Why don't non-Catholic Christians make the Sign of the Cross? Or, do they?

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Why don’t non-Catholic Christians make the Sign of the Cross? Or, do they?

In the name of the Father
And of the Son
And of the Holy Spirit
Amen
**
*In nomine Patris *
et Filii
et Spiritus Sancti
Amen
(Latin)

This is one the shortest Catholic prayers and one of my favorite prayers.
Catechism of the Catholic Church

1235 The sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross.
2157 The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior’s grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.
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The Catholic Sign of the Cross is absolutely ancient, rooted not only in the Old Testament but the New (Apocalypse speaks of those who have the sign of God in their foreheads – and those who have the sign of the Beast in their foreheads). When Catholics undergo the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Bishop (sometimes a priest) seals the sign on our foreheads with holy chrism. St. John of Damascus wrote
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Why would we? (“we” = the vast majority of Protestant churches) It’s not part of our custom or traditions, and it’s not in the Bible, at least not as a direct reference.

However, I have no problem with it, and the rationale given for it in the CCC makes sense to me. I just wasn’t ever taught it.
 
Most of them do. The majority of non-Catholic Christians belong to Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, all of whom make the Sign of the Cross (albeit using a slightly different technique than Catholics do). Many Anglicans, Lutherans and other protestants also do it.
 
Izdaari said:
Why would we? (“we” = the vast majority of Protestant churches) It’s not part of our custom or traditions, and it’s not in the Bible, at least not as a direct reference.

However, I have no problem with it. I just wasn’t ever taught it.
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It’s easy,

Using your right hand, take two fingers, slightly bent, (generally bowing your head) and touch your forehead, with your finger tips, saying, “In the name of the Father”, then touch your sternum and say “And the Son”, then touch your left shoulder saying, “And the Holy” and right shoulder (all in one movement), saying, “Spirit”… Amen

This is one of the oldest and shortest payers in Christianity and one of the most powerful and holiest expressions of our faith. It reminds us of Christ’s suffering for us on the Cross. This is our outward expression of Christianity and when we make the “Sign of the Cross”, we are receiving God’s blessing, a reminder of our baptism and signifying that we are Christian and that we belong to Christ.
 
Petergee said:
Most of them do. The majority of non-Catholic Christians belong to Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, all of whom make the Sign of the Cross (albeit using a slightly different technique than Catholics do). Many Anglicans, Lutherans and other protestants also do it.
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You’re right, however, I know that there are many who don’t and I am wondering , why not?
 
In the American South where Protestant churches rule the roost, the Sign of the Cross is viewed as a Catholic thing. Though a person from my childhood independent Baptist church would see nothing wrong in it directly, there would be discomfort based on its association with the Church. It is seen as one of the marks of being a Catholic.
 
There is certainly nothing wrong with doing so. I guess I am what would be called a “low Lutheran” and do not do so.
 
Lutheranteach said:
There is certainly nothing wrong with doing so. I guess I am what would be called a “low Lutheran” and do not do so.
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And I’m on the other end of the range from my Lutheran sibling here. I cross myself at the invocation, Absolution, announcement of the Gospel, reception of The Eucharist, and the Benediction, plus other times in and out of the divine service.

Jon
 
Jimmy_B said:
You’re right, however, I know that there are many who don’t and I am wondering , why not?
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Because.

As well ask…why do Catholics do it?

This is not a criticism of it…I have no problem whatsoever with Catholics making the sign of the cross. It’s an attempt to get the thinking started. Why do it? Not 'what purpose does it serve," but…why choose THAT particular symbol or action to evoke whatever it is you do with it?

I understand that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox (or someone, anyway), while they both make this sign, do it slightly differently. So.

Does the fact that one group starts the movement in one way and the other group another invalidate it as a symbol? If yes, then which is right, and why IS it ‘right,’ or wrong? If not, then what is it about that symbol that makes you concerned that non-Catholics don’t use it?

Is it a horrible thing that the rest of us don’t use that particular symbolic gesture? Why?
 
Izdaari said:
Why would we? (“we” = the vast majority of Protestant churches) It’s not part of our custom or traditions, and it’s not in the Bible, at least not as a direct reference.

However, I have no problem with it, and the rationale given for it in the CCC makes sense to me. I just wasn’t ever taught it.
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That is one of the things I am puzzled by many: It is not in the Bible. A lot is not in the Bible. Jesus never taught everything has to be in the Bible or must be penned to be legit. Where in the Bible does it say to use wedding rings? To have bride’s maids,etc,etc,etc.
 
About half of the Anglicans and Lutherans that I know make the Sign of the Cross. I certainly do. I even know two Baptist seminary professors who think that Baptists should make the Sign also. They’re not gaining much ground so far, but stranger things have happened. 👍
 
dianaiad said:
Because.

As well ask…why do Catholics do it?

This is not a criticism of it…I have no problem whatsoever with Catholics making the sign of the cross. It’s an attempt to get the thinking started. Why do it? Not 'what purpose does it serve," but…why choose THAT particular symbol or action to evoke whatever it is you do with it?

I understand that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox (or someone, anyway), while they both make this sign, do it slightly differently. So.

Does the fact that one group starts the movement in one way and the other group another invalidate it as a symbol? If yes, then which is right, and why IS it ‘right,’ or wrong? If not, then what is it about that symbol that makes you concerned that non-Catholics don’t use it?

Is it a horrible thing that the rest of us don’t use that particular symbolic gesture? Why?
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I don’t think Jimmy believes it is wrong or horrible that some do not do it. I just think he’s curious.

Jon
 
Izdaari said:
Why would we? (“we” = the vast majority of Protestant churches) It’s not part of our custom or traditions, and it’s not in the Bible, at least not as a direct reference.

However, I have no problem with it, and the rationale given for it in the CCC makes sense to me. I just wasn’t ever taught it.
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Sure, making the sign of the cross isn’t mentioned in the Bible. The words are, though, at the end of the gospel of Matthew: “… baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…”
Georgia said:
In the American South where Protestant churches rule the roost, the Sign of the Cross is viewed as a Catholic thing. Though a person from my childhood independent Baptist church would see nothing wrong in it directly, there would be discomfort based on its association with the Church. It is seen as one of the marks of being a Catholic.
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Yeah, that’s probably one of the most common reasons, along with simply not being taught to do it. I wonder, though, why and when in the past many Protestants stopped doing it?
 
Nicea325 said:
That is one of the things I am puzzled by many: It is not in the Bible. A lot is not in the Bible. Jesus never taught everything has to be in the Bible or must be penned to be legit. Where in the Bible does it say to use wedding rings? To have bride’s maids,etc,etc,etc.
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It puzzles me, too. I can understand when one says it is not part of our custom or practice, our tradition, but I don’t understand the “its not in the Bible” part.

That’s not to say I think people should be obliged to make the sign of the cross. I consider it more a matter of personal piety.

Jon
 
JonNC said:
It puzzles me, too. I can understand when one says it is not part of our custom or practice, our tradition, but I don’t understand the “its not in the Bible” part.

That’s not to say I think people should be obliged to make the sign of the cross. I consider it more a matter of personal piety.

Jon
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I guess it has to do what one has been either taught or told. It is not uncommon among fundamentalists to say: If it is not in the Bible, then it is false.

It is a false premise to begin with.
 
Nicea325 said:
I guess it has to do what one has been either taught or told. It is not uncommon among fundamentalists to say: If it is not in the Bible, then it is false.

It is a false premise to begin with.
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Absolutely. If people take that line of reasoning too far, they’ll be forced to give up air conditioning and indoor plumbing in their churches. 😃
 
JonNC said:
I don’t think Jimmy believes it is wrong or horrible that some do not do it. I just think he’s curious.

Jon
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I didn’t get the feeling that anybody here thinks it is ‘wrong’ or ‘horrible’ either way. I was simply trying to get the thought processes going. It’s an interesting question, and worth considering.

What IS the 'why?"

I know why I don’t…but…hey, I’m a Mormon. For me, since the cross itself is a symbol that I do not use as decoration…or an item of veneration, worship or reminder…making a physical sign of the cross simply isn’t an option. IT’s cultural.

I’m thinking that perhaps the reason many Protestants do not use it is because it was thrown out with all the other outward symbols of Catholicism, like the statues of Saints and Mary, the rosary and other stuff that they deemed to be tilting towards paganism—or simply because, since Catholics did it and they were no longer Catholics, then they wouldn’t.

You know, rather the way Americans began driving on the right side of the road, or eating with the fork in our right hands. 😉
 
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