Basil the Great tells us that the apostles themselves taught the sign of the cross. First-century Christians began making the Sign of the Cross as a reminder and renewal of what happened to them when they were baptized. It still works the same way for us. This would definitely make me think twice about visiting there again…but then again, I tend to avoid parishes that don’t offer the Mass in Latin, given the option. Today, Roman Catholics make the sign with the same hand shape before the Gospel reading at Mass. An important reason is that Jesus Christ did not die on a cross. St. An indulgence of 300 days for making the sign of the cross, with holy water. First of all, let me make it clear that making the sign of the cross is not a commandment of God. God’s children are hidden with Christ in God, and no one can take us from God’s hand. This is shown by the fact that the earliest mentions of the sign of the cross speak of it as an already established custom and simply encourage the faithful to make it correctly. The same sign of the cross that Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honoured with the same honours. . In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Encyclopædia Britannica calls the cross “the principal symbol of the Christian religion.” Nevertheless, true Christians do not use the cross in worship. Witness to others. Why not? I would tactfully ask the priest if something was wrong with his right hand; that might explain some of it, at least. As a gesture often made in public, the Sign of the Cross is a simple way to witness our faith to others. Now you made a mistake saying that “God commanded us not to make pious gestures in public” when really God commanded us not to be hypocrites in this manner, not the other way around. The sign of the cross also allows us to evangelize in a way, by way of people seeing the sign, and allowing them to remember God in this way. Narrator: As often as we make the sign of the cross, repeating at the same time these words: [On-screen graphic] An indulgence of 100 days is granted for making the sign of the cross and saying the words. . “Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. According to the book on the catechism of the Catholic Church, making the sign of the cross … 21. Catholics should not even be doing it because it is wrong. In making the Sign of the Cross, we are once again sealing ourselves in the Spirit, invoking His powerful intervention in our lives. From the earliest times Christians have made the sign of the cross. Surely, we are calling upon Almighty God to endow us with His purifying grace when we touch our forehead, breast and each shoulder (making the cross sign). One of the first questions we might ask is, Who decided that the cross was to be the sign of Christianity? > Why don't Christians make the sign of the cross when they pray? It is also wrong to believe that the sign of the cross is something magic that protects you from harm. When it is wrong to make the sign of the cross How could it ever be wrong to bless oneself? THE cross is loved and respected by millions of people. That which is now called the Christian cross was originally no Christian emblem at all, but was the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians . Some of the first Christians to bless themselves formed a cross with their thumb and index finger and placed it on their forehead. Learn the small cross. Place the small cross first on your forehead, then on your lips, then on your breast. 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