Sign of the cross

[answers]

One of the best reply so for

 

[littlesheep]

renew our baptism

.

“I believe on one baptism” Ain’t that in the creeds?

Shouldn’t you be saying to "remind us of our baptism?

Or do Catholics believe differently about baptism now? When did that idea get started. When did the Calvinist take over the Roman Cathloic church?

PAX
Just a
littlesheep

 

[answers]

Why do you say that you beleive in one baptism? What church do you belong to?

 

[tdandh26]

It was upon the cross that Jesus paid the debt for our sin. St. Louis de Monfort has this to say " While waiting for that great day of the last judgment, Eternal Wisdom has decreed the Cross to be the sign, the emblem and the weapon of his faithful people. He welcomes no child that does not bear its sign. He recognizes no disciple who is ashamed to display it, or who has not the courage to accept it, or who either drags it reluctantly or rejects it outright. He proclaims, ““If anyone wishes to come after me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.””

This quote is take from an exceptional book by Monfort called " Love of Eternal Wisdom" highly recomended to those who desire to grow in their love for Christ.

 

[NotWorthy]

Here’s what I’ve gathered that may help clarity. The Holy Water, combined with the sign of the Cross renews our baptismal vows. From Jimmy Akin’s Mass Appeal:

Even before Mass starts, there are many things you see in church. Just as there are reasons for the different parts of the Mass, there are also reasons for these things. Holy water is placed, at the entrance of the church to remind us that through baptism we entered the Church. Holy water has been used since biblical days: In an earthen vessel he shall meanwhile put some holy water, as well as some dust that he has taken from the floor of the Dwelling (Num. 5:17). Today people customarily bless themselves with holy water by making the sign of the Cross. Those who are not yet baptized can do this as a way of looking forward to their baptism.

Now, here’s what I’ve received from Catholic for a Reason III: Edward Sri’s Biblical Walk through the Mass.

Let’s begin at the beginning - the Sign of the Cross. This simple little action, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, calls on the name of the Lord. This is a powerful moment. Throughout salvation history, when people make or renew their covenant with God, they call on His holy name in order to invite God to act in their lives and to express their firm commitment to live in covenant with Him. This is done in Genesis, with Adam, Noah, and Abraham, and in 1st Kings with David, all of whom called on the Lord to seal their covenants. We, too, call on the Lord each time we make the sign of the Cross, inviting God into our lives and dedicating all that we do in the Mass to His sacred name.

Notworthy

 

[littlesheep]

The one that takes the Nicene creed at it’s word.

“I believe in one baptism for the remission of sins”

Sorry about hijacking the thread we can start another if you like.

PS Lutherans make the sign of the cros also

PAX
just a
littlesheep

 

[St.Eric]

littlesheep:

The one that takes the Nicene creed at it’s word.

“I believe in one baptism for the remission of sins”

PAX
just a
littlesheep

When one renews their baptismal vows, they are not getting “re-baptised.” When you renew your wedding vows with your spouse, are you “getting married all over again?” I think not. Rather, you are making a profession of those vows and rededicating yourself to those vows. You are not “re-doing” the original act.

 

[answers]

Not worthly you have answer one of my questions i’m starting RCIA in January 2006 and I was wondering if it was ok to start practing some of the catholic traditions like making the sign of the cross,and attending mass.

 

[CARose]

Answers,

The only thing you would be absolutely prohibited from doing before entry to the Catholic Church is receiving the Eucharist. This is reserved for those who accept all that Christ left us through His church and who have been formally received into the church.

Otherwise, I strongly encourage you to begin incorporating the Traditions and traditions of the Church into your life as you feel called to do. And please, come here and ask for clarification on them as you encounter them. I’m certain we’d all love to assist you in developing a deeper understanding of what the church teaches.

God Bless you on your journey home to Rome.

CARose

 

[mommyjo2]

My husband is a Southern Baptist and he always thought the sign of the cross was proof that Catholics were going straight to Hell, it is an upside down cross!
I told him we’re not Satan worshippers just cause we have long necks!

 

[YADA]

answers,

You can attend mass, make the sign of the cross, receive ashes upon your forehead on Ash Wednesday,etc. In fact there are many catholic pratices that are availale to you. One of the best Cantors in our parish is a Morman gentleman. His voice is lovely. Several members of our choir are not catholic. Attendence at Mass and Holy Days is always apppropriate, especially if one is being called…

You should not receive the Eucharist as a non Catholic. It implies a unity that is (sadly) not present within the Christian community. As my parish priest would say, once you receive the Eucharist you cease to be “Not Catholic” It does not make sense to say I am a Presbyterian and present yourself for communion at a Catholic Mass. Also, this is a show of respect for other Christian sects, their beleifs and practices.

Also, you would not receive the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (Penance_Confession) until the RCIA process had proceeded to the point that you were close to making the decision to come into the Church and if you were baptized in another Christian tradition. If un-baptized you not receive Reconcilliation before your initiation because you would be receiving Baptism as part of your coming into the church.

 

[answers]

Could you please explain in more detail Eucharist
What is it? (I’m new to this stuff)

 

[YADA]

Eucharist is a greek word that means “thanksgiving”. We refer to the bread and wine consecrated by the priest in the sacrifice of the mass as the Eucharist. Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. We receive this gift each time we recieve communion. Jesus says that we cannot have eternal live unless we eat His Body and drink His Blood (John Chapter 6) St Paul tells us that if we eat and drink in a state that is unworthy, we eat and drink to our death!

The belief in the Eucharist is fundamental to Christian Catholic doctrine. It is something the early church fathers and our earliest Christian brethren took seriously.

It is one of Christ’s greatest gifts to us, food for our journey!

 

[John-the-Seeker]

answers:

Why does catholics make the sign of the cross evertime they pass in front of a catholic church?

The sign of the Cross is known as blessing yourself. A priest once related to a group I was a part of that upon his first assignment to a parish a young boy approached him with a rosary to be blessed. Not wanting the boy to think a blessing was some kind of hocus pocus magic, he asked the boy if he knew what would happen when he blessed the rosary. He said the boy looked at him like how did you get out of the seminary without knowing that and said,“Yes. God will touch it with his finger and make it holy.” The priest said he had never heard a blessing explained that way but went and read the Beatitudes substituting Touched is he in place of Blessed is he. He said it made the beatitudes more understandable. Blessing ones self allows spiritual communion with God and once you have been touched by God you are forever changed. It is also a way of quietly evangelizing your faith to others as you have been evangelized by observing and questioning the practice.
I will pray for your spiritual growth in the Faith.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Texan in DC:

When we enter the Church, we dip our fingers into the holy water and make the sign of the cross to renew our baptism.

We make the sign of the cross out of respect for our God who sent His Son and gave us His Holy Spirit to always be with us.

We make the sign of Cross in front of our Church because it is Gods holy place, His Church here on earth right now.

Correction… we don’t renew our baptism… it’s a reminder of our baptism.

The sign of the cross is also represented in our belief of the priesthood of all believers (not as the same as some fundamentalist sects however).

We make the sign of the cross when we pass a Church because Christ is truly present in the sacrament of Eucharist. It is a sign of reverence and worship for Christ. The sign of the cross is basically a short prayer.

answers: check out

catholic.com/thisrock/1990/9007cc.asp

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

mommyjo2:

My husband is a Southern Baptist and he always thought the sign of the cross was proof that Catholics were going straight to Hell, it is an upside down cross!
I told him we’re not Satan worshippers just cause we have long necks!

Hilarious. You should tell him the upside down cross is in fact a Christian symbol! Saint Peter was crucified upside down according to tradition (small “t”) because he did not feel worthy to be crucified as his Lord.

Check out Michelangelo’s painting:

 

[brewintim]

Answers, first, congratulations on pursuing RCIA within the Church. I am a sacristin in our parish here in Fountain Valley, CA, and I look at our RCIA candidates as soon to be adoped brothers and sisters in our parish family. I am filled with pride when I see them standing at the altar before being dismissed. You are fortunate and blessed.

I think folks who come into the Church as adults have a greater appreciation for the Church, and the mission she undertakes. The question you ask about signing yourself as you pass a Catholic Church is lost on most people, but those who really understand who lives there, it is truly a no-brainer.

I will pray for you as you continue your journey to Easter Sunday. What a glorious day that will be. I wish I could be there to join you.

 

[BlestOne]

When I was young my father taught me about my faith. He learned it from his father, who was from Poland, so I had to learn all the polish customs and prayers. When we entered or left our home or the homes of other Catholics we made the sign of the cross and said in polish a phrase that translated means, “Stay with God” or loosely translated can also mean, “Go with God.” Most homes also had holy water fonts by the front door to bless with. Because this was second nature to us we also made the sign of the cross at other times as well. As you mentioned, when we walked or drove by a Catholic Church we blessed ourselves but, when a fire truck or ambulance drove by we stopped and said a quick prayer and concluded with the sign of the cross…which non-catholics in my community often confused as the same thing, and would ask “Why do you bless yourself when you see a fire truck?” Mom started explaining that wasn’t what we were doing but after a while she just shortened it to “We are thanking God that it is not coming to our house” We used to laugh about it but in reality, that was part of it, the other part was to bless the work of the firefighter or EMT.

Ahhhhhh…the old customs die hard!!!