The History
The sign of the Cross is probably the most often used prayer of Christians and for many Anglicans the first prayer we learned as children – ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.’ Despite its simplicity, the sign of the Cross is an ancient prayer rich in meaning. References to it appear in writings dating back to AD 240, and it is believed that it was in use during the earliest days of Christianity.
The How
Initially the sign of the Cross was made with the thumb, usually on the forehead but sometimes on the lips and chest. This small sign of the Cross was in common use by the end of the fourth century and is still used today preceding the proclamation of the Gospel at the celebration of the Eucharist. In doing this we acknowledge our belief in the Word of God, our commitment to spread God’s Word in our daily lives, and our awareness of God’s presence in our hearts. In other words, we pray that we should understand it with our minds, speak it with our lips and believe it in our hearts. Likewise, the sign of the Cross made with the thumb occurs when receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick. It is also used for marking the forehead with ashes on Ash Wednesday. By the end of the middle ages, the Western Church had adopted the practice of making the large sign of the Cross with an open hand touching the left shoulder before the right. This is the form we continue to use today.
The Why
The sign of the Cross is primarily a blessing. We use it to call God’s blessing upon us. When we make the sign of the Cross upon ourselves, we are also expressing our belief in God and the Trinity. Through it, we remind ourselves of God’s love for us, of the sacrifice of Jesus made to give us eternal life and of the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. The sign of the Cross also gives us a way to express our belief in Jesus’ death and our hope in the Resurrection. We embrace the cross of Jesus and express our willingness to take up our own cross, all the while bursting with joyful hope in the Resurrection.
So while making the sign of the Cross may sometimes seem like a routine action, it is not. It marks us as Christians and is a visible expression of our belief and hope in God.
So while making the sign of the Cross may sometimes seem like a routine action, it is not. It marks us as Christians and is a visible expression of our belief and hope in God.
The Where
Some Churches have a small dish or bowl of “Holy Water” (called a Stoup) near the entrance. For many, it is a practice when entering or leaving a Church to dip a finger in and make the sign of the Cross with water. This will remind you of your Baptism and Confirmation in which you were singed with the sign of the Cross.
The When
The sign of the Cross can be made at almost any time. It is usually made either in response to it being traced over us, in blessing by a priest, or at particularly significant points in worship or prayer. In contemporary liturgy there are nine points at which it is customary to make the sign of the Cross upon oneself. They are:
At a Eucharist
At a Eucharist
- At the words “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
- At the words of the Absolution, after the general Confession.
- At the beginning of the Gospel Reading.*
- At the end of the Prayer for the Dead in the Intercessions.
- When the Consecrated Host is raised
- When the Chalice is raised.
- Before receiving the Host
- Before receiving the Chalice
- When the Priest pronounces the final blessing.
Other Times
It will be noticed that some of these occasions also occur frequently during Morning and Evening Prayer, in the Occasional Offices and in private prayer. It is equally appropriate to make the sign of the Cross at those times at the beginning of the Gospel canticles: Benedictus (Blessed be the Lord God of Israel), Magnificat (My soul doth magnify the Lord), and Nunc Dimittis (Lord now lettest Thy servant depart in Peace).
(*In addition, some follow the tradition of making the sign of the Cross at the end of the Gloria and the Creed, and also at the beginning of the Benedictus. The way of making the sign of the Cross at the beginning of the Gospel differs slightly from the usual way. It is made with the thumb of the right hand, and consists of three Crosses in one. A small Cross is traced on the forehead, and then on the lips before the hand is moved to the breast.)
(*In addition, some follow the tradition of making the sign of the Cross at the end of the Gloria and the Creed, and also at the beginning of the Benedictus. The way of making the sign of the Cross at the beginning of the Gospel differs slightly from the usual way. It is made with the thumb of the right hand, and consists of three Crosses in one. A small Cross is traced on the forehead, and then on the lips before the hand is moved to the breast.)