Why do catholics make the sign of the cross

At baptism the Lord claimed us as his own by marking us with the Sign of the Cross. Now, when we sign ourselves, we are affirming our loyalty to him.

By tracing the cross on our bodies, we are denying that we belong to ourselves and declaring that we belong to him alone see Lk The Church Fathers used the same word for the Sign of the Cross that the ancient world employed to indicate ownership. So, when we mark our bodies with the sign, we are embracing whatever pain comes as a consequence of our faith in Christ. But at the same time it comforts us with the realization that Jesus, who endured the crucifixion for us, now joins us in our suffering and supports us.

Signing ourselves also announces another significant truth: With St. When the devil sent Jesus to the cross, he mistakenly believed he had won a great victory.

Instead, the Lord surprised him with an ignominious defeat see 1 Cor From the first Easter morning through the present, the sign of the cross makes the devil cower and flee.

But more importantly, the sign is also an offensive weapon, helping us reclaim with Christ all that Satan lost at the cross. It announces our cooperation with him in the indomitable advance of the kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness.

In the New Testament, the word flesh sums up all the evil inclinations of our old nature that persist in us even after we die with Christ in baptism see Gal Making the sign of the cross expresses our decision to crucify these desires of the flesh and to live by the Spirit. Like tossing off a dirty shirt or blouse, making the sign indicates our stripping ourselves of our evil inclinations and clothing ourselves with the behaviors of Christ see Col 3: The Church Fathers taught that the Sign of the Cross diffused the force of powerful temptations such as anger and lust.

So no matter how strongly we are tempted, we can use the Sign of the Cross to activate our freedom in Christ and conquer even our besetting sins. Did you enjoy this article? Subscribe now. Send feedback to us at oursunvis osv. Centuries-old Catholic concerns about Freemasonry are keen again, thanks to the recent hit movie "National….

Elizabeth Ann Seton 2 St. Faustina 5 St. Felicity 1 St. Francis of Assisi 11 St. Gabriel 4 St. George 3 St. Gerard 1 St. Gianna 1 St. Helena 1 St. Isidore 1 St. Joan of Arc 1 St. John the Apostle 3 St. John The Baptist 4 St. John Vianney 2 St. Joseph 10 St. Longinus 1 St. Lucy 12 St. Luke 1 St. Mark 2 St. Martin de Porres 1 St. Martin of Tours 1 St. Mary Magdalen 4 St. Matthew 1 St. Michael 10 St. Nicholas 14 St. Padre Pio 3 St. Patrick 28 St. Perpetua 1 St. Peter 6 St.

Raphael 4 St. Rose of Lima 2 St. Simon 1 St. Teresa Of Avila 1 St. Teresa Of Calcutta 1 St. Therese 15 St. Thomas The Apostle 1 St. Valentine 21 St. Its roots in the early church have been handed down through the generations to signal intent in blessing and receiving through prayer.

Though simple in action, the sign of the cross holds great significance in meaning and heart for Catholics today, just as it did in the early church. The sign of the cross is an action taken after saying a prayer.

The sign of the cross was made simply with the fingers the index or the thumb on the forehead or lips or breast as Latin-rite Catholics do at the beginning of the Gospel lesson or with the whole hand over the torso.

There are slight differences in how it is made between the various rites of the Church, but they are all legitimate. Those who are in holy orders bless by making the sign of the cross in the air toward the persons or things to be blessed, but lay folk bless others only by using their finger, usually the thumb.

Physical action in prayer is sacred in the intimate and personal relationship of each believer and God. This holy act has been handed down through the tradition of many generations. Catholics have been taught that St. Basil shared that the sign of the cross was handed down first from the Apostles of Christ. It has become tradition in blessing others, often with holy water or oil, to do the sign of the cross upon a person as to signal in action the intent of the heart within.

The sign of the cross marks the Christian as united with the Crucified. To Catholics and Christians who use the sign of the cross, it is a way to outwardly express upon a person a blessing or anointing through the Holy Spirit. Catholics use the sign of the cross daily in Mass and prayer. Mass is a service filled with prayers, tradition, and remembrance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.