Sign of the Cross

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I’m not sure if this is the correct forum, but I wanted to get some other opionions regarding the sign of the cross.

I’m currently in RCIA and I’m really looking forward to being in full communion with the Catholic Church soon. I realize daily that this is where I need to be and I’m very happy about it.

So, I have this wierd “delimma” for lack of better terms. Once you read this, you won’t think it’s too much of a dilemma, but I’d love to read other’s (name removed by moderator)ut.

I’ve always been intrigued when I saw Catholics doing the sign of the cross. I know that’s not the point of it, but as a non-Catholic at the time, it always stood out ot me. As I’ve been on my journey through conversion, I’m having a tough time doing it at Mass, or whatever setting I happen to be in. I’m always hesitant. Part of me doesn’t want to do it until I’m confirmed, and I feel as I’m imposing on something that I’m not offically a part of yet. Th other side of me says I look ridiculous because I’m the only guy here that doesn’t do it. I want to do it because I want to do it, and not go through the motions just because others are. I WANT to do it, but that leads me right back to my original concern (imposing).

I know it sounds silly. And trust me I know that there are MUCH more serious dilemmas than this one. I don’t want any of you to think that I’m in anguish over this, because I’m really not. It just hits me when I’m at Mass, etc and for that moment I find myself torn on doing it or not…and I usually don’t just so I won’t feel like I’m doing it too early(before confirmation). I’m not losing sleep over this, flip flopping on whether to do it or not is really more annoying than anything.

I know that there aren’t any restrictions, and that anyone can do this, but does anyone have any insights?

PS: Despite this petty issue I have tried to explain, I’m not someone who worries over every little thing. I’m actually very laid back, but for some reason this has just gotten under my skin.

Thanks for any help anyone may have!
 
The Sign of the Cross has nothing to do with confirmation - or with Catholicity.

It is simply a prayer (an invocation of the names of the three persons of the Trinity) accompanied by a gesture. Christians of all stripes, Catholic and non-Catholic, use it as a prayer on its own or before saying other prayers, such as the prayers of the Mass.

Kids do it as soon as they are old enough to learn, confirmed or not.
 
Adam14 said:
I’m not sure if this is the correct forum, but I wanted to get some other opionions regarding the sign of the cross.

I’m currently in RCIA and I’m really looking forward to being in full communion with the Catholic Church soon. I realize daily that this is where I need to be and I’m very happy about it.

So, I have this wierd “delimma” for lack of better terms. Once you read this, you won’t think it’s too much of a dilemma, but I’d love to read other’s (name removed by moderator)ut.

I’ve always been intrigued when I saw Catholics doing the sign of the cross. I know that’s not the point of it, but as a non-Catholic at the time, it always stood out ot me. As I’ve been on my journey through conversion, I’m having a tough time doing it at Mass, or whatever setting I happen to be in. I’m always hesitant. Part of me doesn’t want to do it until I’m confirmed, and I feel as I’m imposing on something that I’m not offically a part of yet. Th other side of me says I look ridiculous because I’m the only guy here that doesn’t do it. I want to do it because I want to do it, and not go through the motions just because others are. I WANT to do it, but that leads me right back to my original concern (imposing).

I know it sounds silly. And trust me I know that there are MUCH more serious dilemmas than this one. I don’t want any of you to think that I’m in anguish over this, because I’m really not. It just hits me when I’m at Mass, etc and for that moment I find myself torn on doing it or not…and I usually don’t just so I won’t feel like I’m doing it too early(before confirmation). I’m not losing sleep over this, flip flopping on whether to do it or not is really more annoying than anything.

I know that there aren’t any restrictions, and that anyone can do this, but does anyone have any insights?

PS: Despite this petty issue I have tried to explain, I’m not someone who worries over every little thing. I’m actually very laid back, but for some reason this has just gotten under my skin.

Thanks for any help anyone may have!
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It seems you are already a baptized Christian…so it would not be out of place for you to make the sign of the cross.

if you were not…i could suggest waiting…in keeping with the early Christians who were signed with the cross at particular points…

especially at baptism.

but since you are already baptized …well you are already a Christian.

but if you would like to do sort of the spirit of this…you can wait til you are received fully into the Church…if you like.

it is really up to you.

but then again it is saying “yes” to ones baptism!

It is a deep and meaningful reality…that is the making of the sign of the cross…

read section in Cardinal Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy on it…very good.
 
I truly don’t understand your hesitation to do it.
The Sign of the Cross protects you
from evil influences because it repeat
the name of the Trinity of God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Would you please check more deeply in your heart
just to find the unswers for your strange behaviour.
And be sure , it is there the unswer exist.
I pray God to give you confirmation and more beleif
and trust.
Peace and Good.
Nohamaria
 
Quote from an early father…

" Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are travelling, and when we are at rest". St. Cyril of Jerusalem

(in the early Church the did a + on the forehead) I still use this personally in addition to the common form now…

I quote this to show how often at this point it was used!
 
“Making the sign of the cross – as we will do during the blessing – means saying a visible and public “yes” to the One who died and rose for us, to God who in the humility and weakness of His love is the Almightly, stronger than all the power and intelligence of the world.”

-Pope Benedict XVI
Angelus
September 11, 2005

he also talks about it when he was Cardinal in the Spirit of the Liturgy…as a renewal of baptism…as a shield…etc…go read that chapter!
 
LilyM said:
The Sign of the Cross has nothing to do with confirmation - or with Catholicity.

It is simply a prayer (an invocation of the names of the three persons of the Trinity) accompanied by a gesture. Christians of all stripes, Catholic and non-Catholic, use it as a prayer on its own or before saying other prayers, such as the prayers of the Mass.

Kids do it as soon as they are old enough to learn, confirmed or not.
Click to expand...
👍👍
 
When my heart became convicted to follow in the footsteps of Holy men&women, I received a message saying, “You’ll never be one of them” - a sure sign that I was on the right path.

When you make the sign of the cross publicly, among other things, you’re proclaiming your faith to others and to Whom you belong - no small gesture. Since you say this is what you want to do, then I would ignore the “imposing” feelings pray and proceed. You’re in the right place and I’m glad you’re here.
 
Yes, go ahead, make the Sign of the Cross. Catholics do it, Orthodox do it, Lutherans do it, I’m pretty sure Anglican’s and Episcopalians do it regularly. Do it, especially in church at Mass.

Making the sign of the Cross does at least three things:
  1. Keeps the devil away (I know this sounds supersticious, but, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” is itself a prayer (or so I’ve heard), and the devil hates God and he fears the Cross). If there’s no other prayer you have time for, do this one.
  2. It affirms the Trinity. One says, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” you are proclaiming God everytime you do this.
  3. It affirms Jesus died on a Cross, not raised up to Heaven before that could happen or killed on a pike, He died on a Cross. You proclaim this truth everytime you cross yourself.
I hope this rationalizes the gesture for you and permits you to do it right away and especially at Mass. You’re not being a poser for doing it, it could only help you.

Bless!
 
Perform the sigh of the cross daily:whenever you pass a Catholic or Orthodox Church as Christ In the Flesh is there.Cross yourself when you hear an emergency or police siren and offer a prayer.Cross yourself before eating and say grace before meals especially when you are in restaurants as it is a powerful tool of evangelization.It should be the first thing you do in the morning and last thing you do at night.Get a container of holy water for this purpose.

It DOES sound to me that you may suffer from mild scrupulosity so discuss this with your priest without delay.Signum Crusis is the quickest,easiest and most visibly Catholic of all prayer.
 
Hey Adam, hope all is well! I am nearing the end of my RCIA journey also and shared this feeling at first. I would imagine it is rather difficult to comprehend for those who grew up with it, and moreso to explain the delimma. I applaud your courage in sharing. It is initially foreign. This will seem silly to many, and I in no way mean to detract from the actual significance, but I would liken it to using chopsticks for the first time in the clubhouse of native chopstickers 😃 . You are in their presence participating in something you may not quite feel you are worthy to do, (or do accurately in their eyes). I know, it seems kooky.

Nevertheless, I think I really became comfortable and more importantly appreciative through frequent solitary practice. I started praying the rosary and something about signing with the crucifix on the rosary and proceeding into the Apostle’s creed brings great reverence to the act. Entering and exiting church, pausing to think about the significance of signing with water became comforting. Praying with my boys and sharing the identity of the three persons in One God, who are signed in the cross brought joy.

So the old adage, practice makes perfect… 🙂 Best Wishes!

Joe
 
.

There is much “choreography” in The Catholic Church (btw, it differs a bit geographically and even from parish to parish). I think to the newbie, it can be distracting. Once it is incorporated, it becomes helpful. It’s not unlike the Protestant folding his hands and closing his eyes when he prays (a bit of Protestant choreography!) - it helps concentrate on what’s going on.

By the way, many Lutherans do the Sign, as well. In my congregregation (I’m a convert to Lutheranism), about half of the members are former Catholics (including the pastor) and they just continue the choreography. The other half include some life-long Lutherans (most do the sign of the Cross) but a number of them are converts from evangelicalism or come from a non-religious background (most of them do NOT do the sign of the Cross) - frankly, no one notices or cares. In Lutheranism, we call such things “adiaphoron” - something where there is no rule or law. One curiosity: Lutherans (unlike Catholics) don’t all do it the same way! I didn’t notice this at all until it was brought to my attention by the pastor in one of our MANY private meetings (I became a Lutheran very slowly and carefully). Former Catholics do it the Catholic way, going from left to right. Life long Lutherans do it the Orthodox way, going from right to left (as my Pastor does). I decided to switch, but old habits die hard! I STILL catch myself doing it the Catholic way (not that it matters at all, lol).

Pax
  • Josiah
.
 
avgjoe said:
Hey Adam, hope all is well! I am nearing the end of my RCIA journey also and shared this feeling at first. I would imagine it is rather difficult to comprehend for those who grew up with it, and moreso to explain the delimma. I applaud your courage in sharing. It is initially foreign. This will seem silly to many, and I in no way mean to detract from the actual significance, but I would liken it to using chopsticks for the first time in the clubhouse of native chopstickers 😃 . You are in their presence participating in something you may not quite feel you are worthy to do, (or do accurately in their eyes). I know, it seems kooky.

Nevertheless, I think I really became comfortable and more importantly appreciative through frequent solitary practice. I started praying the rosary and something about signing with the crucifix on the rosary and proceeding into the Apostle’s creed brings great reverence to the act. Entering and exiting church, pausing to think about the significance of signing with water became comforting. Praying with my boys and sharing the identity of the three persons in One God, who are signed in the cross brought joy.

So the old adage, practice makes perfect… 🙂 Best Wishes!

Joe
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Joe,

You absolutely nailed it! I find it very difficult to explain, but the chopstick example is the best way to put it. Thanks for clarifying it and thanks for your encouraging comments!

Adam
 
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! In reading all of your comments, I think I’ve come to the realization that my own brain and human reasoning was getting in the way. I should do it because I want to and I believe in it…and not let any “outside” factors interfere.

Thanks again for your help. I know it was hard to understand my concern, especially for those of you who have grown up in the Catholic church. I had a difficult time trying to put in to words exactly what I was feeling. But you all were still extremely helpful and encouraging despite not totally understanding what my dilemma was. I really appreciate your help and I can’t wait to join you in full communion with the Catholic church soon!
 
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