Signing oneself before the Gospel

[AJV]

Is it common anywhere else for people to sign themselves with a large cross (once or thrice) after the triple crossing of the forehead, lips and breast? Quite a few people do it in my church, but today I saw a deacon next to the Pope doing it so at the reading of the Gospel for the consistory.

 

[palmas85]

Is it common anywhere else for people to sign themselves with a large cross (once or thrice) after the triple crossing of the forehead, lips and breast? Quite a few people do it in my church, but today I saw a deacon next to the Pope doing it so at the reading of the Gospel for the consistory.

Yes it is still very common.

 

[Andruschak]

Is it common anywhere else for people to sign themselves with a large cross (once or thrice) after the triple crossing of the forehead, lips and breast? Quite a few people do it in my church, but today I saw a deacon next to the Pope doing it so at the reading of the Gospel for the consistory.

At my church, with a considerable Hispanic population, they do it all the time, and many non-Hispanics (me) are also doing it now, just to be polite