What is the official stance on using the one's left side to make the sign of the cross?

[Warrior89]

Hey Catholic Answers:

Father Vincent recently answered a question about whether one can make the sign of the cross with either one’s left or right hands. The exact question was “Do you have to use your right hand to do the sign of the cross? Can you use either hand whether your left or right?” His answer was, “Yes of course, unless one is physically unable to do so. Since this is the way the Church teaches us to acknowledge the Holy Trinity and the saving Passion of Jesus, why would one consider doing otherwise?”

However, on April 3, 2008, Michelle Arnold answered the question of “Can the sign of the cross be made left-handed?” with “Is there some reason we should not be able to worship God with both the right and left sides of our bodies?”

What is the official stance on using the one’s left side to make the sign of the cross?

Peace be with you.

–Tim

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Tim,

Actually neither of us distinguished between making the Sign of the Cross privately as opposed to publicly. Privately, one can make it any way one chooses. But publicly it has a very definite public dimension. Publicly it should be done according to the Church’s requirements. i.e., the right hand. In most cultures the right hand predominates. We salute with it, we shake hands with it, we rest it over our heart and we honor the Trinity and the Lord’s passion with it. In some cultures because the left hand is used for matters of hygiene it is not used in an expression of honor.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.