Vestiges of this early variant of the practice remain: in the Roman Rite of the Mass in the Catholic Church, the celebrant makes this gesture on the Gospel book and—together with the congregation—on his forehead, lips, and on his heart at the proclamation of the Gospel (known as the lesser sign of the cross); [5] on Ash Wednesday a cross is ...

To perform the sign of the cross, one typically uses the right hand. The gesture involves touching four points on the body, symbolizing the Holy Trinity and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Here is a step-by-step guide on how it is commonly done:

Mar 14, 2014 · In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer:

Jan 28, 2018 · When you enter a church there is the custom of making what we call the sign of the cross on yourself. This is the first sign entrusted to the believer and is also one of the oldest in the Christian faith.

Feb 15, 2012 · The most basic Christian gesture in prayer is and always will be the Sign of the Cross. It is a way of confessing Christ crucified with one’s very body, in accordance with the programmatic words of Saint Paul: “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks ...

Feb 15, 2010 · When the priest announces the Gospel, trace a cross with the thumb on head, lips and heart. This gesture is a form of prayer for the presence of the Word of God in one’s mind, upon one’s lips, and in one’s heart. Sit for the homily.

Dec 10, 2024 · A simple yet profound gesture, the Sign of the Cross encapsulates centuries of Christian tradition and belief. This ritual, performed by millions worldwide, serves as a physical manifestation of faith, interweaving personal devotion with communal identity.

The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of the cross of salvation while invoking the Holy Trinity. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance.

As one of the most fundamental and enduring practices in the Catholic Church, the Sign of the Cross is a prayer in motion--a simple yet profound gesture that invites the faithful to live in the presence of God, to trust in His protection, and to follow Christ with courage and conviction.

This sign is used at the reading of the Gospel during the liturgy. It’s meant to signify the sanctification of our thoughts, speech, and affections for God. Often a cross is signed upon the forehead during anointing or laying on of hands, usually with the thumb.