The sign of the cross is a ritualistic hand gesture made by many Christians to affirm their faith and bless themselves. It is often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of Trinitarian formulae. This ritual has roots back to early Christianity and continues to be widely practiced today across various Christian denominations.
The most common method of making the sign of the cross today involves using the right hand to touch the forehead, then the middle of the chest, then the left shoulder, and finally the right shoulder. While doing so, a person will say “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, or simply “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. This invocation refers to the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
Some Christians make the sign of the cross in a slightly different manner, going left shoulder to right, rather than right to left. This method is more common among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians. The emphasis, however, is less about the exact motion and more about reflecting on the meaning behind the ritual.
The sign of the cross is used during prayers, blessings, consecrations, and exorcisms by clergy. Laity also use it at the start and end of private prayer, when passing a church, during Communion, and at times of day such as waking up or going to bed. It is also commonly made by Catholics when passing by a crucifix or entering/exiting a church building.
This act is meant to manifest one’s faithfulness and thankfulness towards Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary. The horizontal movement represents Christ’s outstretched arms on the cross, while the vertical movement represents the plank of the cross. Together, these represent the key event in Christ’s Passion that made salvation possible for humanity.
Making the sign of the cross spiritually unites the person with Jesus Christ. It also invokes God’s blessing and commemorates Christ’s death and resurrection. The ritual reminds Christians of their commitment to take up the cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). Overall, its various meanings involve profession of faith, invocation of divine grace, and remembrance of redemption through Christ’s crucifixion.
Scriptural Basis
The sign of the cross has biblical foundations, besides just being part of long-standing church tradition. Here are some relevant passages:
Ezekiel 9:4 – “And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” This “mark” was interpreted by early Christians as a precursor to the sign of the cross.
Revelation 7:3 – “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Again, this sealing on the forehead is seen by some as foreshadowing the cross.”
Galatians 6:14 – “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Making the sign affirms one’s boasting in the cross of Christ.
Overall, while the sign of the cross is not explicitly commanded in Scripture, many Christians believe it reflects biblical truths about the crucifixion, Trinity, Christ’s victory over sin, and our identity in Christ.
Historical Development
There is evidence that early Christians made the sign of the cross way back in the 1st century AD. The Epistle of Barnabas from that time period states:
“We enter into eternal life through His blood and into freedom through His stripes. And so we go up to joy unending with the Lord who paid for us. Then he says, ‘sign yourselves with the sign of the cross for a brow of everlasting freedom.'”(Epistle of Barnabas 11:8-12:6)
Tertullian, another early church father writing around AD 200, said: “At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.” (De cor. 3)
There are also references to the sign of the cross from the writings of Cyprian of Carthage, Lactantius, Augustine of Hippo and others indicating it was widely practiced quite early on.
By the early 4th century, after Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, accounts show Christians freely making the sign in public for the first time. It quickly became quite ubiquitous.
Initially, the sign of the cross involved using just thumb or index finger to mark the forehead. Over subsequent centuries, the ritual become more elaborate, involving touching shoulders and chest in addition to the forehead.
By the Middle Ages, the standard five-point movement developed, and remains normative in the West. The expanded ritual is meant to reinforce understanding and focus during prayer or sacraments.
While used for multiple purposes, making the sign of the cross has been part of Christian identity since the very beginning. It remains an integral part of Christian worship to this day.
Purposes and Meanings
The sign of the cross serves many purposes for those who perform the ritual. People make the sign of the cross for various reasons, including:
- Professing faith and obedience to Christ
- Invoking divine grace and assistance
- Spiritual blessing of oneself or others
- Consecration and/or transformation of objects
- Commemorating Christ’s crucifixion
- Affirming belief in Trinity
- Marking the beginning/end of prayer
- Starting any task or journeying in Christ’s name
- Demonstrating reverence for sacred spaces/objects
- Protecting against evil influences
Some specific examples help illustrate the multifaceted meanings:
- Baptism – The priest makes the sign of the cross over the baptized person, signifying their redemption and new life in Christ.
- Confession – The priest makes the sign over the penitent, conferring God’s forgiveness after confession.
- Blessings – A bishop blesses an object or person through the sign to set apart for sacred purpose.
- Consecrations – The sign of the cross spiritually prepares bread/wine for transubstantiation during Communion.
- Exorcism – The cross casts out demonic spirits and breaks their influence over places/persons.
- Intercession – Making the sign over a sick or dying person invokes God’s aid and comfort.
- Self-blessing – Christians cross themselves privately to invoke protection, grace, or preparation for prayer.
These examples demonstrate how intricately bound the sign is to core Christian theology about redemption, Trinity, incarnation, forgiveness, and power over evil. It is much more than just habitual ritual or superstition.
Common Usage and Significance
While used since early church times, making the sign of the cross today remains most common among liturgical Christian groups like Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and some Methodists. It is less prevalent among most low-church Protestant groups.
However, many evangelical and non-denominational Christians also occasionally make the sign during prayer or other focused faith-filled moments in personal devotion.
Here are some details on how it is incorporated within different traditions:
- Catholicism – Highly emphasized ritual. Catholics cross themselves upon entering/leaving church, starting/ending prayer, and key points during Mass or sacraments.
- Eastern Orthodoxy – Very frequent practice, considered important for spiritual concentration and protection. Used similarly to Catholicism.
- Oriental Orthodoxy – Also widely used among churches like Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian Orthodox. Slightly different order of shoulder signing.
- Anglicanism/Methodism – Clergy and devout laity often incorporate crossing at key liturgical moments. Less frequent outside of church services.
- Lutheranism – Common among high-church Lutherans, especially during baptisms, funerals, Benedictions, and exorcisms. Less used by laypeople.
- Reformed/Baptist – Rare, seen as unbiblical ritual. Some Reformed use sparingly during Trinitarian blessings or adult baptisms.
The prevalence of the sign of the cross corresponds generally to how “high church” or liturgical a Christian tradition is. It is an iconic part of Catholic/Orthodox spirituality and identity. Protestants use it selectively, more privately, or not at all.
However, many evangelical-background Christians are rediscovering practices like the sign of the cross to add physical symbolism, solemnity, and depth to prayer. As modern worship becomes more embodied and experiential, such rituals are regaining some favor across denominations.
How to Perform It
For those interested to try making the sign of the cross as part of their spiritual walk, here are step-by-step instructions:
- Touch the fingertips of your right hand to your forehead and say, “In the name of the Father”
- Touch your fingertips to the middle of your chest and say, “and of the Son”
- Touch your fingertips to your left shoulder and say, “and of the Holy”
- Touch your fingertips to your right shoulder and say, “Spirit, Amen.”
Some tips to remember:
- Use your right hand, but if necessary the left can substitute.
- Touch forehead, chest, left then right shoulder – though Orthodox reverse the shoulders.
- Recite the Trinitarian formula – “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” – aloud or silently.
- Let the ritual focus your mind on the meaning and mysteries of the Trinity.
- Perform reverently but naturally. Avoid being ostentatious.
Start slow and practice. Allow the sign of the cross prayerfully and meaningfully unite your body, mind, and spirit with our crucified and risen Lord.
Objections and Concerns
While widely used, making the sign of the cross has also attracted criticism over the centuries, even being rejected by most Protestant reformers. Here are some common objections:
- It’s not explicitly commanded in the Bible.
- It could devolve into empty ritualism devoid of meaning.
- It feels too Roman Catholic or high church.
- It seems superstitious, mystical, even pagan-like.
- The ritual distracts from focus on Christ.
- It adds human traditions and ceremony not in Scripture.
In response, defenders of the sign note that:
- It has scriptural antecedents and develops key doctrines like the Trinity, Christ’s Passion, overcoming evil, etc.
- When done prayerfully, it deepens understanding and experience of Christ.
- It unites physical action with spiritual focus like Christ putting mud on the blind man’s eyes (John 9:6).
- As a sacramental, the ritual prepares one for encountering Christ in Word and Sacrament.
- All ritual risks emptiness, but it can also richly embody abstract theology.
As with all matters of Christian freedom, one should follow their conscience. Used meaningfully, it can enrich spiritual life; done recklessly, it risks vain religiosity. Discernment is required.
Conclusion
The sign of the cross has been used by Christians since at least the 2nd century. This ritual involves touching one’s forehead, chest, and shoulders (left then right) while reciting a Trinitarian formula. Though not commanded outright in Scripture, it develops scriptural themes. When performed prayerfully, it serves as a spiritual blessing, aid, confession of faith, commemoration of redemption, and invocation of Christ’s presence through the Holy Spirit. Both the words and gestures remind believers of God’s grace revealed through the crucified Jesus. The sign of the cross unites theology, tradition, and embodied practice to allow one’s whole self to worship the Lord.
