Would it be Imprudent to Make the Sign of the Cross at Work?

[LethalMouse]

For me, it would be imprudent not to. But I’m a parish priest.

 

[LethalMouse]

Do it.

TBH there are few situations where I could see it being a problem. And in most cases assuming you are not doing it in lieu of working lol any attempt against you would be rather frowned upon by the law

 

[RPRPsych]

For me, it would be imprudent not to. But I’m a parish priest.

Love this! God bless you, Father.

 

[Monica4316]

I always make the sign of the Cross before meals, wherever I am. Sometimes I’m among Catholics, sometimes not. If I’m praying the Rosary or something in a public place I just pray silently. However I try to make the sign of the Cross when passing by a church. It can be awkward on the bus

 

[john_ennis]

I rarely make the sign of the cross in front of anyone at work…but I work in a public school. So yeah, not prudent to display personal worship in public at my work. In private in my classroom, no worries.

This really comes down to prudential judgment.

Although I always pray before meals, I don’t give any indication of doing so at work when I’m among other staff members. I might pray in my classroom, or silently on the way to the staff lounge, or even in the restroom.

Most of the staff wouldn’t care, and most of them know I’m uber Catholic, but I’d rather not draw attention to myself and my religious beliefs in that setting. But that’s just my own judgment of my own situation.

If it doesn’t interfere with your work, your right to pray is protected by the Constitution.

God bless you!

 

[john_ennis]

I rarely make the sign of the cross in front of anyone at work…but I work in a public school. So yeah, not prudent to display personal worship in public at my work. In private in my classroom, no worries.

This really comes down to prudential judgment.

Although I always pray before meals, I don’t give any indication of doing so at work when I’m among other staff members. I might pray in my classroom, or silently on the way to the staff lounge, or even in the restroom.

Most of the staff wouldn’t care, and most of them know I’m uber Catholic, but I’d rather not draw attention to myself and my religious beliefs in that setting. But that’s just my own judgment of my own situation.

If it doesn’t interfere with your work, your right to pray is protected by the Constitution.

God bless you!

I’m a public high school teacher, and when not in the process of teaching class, don’t feel a need to hide the sign of the cross (before eating, typically). It is a mistake to think that students or colleagues merely seeing this have any reason to be offended. (That’s more a comment for the OP–sounds like you know that already.)
Nothing at all inappropriate about it.

 

[john_ennis]

As much as we say we celebrate diversity, it’s curious how pressure has resulted in a hesitance to show signs of being a Christian. Look with fresh eyes: if a Muslim woman practiced some brief and non-distracting act of her faith at work, is there any reason to see it as anything other than a healthy sign of our freedoms?

The banishing of personal gestures that signal a person’s faith is an artificial and oppressive thing, if you think about it. Can we be individuals at work?

Some people live as if there’s no god, some as if there is a god. Why is only one of those attitudes acceptable in the workplace?

 

[Gertabelle]

As much as we say we celebrate diversity, it’s curious how pressure has resulted in a hesitance to show signs of being a Christian. Look with fresh eyes: if a Muslim woman practiced some brief and non-distracting act of her faith at work, is there any reason to see it as anything other than a healthy sign of our freedoms?

The banishing of personal gestures that signal a person’s faith is an artificial and oppressive thing, if you think about it. Can we be individuals at work?

Some people live as if there’s no god, some as if there is a god. Why is only one of those attitudes acceptable in the workplace?

Very well stated. You’ve given me something to think about before I return to school next month.

 

[john_ennis]

Very well stated. You’ve given me something to think about before I return to school next month.

Thanks! All the best to you there. Let’s pray for everybody struggling to be loving and faithful in the world, while remembering that we’re not of this world.

 

[Melodeonist]

So why would you be making the sign of the cross while stocking shelves, cleaning up, or pumping gas? I don’t get it.

I don’t do it when I am out grocery shopping, or pumping gas or cleaning up.
Now, if you had said when you were stopping to eat your lunch or something, that’s a different story.

I try to get prayers in during my day because I really don’t like setting time aside to pray. I find doing that only makes prayer tedious and boring. I always make the Sign of the Cross before and after praying as I always thought it was customary to do this?

 

[Irishmom2]

I try to get prayers in during my day because I really don’t like setting time aside to pray. I find doing that only makes prayer tedious and boring. I always make the Sign of the Cross before and after praying as I always thought it was customary to do this?

You kind of sound like you are trying to get your prayer “over with.” How much thought are you putting into your prayer or your job if you approach prayer with that attitude? I am not saying that people can’t pray while they do other things, but usually those prayers are in addition to others, at another, more quiet and centered time. But you are praying at work to avoid the tedium and boredom.

I don’t know how you are praying that you find it tedious and boring, but prayer is not something you do as an obligation or chore to cross off your list each day.

 

[Melodeonist]

You kind of sound like you are trying to get your prayer “over with.” How much thought are you putting into your prayer or your job if you approach prayer with that attitude? I am not saying that people can’t pray while they do other things, but usually those prayers are in addition to others, at another, more quiet and centered time. But you are praying at work to avoid the tedium and boredom.

I don’t know how you are praying that you find it tedious and boring, but prayer is not something you do as an obligation or chore to cross off your list each day.

Truth be told, I never have anything to pray about. I always just repeat the same old intentions, formal prayers, and custom prayers day after day. It gets quite boring. If I set time aside and pray, then I tend to daydream more then if I pray while doing something else.

I put all I can into my work because I find it fun. I also try to put all I can into my prayers too, but sometimes for no apparent reason I just have trouble trusting God. I also find praying boring for no reason sometimes. I have a tendency to rush through my prayers because I find them boring.

I try to pray when I have nothing else to do. It’s quite easy to pray mentally while working unless someone tries talking to you.

 

[Irishmom2]

Truth be told, I never have anything to pray about.

Perhaps you need to expand your prayer intentions beyond yourself. There is a lot going on in the world that you could pray about. Choose a person in the CAF prayer intentions, a new one each day, so you don’t get bored, and pray for them, if only in your mind and not online. Pray for people’s health, well being, addictions, blessed death, job search, shelter, or any number of things in life that people need prayers about.

You will find that when you offer prayer for other people, there is never a shortage, and not enough hours in the day to pray for everyone.

You may also consider a prayer journal. Google it and see all of the different ways people use them.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Discretely trace the Sign on your forehead.

Although…many, many, many Christians died martyrs for publicly professing their Faith. I try to do the Sign of the Cross in public now…saying Grace, etc and at work, too (I save the full SotC for “serious” things, though–deaths, sickness, etc). And I am pretty sure that I won’t suffer martyrdom (yet) for doing so.

 

[Gertabelle]

Truth be told, I never have anything to pray about. I always just repeat the same old intentions, formal prayers, and custom prayers day after day. It gets quite boring. If I set time aside and pray, then I tend to daydream more then if I pray while doing something else.

I put all I can into my work because I find it fun. I also try to put all I can into my prayers too, but sometimes for no apparent reason I just have trouble trusting God. I also find praying boring for no reason sometimes. I have a tendency to rush through my prayers because I find them boring.

I try to pray when I have nothing else to do. It’s quite easy to pray mentally while working unless someone tries talking to you.

I hope you don’t mind if we continue with this tangent on your thread.

More recommendations on ways to make your prayers less boring…

1. Pray the Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours (LotH).
2. Watch the local, national, or world news everyday. Pray for all the people on the news.
3. Read about the actual horrors and suffering of real people on the planet right now. Pray for those people.
4. Try just talking to God – whine, rejoice, chatter about your day. You might be surprised.

One thing that helped me was learning about people being persecuted for the faith, missionaries in other countries, and children suffering the effects of genocide. After I began to understand the span and intensity of suffering around the world, praying the Psalms in the LotH just became So Powerful.

I got to hear the man in the story below speak about his experience as a Lost Boy of Sudan – learning of his parents’ murder, joining with other boys, witnessing other boys die from hunger, thirst, or being attacked by wild animals. He spoke of God’s grace and choosing forgiveness.

It broke my heart! But that’s a good thing, because my life can get way too comfortable and insulated here in the US.

He and his wife started a school for orphans in Kenya. They and the children in their care could sure use our prayers!

Arok’s Story: http://seedsofsouthsudan.org/about-our-founder/

 

[Melodeonist]

I do pray about news stories/elections/people who are in need. I still find prayer boring though.

I have a very formulaic way of praying. Unfortunately, I don’t find myself to be all that creative.

 

[Usige]

Okay, I know we are going into tangent land (you don’t say ), but I used to feel like you did. One of the things a very wise priest told me was to slow down when praying. Actually think about the words. He also suggested “throwing out” prayers when they get “stale”. Also have a good mix of prayer. One of the things I found was I was always praying 3 or 4 prayers and any spontaneous prayers were prayers of petition. He suggested getting into the habit of prayers of thanks giving evn for the little things (Lord, thank you for this beautiful moon rise. Thank you for a job I enjoy. et cetera). His point is that prayer is conversation with God; it is how we enter into relationship with Him. If we married someone and only said the same 3 sentences everyday it is hard to grow in intimacy.

Try to focus not on just getting through the prayers, but really contemplate what they mean. Also spiritually adopt an anonymous soul in danger of death. Pray for God to grant them graces to repent and joyfully offer up your sufferings for the good of others. I found the more I prayed throughout the day the less boring I found it. I actually love sharing my joys and sorrows with God much like I do with my wife. You can pray throughout the day without the sign of the cross each time. If you are constantly praying then the sign in the morning and evening book end your 8, 10 12 hours of prayer.

 

[PraiseChrist]

I recommend setting time out as well, even if it seems boring, as it will make you grow.

Maybe close your eyes and imagine you are right in front of a monstrance that’s holding the Eucharist, when you feel bored, that’ll wake you up!

 

[drifter106]

in public I had always felt “embarrased” to do it at work or say at a restraunt but the more I do it now the more comfortable I feel with it. When I am done making the sign of the cross I don’t look around to see if anybody is watching, just go about my business. I really think we feel uncomfortable at first is because we don’t do it very often and we feel like a fish out of water. The more you do it the easier it becomes.

Have you ever thought that some people who notice it are Catholic and your act alone may inspire them to do it also.

God Bless!!

john

When I do make the sign of the cross I really think hard about what I am saying…that may help you get through doing it initially…

 

[Viki63]

Yes, I sometimes pray for the people being persecuted, for their protection and strength. I think about mothers worried about their children in countries where Christians are being killed and driven out – there’s plenty to pray about.

As far as the sign of the cross – I used to feel uncomfortable, but now do it in restaurants when I remember. And I had a supervisor once who swore a blue streak using the Lord’s name in vain – really ugly words – the last time she did that, standing at another worker’s desk across from me – I made the sign of the cross in an obvious manner, and didn’t even look at her. I didn’t hear her curse like that again. Hope it helped.

We should not be ashamed of our Lord, after all he’s done for us.

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