The Sign of the Cross

Growing up in the Catholic religion, I have made the sign of the cross plenty of times. We make this gesture when opening and closing a prayer as well as when we walk into church for that is God's home. I was always taught that the sign of the cross meant that one was acknowledging the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one, but in reality the gesture has six meanings: a confession of faith; a renewal of baptism; a mark of discipleship; an acceptance of suffering; a defense against the devil; and a victory over self-indulgence.

When we make the sign of the sign of the cross, we are professing our belief in the Father, and in the Son and in the Holy Spirit. When we say the words and pray in someone's name we declare their presence, and if we declare their presence obviously we believe in them. The sign of the cross is a renewal of the sacrament of baptism because when we make it, we are implying that "I died with Christ and rose to new life." This gesture links us to the body of Christ, which also shows our discipleship to the Lord and Savior. The sign of the cross is remembering that Jesus became a man and suffered for us and that we participate in Christ's suffering. It says, "I am willing to embrace suffering to share in Christ's suffering." When we sign ourselves, we are declaring to the devil, "Hands off. I belong to Christ; he is my protection." Last of all, we make the sign of the cross when we are suffering with an issue. When one is suffering, the sign of the cross gives them comfort that they will overcome it.