When is it appropriate to cross yourself?

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Is it appropriate to cross yourself both at the beginning and end of praying, or sometimes before i’m driving i’ll make a small sign, and i noticed a lot of people kiss their hand after crossing themselves, are these all appropriate?
 
reff said:
Is it appropriate to cross yourself both at the beginning and end of praying, or sometimes before i’m driving i’ll make a small sign, and i noticed a lot of people kiss their hand after crossing themselves, are these all appropriate?
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The kissing the hand thing is an ethnic practice - not officially part of blessing yourself.

Some bless themselves passing a church, some folks entering some kind of challenge or test bless themselves also.
 
reff said:
Is it appropriate to cross yourself both at the beginning and end of praying, or sometimes before i’m driving i’ll make a small sign, and i noticed a lot of people kiss their hand after crossing themselves, are these all appropriate?
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Yes to all of those. I also kiss my hand (well, my thumb actually). I believe it’s largely a Spanish tradition. I can tell when someone was raised where I live because whether they’re Hispanic or not, they still kiss their hand. Our priest kisses his when he crosses himself before he gives the homily.

I also know people will cross themselves when they pass a church in acknowledgment of the Blessed Sacrament inside. In a homily one time, our priest mentioned this tradition and how many people don’t practice it anymore and should. He’s also keen on reminding us all to come to confession and adoration.
 
It is not kissing the thumb so much as kissing a representation of the cross you make with your thumb and first finger. 😉 It is with this tiny cross that you touch your head, chest, and shoulders to make the sign of the cross.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
It is not kissing the thumb so much as kissing a representation of the cross you make with your thumb and first finger. 😉 It is with this tiny cross that you touch your head, chest, and shoulders to make the sign of the cross.

~Liza
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Exactly… I thought about that after I posted and what the kissing of your thumb actually represents. I remember learning as a young child that we kissed our thumb for that very reason-- it’s so common where I live-- though I wonder if most people realize that’s what they’re doing.

Sometimes, I think it’s so easy to go through the motions of crossing one’s self that it’s almost a habit and not a conscious prayer. I try to always stop and think of what I’m doing now when I cross myself.
 
Good gravy, when is it NOT appropriate?!? I must do it 12 times a day, minimum!!!
 
lizaanne said:
It is not kissing the thumb so much as kissing a representation of the cross you make with your thumb and first finger. 😉 It is with this tiny cross that you touch your head, chest, and shoulders to make the sign of the cross.

~Liza
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That is one version.

Others kiss two fingers representing Christ being True God and True Man, still others kiss three fingers for the Trinity.
 
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