Making the Sign of the Cross

By Rev. Rebecca

This is a very ancient practice going back to the earliest Christians. Hippolytus speaks of making the sign of the cross as a regular habit of faithful Christians around 220. It was developed as a reminder and symbol of the power of the cross of Jesus Christ from top (forehead) to center (chest) to left (shoulder) to right (shoulder). It is used as a form of blessing and is sometimes used at the mention of death or the deceased to remind us that death is not the final word and that it has been triumphed over by the cross and the resurrection. We also make “mini” crosses at the reading of the Gospel on our foreheads “God be in my mind,” on our lips “God be in my words,” and on our hearts “God be in my heart.” Making the sign of the cross is merely an optional outward symbol and reminder of the reality of the power of the cross in faith, and is not an act of magic or superstition.