Sign of the Cross

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On Liturgy and Sacraments see thread "Kissing during S O T C.

Reb Levi
 
Not all Protestants hate the sign of the cross. Some do use it.
 
Some Protestants seem to think the sign of the cross is superstitious, as if it were like casting a spell, rather than as a valid form of prayer. Some would even go so far as to call external, physical devtions a contradiction of salvation by faith alone. This is what I have gathered from talking to the man on the street. Of course this is not universal. I have heard of even Baptists makin the sign of the cross.
 
If memory serves, Innocent III wrote an encyclical explaining how to perform the sign of the cross. Place together the tips of the first three fingers of the right hand and fold the last two down to touch the palm. The first reminds us of the Trinity and the second of the two natures in Christ. Touch with the joined finger tips your forehead, breast, right shoulder, then left shoulder while saying the prayer. Bow and kiss the joined finger tips signifying our love of God.
The sign of the cross is *not *a prayer. It is rather a dedication. Through it we dedicate a task about to be started or one completed. We dedicate the work of our day step by step by placing the sign of the cross at the break points in our activities. It reminds us to do our best for the people we serve. Is what I am doing something worthy of being offered to God? Is this the first fruits of my labor? It also makes possible the fulfillment of the scripture that enjoins us to pray constantly as it makes of each task a prayer. It further fulfills the scripture concerning ordinary working men and women which says “Their prayer is in the work of their hands.” (Sirach 38 ~ RSVCE).

Reb Levi
 
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