When Do I Cross Myself?

[Ramalama]

I’m not asking for help during mass, I just do it when everyone else does. What about other times? For instance, I say four or five evening prayers. Do I cross myself twice (before and after) or five times? When during the Rosary? Just at the beginning and end, or with each Our Father, or some other times? How about prayers in the family before dinner? Before the prayer? After? Both? Help!

 

[water]

I normally do before and after a set of prayers - ie. If you have 5 or 10 different prayers and you pray continuously, you can just do before the first prayer and one after the last one.

There is no requirement or rule for how many times you need to Cross yourself.

 

[Spirithound]

I would start out by crossing myself just at the beginning and at the end, and then as you fall deeper in love and closer to God, try to discern whether He wants you to cross yourself more often.

 

[Pani_Rose]

In the East we cross ourselves whenever the Father, Son and Holy Spirit it heard, at the prayers of the Saints, anything with the Most Holy Theotokos, Mother of our God. When you pass an ambulance or an accident say a little prayer with the sign of the Cross. It keeps the Cross of Christ always before us. When food is being prepared the sign of the cross is made over it, it you have blessed salt, the sign of the cross is made with it as it is seasoned.

Some of the Church Fathers made the sign on fhe cross everytime they passed by someone simply becuase that person carries a bit of Jesus in them. So, I know your question was about the Mass, but…

 

[pmoo]

I, too, have questions about when to make the sign of the cross. I am a new Catholic and I teach high school at a faith-based private school. While religion is not the central theme of the school, we start each day with the Lord’s Prayer. Do I cross myself at anytime with this prayer? Also, at all school functions (football games, graduation, etc,) we also start with a general, ‘Protestant’ prayer. Do I cross myself at any of those times? I understand about making the sign of the cross whenever one of the Trinity is mentioned, but I guess my question is, “Can I cross myself when I want?” Like the other poster, I do it in mass when everyone else does, but other than those times, I’m really unsure when to cross or not cross myself.

Thanks.

 

[Tim_c]

I, too, have questions about when to make the sign of the cross. I am a new Catholic and I teach high school at a faith-based private school. While religion is not the central theme of the school, we start each day with the Lord’s Prayer. Do I cross myself at anytime with this prayer? Also, at all school functions (football games, graduation, etc,) we also start with a general, ‘Protestant’ prayer. Do I cross myself at any of those times? I understand about making the sign of the cross whenever one of the Trinity is mentioned, but I guess my question is, “Can I cross myself when I want?” Like the other poster, I do it in mass when everyone else does, but other than those times, I’m really unsure when to cross or not cross myself.

Thanks.

I was once invited to dinner at a Mormon friend’s house and I crossed myself after the blessing

Cross yourself whenever you think its necessary. St. Cryil said
“Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor’s sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for He has triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, Who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the Gift; but for this rather honor thy Benefactor.”

 

[I_Believe]

I cross myself whenever I feel the need to. I always do when passing a Catholic church or cemetery.

When I catch myself being self righteous or having impure thoughts, I cross myself and usually say the Glory Be…

I feel that it should be done deliberately and reverently. Not just a quick “going through the motion” thing.

As often as you feel the need is ok. It pleases God.