Making the sign of the cross is a common practice among Christians, especially in Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican (Episcopal) churches. This sign is used to begin and end prayers and ceremonies, as well as occasionally in isolation, to ask God to bless us. Many Christians are also in the habit of signing themselves when they hear the name of the Holy Trinity spoken.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Following the Latin Tradition
Step 1. Follow the tradition of the Latin and Protestant Rite Churches
This method is more common in the Latin Catholic Church, as well as in Protestant rites recognizing the sign of the cross, including the Anglican and Lutheran churches.
Step 2. Raise your right hand
Many of the faithful make the sign of the cross with open hands and their 5 fingers remind them of the 5 wounds of Christ. Others raise the index and middle fingers to symbolize the divine and human natures of Christ. Often the thumb is flexed to touch the ring finger and the sign is performed with two fingers.
There are other ways to hold your hand as well. There is no particular requirement as to how you should hold your hand, but most worship leaders will encourage you to follow your congregation's tradition, unless some other way of doing it helps you. more spiritual benefits
Step 3. Touch your forehead with the fingertips of your right hand
The sign of the cross is used in different contexts, both in private and in the church. At the beginning of the service or when blessing oneself outside the church, the sign is usually accompanied by an invocation of the Holy Trinity. Start by saying "in the name of the Father …"
Or in Latin: in nomine Patris…
Step 4. Touch the center of your chest
Bring your hand to your breastbone. Say “and of the Son. "Some people place their left hand on their chest as they make the sign of the cross and then touch their right hand slightly above it.
In Latin:… and Filii…
Step 5. Touch the front of your left shoulder
Say "and of the Holy …"
Or in Latin:… and Spiritus…
Step 6. Touch your right shoulder at roughly the same level
Say “… Spirit”.
Or in Latin:… Sancti
Step 7. Say “Amen”
You can then join your two hands.
In many Latin countries, it is common to draw a small cross with your thumb (see below) and kiss it before saying amen. In the Philippines, this gesture has evolved and nowadays, the faithful are content to touch their chin with their thumb
Step 8. Learn how to make the small cross
To bless themselves, some of the early Christians traced a cross with their thumb and forefinger, then touched their forehead with those same fingers. Today, Roman Catholics make this sign with the same fingers, before the Gospel is read at mass. Draw a small cross on your forehead, then on your lips, then on your chest.
This blessing can be interpreted in different ways. One of the most common is to approach the gospel with an open mind, to spread it with your mouth, and to keep it in your heart
Step 9. Sign yourself when you enter a church
If you are of the Latin rite, tradition has it that you sign yourself when entering a church. Immerse your fingers in the basin of holy water, then make the sign of the cross. You can make the big or the small cross.
Many Catholics also have the habit of signing themselves when passing by a church and after receiving Communion
Part 2 of 2: Following the oriental tradition
Step 1. Keep the tips of your thumb, index and middle fingers tucked together
In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Churches, most people cross themselves with three fingers. These three fingers represent the three elements of the Holy Trinity, gathered in God. Tuck the remaining two fingers into the palm of your hand, representing the two natures of Jesus (both fully human and fully divine). This ancient practice dates back to the 400s.
Step 2. Bring your hand from your forehead to the top of your stomach
Start by bringing your hand to your forehead, then work your way down to your solar plexus. Some people will place their hand on the chest, especially in the Latin tradition, but others are concerned that this marks an inverted cross, with a short lower limb. The inverted cross is traditionally a symbol of humility, but has sometimes been used by some anti-Christian groups.
Sometimes you can bring your hand down to the ground. This gesture is sometimes used during Great Lent or in times of difficulty
Step 3. Sign yourself from right to left
Unlike the sign of the cross in the Latin tradition, the eastern cross begins on the right shoulder and ends on the left. This tradition is centuries old and was once shared by the Latin Church.
Step 4. Recite a blessing
There are a number of different ways you can go about it, here are two examples. The / indicate when to move your hand.
- Lord / Jesus Christ / Son of God / have mercy on us.
- My hope is the Father / My refuge is the Son / My protection is the Holy Spirit / Holy Trinity, Glory to You.
Advice
- In the rites of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the sign of the cross is generally made from left to right, as in the Latin tradition. However, worshipers sometimes use their own way of holding their hand or their own traditions. This also applies to the Eastern Catholic Churches of these same countries (in the Coptic, Armenian and Syriac rites).
- The formula or words can be said aloud or silently, depending on the situation.