orthodox also touch the right shoulder first. :byzsoc:
 
Cranch said:
The practice in the Eastern churches is to make the sign of the cross while holding the tips of the thumb and first two fingers together symbolic of the Trinity, with the last two fingers folded into the palm, symbolizing the two natures of Christ. The Orthodox also touch the right shoulder first. :byzsoc:
Click to expand...
Yes, Byzantine Catholics also do this. I wonder if the Copts and Ethiopians do this as well?

Anyone know? 🤷
 
Cranch said:
The practice in the Eastern churches is to make the sign of the cross while holding the tips of the thumb and first two fingers together symbolic of the Trinity, with the last two fingers folded into the palm, symbolizing the two natures of Christ. The Orthodox also touch the right shoulder first. :byzsoc:
Click to expand...
The Russians also add a slanted motion accross the chest representing the cross of Saint Andrew their patron saint who was crucified on an X shape cross.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top