Signum Crucis, Left or Right?

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I saw this question on another forum and it got me wondering…

After some research, I couldn’t find a definite answer and decided to ask here.

When crossing yourself, does which hand you use matter?

The arguments I have found for using the normal right hand is to represent Christ seated at the Right Hand of the Father and a few other things.

So, does it matter or will either do?
 
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CatholicCid:
I saw this question on another forum and it got me wondering…

After some research, I couldn’t find a definite answer and decided to ask here.

When crossing yourself, does which hand you use matter?

The arguments I have found for using the normal right hand is to represent Christ seated at the Right Hand of the Father and a few other things.

So, does it matter or will either do?
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You are supposed to use the right hand. But I think it is not so much a matter of “right” versus “wrong” as it is a matter of proper ettiquette. I would imagine that a person who somehow lost a right limb uses his left hand to cross himself.
 
It isn’t critical. Some who who have lost the use of their right arm do indeed use the left hand.
 
I think as long as you say the words (In the name of the Father…Amen)
 
It’s just custom to use the right hand… there was an old school myth that left-handed people were evil since Judas Iscariot was allegedly left-handed, but that’s obviously just superstition. I think some people might think using the left hand would be “mocking” the sign (if people do actually have a functioning right hand… obviously an amputee or disabled person would never be called out for that)

What’s more interesting is which direction to actually make the Sign. Left shoulder first or right shoulder first like the East does…
 
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BillyT92679:
What’s more interesting is which direction to actually make the Sign. Left shoulder first or right shoulder first like the East does…
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People have gone into schism over how to hold your fingers while making the sign of the cross. And I’m sure people get bent out of shape over whether to touch the right or left shoulder first. Sorry. I’m not going to fight those wars – but I *do *teach people to use their right hand and to touch the right knee to the floor when they genuflect unless they’ve got a jolly good excuse for using the left.
 
It is really more about intention.

If you make the sign of the cross with the left hand, but still have the same intention as everyone else (it is correct to make the sign of the cross with the right hand with the first two fingers and thumb together, signifying the Three Persons of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, and with the other two finger pulled back, signifying the two natures of Christ), there is nothing instrinsicly wrong about it.

However, there are some Satanic cults who make the Signum Crucis with their left hand to show disobedience to Christ and to the Church. This act is sinful, but because it is an incarnation of sinful behavior, not because just making the Signum Crucis with your left hand is wrong.

Adam
 
When teaching CCD, I was instructed to teach :

Use right hand
touch forehead
touch abdomen
reach across to left shoulder
touch right shoulder.

I understand that the Orthodox Churches touch the right shoulder first, then the left shoulder.

CARose
 
CaRose,

Not only Eastern Orthodox, but also many Eastern Catholics do as well, like Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics and Ukrainian Byzantine Catholics, or Slovak Byzantine Catholics, or Melkite Catholics… not sure about Maronites, and on and on.
 
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mercygate:
People have gone into schism over how to hold your fingers while making the sign of the cross. And I’m sure people get bent out of shape over whether to touch the right or left shoulder first. Sorry. I’m not going to fight those wars – but I *do *teach people to use their right hand and to touch the right knee to the floor when they genuflect unless they’ve got a jolly good excuse for using the left.
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:eek:
I just realized I genuflect on my left knee… Just tried to do so on my right and I fell over repeatedly… That just seems wierd… Left knee, I can do unaided… Right knee, I fall even if I try to grab a hold of something… I’d assume my medical history accounts for it.
Hope that counts as a ‘jolly good excuse’

And thanks for the answers. I directed the person who asked this to the thread so hope this knowledge provides a sufficient response.
 
It doesn’t matter wich hand you use.As long you say the right words with faith is good enough.👍
 
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BillyT92679:
It’s just custom to use the right hand… there was an old school myth that left-handed people were evil since Judas Iscariot was allegedly left-handed, but that’s obviously just superstition.
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My brother’s left-handed. Now it all makes sense. There’s always been something not “right” about that boy. :eek:

PS–I’ve never paid attention to how he makes the Sign of the Cross. I’ll be watching intently next time. Don’t worry, I’ll throw him out of the Church if he does it wrong.
 
Dr. Bombay:
My brother’s left-handed. Now it all makes sense. There’s always been something not “right” about that boy. :eek:

PS–I’ve never paid attention to how he makes the Sign of the Cross. I’ll be watching intently next time. Don’t worry, I’ll throw him out of the Church if he does it wrong.
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If he does it correctly, remember you can throw him out for breathing your air 👍
 
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CARose:
I understand that the Orthodox Churches touch the right shoulder first, then the left shoulder.
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AND we use the thumb, first finger and middle finger held together to represent the 3 Members of the Most Holy Trinity with the ring finger and pinky held flat against the palm to represent the 2 natures of Christ…:yup:
 
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NetNuncio:
It is really more about intention.

If you make the sign of the cross with the left hand, but still have the same intention as everyone else (it is correct to make the sign of the cross with the right hand with the first two fingers and thumb together, signifying the Three Persons of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, and with the other two finger pulled back, signifying the two natures of Christ), there is nothing instrinsicly wrong about it.
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Well you learn something new everyday. My hubby and I are converts and we were never taught to use two fingers pressed together with thumb. When we were shown it could be just one finger only - usually middle or pointer finger with the rest of your fingers just relaxed and extended like normal. Is this wrong? Or is the previouse method of both fingers and thumb only for Orthodox - maybe I misunderstood? Hmmm, I do not want to be incorrectly doing it or disrespectful in any way.*
 
Wrong is a strong word. If you use only one finger, let’s just say that you are not participating in the fullness of the meaning of the Signum Crucis.

Adam
 
crobynb said:
*…*Well you learn something new everyday. My hubby and I are converts and we were never taught to use two fingers pressed together with thumb. When we were shown it could be just one finger only - usually middle or pointer finger with the rest of your fingers just relaxed and extended like normal. Is this wrong? Or is the previouse method of both fingers and thumb only for Orthodox - maybe I misunderstood? Hmmm, I do not want to be incorrectly doing it or disrespectful in any way.
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No, it’s neither wrong nor disrespectful. It’s just a martter of the particular custom you have. The same thing goes for which knee one genuflects on. You may adopt the Eastern custom of holding the fingers to represent the Trinity and the Dual Nature of Christ, if you wish, but you are under no obligation to do so.

I would recommend, though, that you not use only the middle finger with the other fingers folded back, as that particular hand posture is considered obscene, at least in the US. Likewise, other hand postures considered impolite or obscene in other parts of the world or among other cultures are best avoided in making the Sign of the Cross or other prayer gestures when the probability exists for them to offend persons seeing them.
 
Oh goodness! When I said middle finger I meant middle finger with all other fingers extended as well -not bent. I realize that would be an obscene gesture. :o

It would be the middle or pointer finger are the only one/s to make contact with the body. The other ones are just “hangin out” neither bent nor stiffly extended or pressed together.

And on a side note, I do genuflect with my right leg regardless of which side I enter the pew from.
 
I understood what you meant. My reply, though addressed to you, was also intended to be informative for anyone else who might be reading this from anywhere else in the world. The hand posture you describe is perfectly appropriate.
 
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