The Sign of the Cross

1
The Sign of the Cross

• Taken from the
• Fountain of Catholic KnowledgeOFFICE OF CATHOLIC
  PUBLICATIONS,
• Imprimatur, 1877and from
• THE CATECHIST,
• by the Very Rev. Canon Howe,
• Imprimatur, 1898

2

• In all the works of God there is nothing that is
  worthless or insignificant.

The smallest flower, a grain of dust, the tiniest
insect, each and all reveal the wisdom, the
omnipotence, the infinite greatness of their
Creator, as clearly as the sun itself and all
the glories of the starlit heavens.
3

• And thus it is with the Catholic faith
• it has come forth,
• like the great world of nature,
• from the hands of God Himself
• or, rather,

it is that manifestation, that revelation,
which God has made of Himself to the reasonable
creatures whom He has deigned to create.
4

• And therefore we may discover,
• even in the smallest details of the faith we
  hold,
• a depth and beauty no less wonderful than the
  loveliness of nature
• and in contemplating both we may truly exclaim,

God alone could work such wonders the finger of
God is there!
5

• Let us take, for example, The Sign of the Cross
• that simple religious act which is so universal
  and so frequently practiced during the course of
  the day.
• We all make this holy sign,
• but how many of us give any thought to the
  mysteries it signifies!

6

• From want of reflection,
• we fail to attach to the Sign of the Cross
• the importance that it merits.

It was first instituted by the Apostles
themselves, who, invested with the authority of
Jesus Christ, taught this religious practice to
the first disciples of the Gospel. The Sign of
the Cross is the sign of the Christian, that is
to say, it is the outward sign which
distinguishes the Christian from other men.
7
And why is this?

• Because it recalls to those who make it, and to
  those who see it made,
• that Jesus Christ is the God of Christians and
  the Lord of their whole lives.
• Because it reminds us that God has loved us so
  much
• as to give Himself up for our sakes
• to suffer on the Cross,
• and that we must love Him with our whole hearts

8
It places incessantly before our eyes Jesus
Christ crucified Jesus crucified is the Divine
and living rule of life to each one of His
disciples, and His sacred Cross their moral law.
9

• The sign of the Cross recalls to those who make
  it with reverence and devotion
• that they are bound to imitate in their daily
  conduct
• the penance, mortification, humility, meekness,
  patience, detachment, chastity, and obedience
• of their Master

His love for His heavenly Father! His love for
His Blessed Mother! His love toward all men!
His mercy to His enemies! His love of
suffering!
10

• The Sign of the Cross is distinctively the sign
  of the Christian,
• because it reminds us of the blessed eternity
  which awaits us.
• It was after His passion and death that Jesus
  rose again.
• And by His Cross He entered into glory.
• And so it must be with His disciples!

Their glory in heaven must be the full fruition
of the crucified life they have led on earth,
like unto the life of their Savior.
11

• The Gospel also declares to us that when He comes
  at the last day to judge the world,
• the sacred sign of the Cross shall appear in the
  heavens,
• to be recognized by the elect with thankfulness
  and love,
• and by the reprobate with fear and trembling

For then shall it be the disciples of the Cross,
and none but they, whom He will acknowledge for
His Own.
12

• It is the sign of the Christian because it brings
  before our minds the most important doctrines of
  the Catholic faith.
• It recalls the mystery of the holy and undivided
  Trinity,
• for in making it we say,
• In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
  the Holy Spirit
• three persons, but one God.
• In the name and not, In the names!

13

• And also the mystery of the Incarnation,
• the coming down of the Son of God from Heaven to
  earth, to assume a body and soul like ours in the
  womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary

in saying "In the Name of the Son," we move the
hand down from the forehead to the breast, a
lively image of the annihilation of the Son of
God, who reposes in the hearts of the faithful,
as formerly in the chaste womb of Mary.
14

• And, again, the mystery of the Redemption,
• since it was upon the Cross
• He died to wash away our sins,
• to merit for us pardon and salvation,
• and to open the gates of Heaven
• which sin had closed.

15

• And the mystery of the Church of God,
• that great society of the disciples of Jesus
  Christ,
• that perfect union,
• holy, Catholic, and apostolic,
• of the children of the Cross

since, being the same for all, it is necessarily
the sign of their union in one body under one
head
a most distinctive mark of the Catholic Church,
it recalls by its unity that the Church is one,
and by its universality that the Church is
Catholic.
16

• In considering all that is symbolized by this
• sacred Sign,
• we come to clearly understand why it is employed
  by the Church in the administration of all holy
  things,
• in the Sacraments,
• in every blessing,
• at the beginning and end of her prayers.

17

• Let us make it often,
• but especially when tempted and when troubled
• also before and after meals

and when we make it, let us be careful to
remember what it signifies, and the obligations
imposed on all who bear the holy name of
Christians.
18

• ON REVERENCE FOR THE SIGN OF THE CROSSIt is
  necessary to be very careful never to make the
  Sign of the Cross badly
• that is, to make it from habit without thinking
  of it, and when laughing,
• or to make it in haste without taking the trouble
  to move the right hand from the forehead to the
  breast, and from the left shoulder, to the right.
  
• It is not necessary every time you cross yourself
  to say, "In the Name of the Father," etc.
• it is good and beneficial to repeat this
  invocation,
• but it is both useful and holy
• to cross yourself without saying anything.

19
The Sign of the Cross rightly made

• unites the soul to God,
• gives the spirit of recollection,
• drives away the devil,
• and powerfully dissipates temptation.

It gives to the Christian the spirit of faith,
and preserves him from distraction and from
worldliness but if made with negligence, it
loses all its influence and virtue.
20

• MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
• The Sign of the Cross is a sacramental if we make
  it with the right hand by touching the forehead
• (showing our belief in the Cross),
• the breast
• (showing our love of the Cross),
• and the shoulders
• (showing our readiness to bear the Cross).

Sometimes a triple Cross is made with the thumb
for example at the reading of the Gospel. It is
made on the forehead, on the heart, and on the
lips in order to show our readiness to profess
the Cross.
21
The Sign of the Cross

• Parents and teachers should carefully impress
  upon children this religious practice
• and since children imitate all they see,
• fathers and mothers, grandfathers and
  grandmothers should begin by practicing what they
  teach,
• and should always,
• both at home and at church,
• before and after work,
• before and after meals,
• make the Sign of the Cross
• like true and faithful Catholics.