sign of the cross

[on_the_hill]

Do Protestants do the sign of the cross when they pray?

IIRC, when I’ve been in “public” places where a prayer is said, like before a banquet, or awards dinner, etc., there’s no sign of the cross, but a “Please bow your heads.” I’m wondering if that’s because most people around here are Protestants.

 

[JonNC]

Do Protestants do the sign of the cross when they pray?

IIRC, when I’ve been in “public” places where a prayer is said, like before a banquet, or awards dinner, etc., there’s no sign of the cross, but a “Please bow your heads.” I’m wondering if that’s because most people around here are Protestants.

Some Lutherans do, some Anglicans do. I don’t know about others.

Jon

 

[Tommy999]

I would assume they were Protestants.

Most protestants would consider making the sign of the cross at dinner (or anywhere else) to be more of a Catholic custom.

 

[steido01]

Some Lutherans do, some Anglicans do. I don’t know about others.

Jon

I’d say most Lutherans do. At least those of us who care what our catechisms say.

 

[GEddie]

Bowing of head is a near universal prayer posture; while the sign of the cross is mostly Catholic. (Or, with shoulders reversed, Orthodox.)

ICXC NIKA

 

[Usige]

Bowing of head is a near universal prayer posture; while the sign of the cross is mostly Catholic. (Or, with shoulders reversed, Orthodox.)

ICXC NIKA

We even see this in the concluding rights of Mass with a solemn blessing, when the deacon or priest says:
Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.
<Priest’s invocation>
May almighty God bless you,
✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To the OP, when I was Presbyterian it would have gotten you strange looks if you made the sign of the cross. In general they would have said it was inappropriate because people would think you were (gaps) Catholic.

 

[ltwin]

Many Protestants of the non-liturgical variety will either (1) know nothing of the sign of the cross or (2) consider it a harmless but unnecessary prayer practice or (3) consider it superstitious (particularly if its done in a way as if to “ward off” evil).

 

[pianistclare]

Many Protestants of the non-liturgical variety will either (1) know nothing of the sign of the cross or (2) consider it a harmless but unnecessary prayer practice or (3) consider it superstitious (particularly if its done in a way as if to “ward off” evil).

They probably never been told that we consider the Sign of the Cross as a prayer itself.

 

[svid2]

Many Protestants of the non-liturgical variety will either (1) know nothing of the sign of the cross or (2) consider it a harmless but unnecessary prayer practice or (3) consider it superstitious (particularly if its done in a way as if to “ward off” evil).

Pax Christi!

Apparently there are cases when the Sign of the Cross has driven away “gray aliens”!

God bless, and deliver us from evil.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

We even see this in the concluding rights of Mass with a solemn blessing, when the deacon or priest says:
Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.
<Priest’s invocation>
May almighty God bless you,
✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To the OP, when I was Presbyterian it would have gotten you strange looks if you made the sign of the cross. In general they would have said it was inappropriate because people would think you were (gaps) Catholic.

When I used to attend TEC, one of the concluding prayers was similar or the same as the above. Everyone in church would make the sign of the cross (head, chest, shoulders).

I have made the sign of the cross when at the table during a blessing/prayer, whether public or private.

 

[thephilosopher6]

I know Anglicans and Lutherans do. Many Methodist do too. Some Presbyterians also do it, though not very much.

 

[FractalFire]

Many Protestants of the non-liturgical variety will either (1) know nothing of the sign of the cross or (2) consider it a harmless but unnecessary prayer practice or (3) consider it superstitious (particularly if its done in a way as if to “ward off” evil).

Yeah, pretty much. Though we should add 4) Don’t like Catholics and 5) Don’t want to give the false impression of being Catholic.

I fall into 2) and 5). I have not problem with it and actually think it might be nice to do, but I daren’t do it as long as I’m a Presbyterian, if only because it would give a false impression of my beliefs and attract annoying questions. A bit unfortunate, but there you are.

On another note, I was unaware it was considered some sort of silent prayer. I always thought it was just a symbol, like the fish or a mark of respect and adoration, like the clasped hands.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yeah, pretty much. Though we should add 4) Don’t like Catholics and 5) Don’t want to give the false impression of being Catholic.

I fall into 2) and 5). I have not problem with it and actually think it might be nice to do, but I daren’t do it as long as I’m a Presbyterian, if only because it would give a false impression of my beliefs and attract annoying questions. A bit unfortunate, but there you are.

On another note, I was unaware it was considered some sort of silent prayer. I always thought it was just a symbol, like the fish or a mark of respect and adoration, like the clasped hands.

Thanks for the honesty. It is just unexpected for such a seemingly highly reasonable person could use the reasons of ‘false impression’ and ‘annoying questions’ for not wanting to do what would have been nice to do.

 

[FractalFire]

Thanks for the honesty. It is just unexpected for such a seemingly highly reasonable person could use the reasons of ‘false impression’ and ‘annoying questions’ for not wanting to do what would have been nice to do.

Understandable, but we do it all the time in society – changing our natural reactions to less annoy others and to prevent unneeded attention from being drawn to us. I like to dance awkwardly to music, but I don’t do it in public, because I don’t want attention drawn to me. More to the point, we mimic what those around us worship with – in part for the sake of unity and cohesion. A person acting like a Pentecostal in a Presbyterian church, where even the people who raise up their hands for the Benediction look a bit out of place (or vice versa) would distract from the real focus, which is God, not the weird worship method our crazy neighbor is doing.

In addition, I should point out that the “annoying questions” bit was code speak for questions that would probably get a bit more personal and maybe even semi-hostile or worried for my soul. (Are you a Catholic? What are you doing that for? Don’t you know that’s a Catholic sign? Are you praying to God or Mary? Are you warding off demons?) Even if I myself could take these questions (I couldn’t – too shy), I wouldn’t want to worry my fellow Christians or draw them into some sin of malice or otherwise disturb them for the sake of a nice sign, harmless or no. (I think a similar precedent was set by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8.)

In all honesty, most of the Christians I know would probably think it a little weird, but otherwise be fine with it (I know a lot of really nice people). But ultimately I’m far too private to draw attention to myself and for the reasons above, I’m not convinced it would do my congregation any good and might cause a bit of harm amongst certain parties (hopefully not, but it might).

Does that help expand upon my thought process a bit more?

 

[bitterhope]

Understandable, but we do it all the time in society – changing our natural reactions to less annoy others and to prevent unneeded attention from being drawn to us. I like to dance awkwardly to music, but I don’t do it in public, because I don’t want attention drawn to me. More to the point, we mimic what those around us worship with – in part for the sake of unity and cohesion. A person acting like a Pentecostal in a Presbyterian church, where even the people who raise up their hands for the Benediction look a bit out of place (or vice versa) would distract from the real focus, which is God, not the weird worship method our crazy neighbor is doing.

In addition, I should point out that the “annoying questions” bit was code speak for questions that would probably get a bit more personal and maybe even semi-hostile or worried for my soul. (Are you a Catholic? What are you doing that for? Don’t you know that’s a Catholic sign? Are you praying to God or Mary? Are you warding off demons?) Even if I myself could take these questions (I couldn’t – too shy), I wouldn’t want to worry my fellow Christians or draw them into some sin of malice or otherwise disturb them for the sake of a nice sign, harmless or no. (I think a similar precedent was set by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8.)

In all honesty, most of the Christians I know would probably think it a little weird, but otherwise be fine with it (I know a lot of really nice people). But ultimately I’m far too private to draw attention to myself and for the reasons above, I’m not convinced it would do my congregation any good and might cause a bit of harm amongst certain parties (hopefully not, but it might).

Does that help expand upon my thought process a bit more?

Very nicely stated.

I do understand. It’s usually easier to not draw attention to yourself in a group prayer situation. It usually isn’t beneficial to anyone in attendance either.

I pray quite often with making the sign of the cross, just short little prayers throughout the day. Other times I simply pray the sign of the cross in my head/heart with or without physically doing anything without saying any other prayer–just simply the sign of the cross. It isn’t required for a Catholic to make the sign of the cross either before or after praying, and as someone else said, the sign of the cross is a prayer in itself. It is listed in many/most/all Catholic prayer books under frequent or common or everyday prayers. Usually it’s the first prayer listed, followed the the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

 

[Reuben_J]

Understandable, but we do it all the time in society – changing our natural reactions to less annoy others and to prevent unneeded attention from being drawn to us. I like to dance awkwardly to music, but I don’t do it in public, because I don’t want attention drawn to me. More to the point, we mimic what those around us worship with – in part for the sake of unity and cohesion. A person acting like a Pentecostal in a Presbyterian church, where even the people who raise up their hands for the Benediction look a bit out of place (or vice versa) would distract from the real focus, which is God, not the weird worship method our crazy neighbor is doing.

In addition, I should point out that the “annoying questions” bit was code speak for questions that would probably get a bit more personal and maybe even semi-hostile or worried for my soul. (Are you a Catholic? What are you doing that for? Don’t you know that’s a Catholic sign? Are you praying to God or Mary? Are you warding off demons?) Even if I myself could take these questions (I couldn’t – too shy), I wouldn’t want to worry my fellow Christians or draw them into some sin of malice or otherwise disturb them for the sake of a nice sign, harmless or no. (I think a similar precedent was set by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8.)

In all honesty, most of the Christians I know would probably think it a little weird, but otherwise be fine with it (I know a lot of really nice people). But ultimately I’m far too private to draw attention to myself and for the reasons above, I’m not convinced it would do my congregation any good and might cause a bit of harm amongst certain parties (hopefully not, but it might).

Does that help expand upon my thought process a bit more?

Do you do it (sign of the cross) in private prayers when there no one is around?

 

[JonNC]

I’d say most Lutherans do. At least those of us who care what our catechisms say.

Certainly many more than when I was growing up. When my daughter graduated from Concordia university Wisconsin , the ceremony began with the invocation , and a sea of people making the sign of the cross.
So yes, you’re right.

Jon

 

[Reuben_J]

Very nicely stated.

I do understand. It’s usually easier to not draw attention to yourself in a group prayer situation. It usually isn’t beneficial to anyone in attendance either.

I pray quite often with making the sign of the cross, just short little prayers throughout the day. Other times I simply pray the sign of the cross in my head/heart with or without physically doing anything without saying any other prayer–just simply the sign of the cross. It isn’t required for a Catholic to make the sign of the cross either before or after praying, and as someone else said, the sign of the cross is a prayer in itself. It is listed in many/most/all Catholic prayer books under frequent or common or everyday prayers. Usually it’s the first prayer listed, followed the the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

I remember what my catechism teacher told us as kids. “If you are ashamed of Jesus now, He will be ashamed of you when you meet him on the last day. He would say he does not know you”.

That was about when we complained of having to say grace before meal in public which incidentally then involved the sign of the cross before and after the grace prayer, *“Bless us O lord and this thy gift which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.” *

Saying grace before meal and more so making the sign of cross twice was really like making a public statement and understandably why as kids we were quite shy about it.

Have no problem about making the sign of cross now and funny enough, it never draw any attention to others as far as I can notice.

 

[JustaServant]

Pax Christi!

Apparently there are cases when the Sign of the Cross has driven away “gray aliens”!

God bless, and deliver us from evil.

When I was among IFBs, they used to say it was the “sign of Tamuz”. A notion gathered from the book “The Two Babylons”.

 

[pianistclare]

I have been in many a southern restaurant and prayed grace, using the sign of the cross before and after, and had waitresses come up to the table and thank us. Their response is generally…"I was happy to see you making the sign of the corss…it seems few people even bother to say grace anymore. It’s refreshing to see that some people still thank God for the food that they eat. "

My sister worked in a place where many of her co-workers swore like sailors constantly.
She said she began to very subtly, and with very small motions, silently make the sign of the cross when a particularly bad cuss word was uttered. Rather than draw ire, it caused people to be aware of just how OFTEN they cursed, and they cleaned up their act substantially.

So it can have positive effects.

I’m never worried/shy to cross myself in public. It’s part of who I am. If it’s a problem for others, well, then it’s just their problem.
I often cross myself in the car when an ambulance speeds by and say a prayer for whomever is in need, as well as those first responders.

*(I can’t believe no one has posted this smiley yet, LOL) *