CathInfo.com

I recently read the following in a little book (translated from the French in 1873), The Sign of the Cross in the Nineteenth Century by Mgr. Jean-Joseph Gaume: "The present world does not make the Sign of the Cross, or makes it seldom, or makes it badly.  The Primitive Christians made it, they made it frequently, they made it well.  We are right and they were wrong, or we are wrong and they were right.  Which is it?"

The entire book is a lengthy, but continually hard hitting and inspiring apologia of and exhortation for making the Sign of the Cross (an ancient prayer in itself) and making it with real reverence and devotion.  (My later edition of the book includes, among other things, a brief by Pius IX on the Sign of the Cross which grants a a 50 days indulgence to "all and every one of the faithful of both sexes, every time that , at least, contrite in heart, and adding the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, they make the sign of the cross."  The pope goes on to state that the indulgence is granted in perpetuity, "notwithstanding all things to the contrary."

I have long been amazed at how fast and often seemingly nonchalantly some, if not even many, of even our trad clerics can often tend to be in the making of the cross.  Ah, how hard it can be this matter of human respect!  Such a simple thing, but so nice if someone else would do it!  That is -- going up to the cleric in question and talking about this issue!

If there is one thing we should NOT be ashamed of, it is making the sign of our faith (and making it well), the Sign of the Cross. (cf. Luke 9:26)

Reminds me of my mother.  When my father died, she remarried, a divorcee and he became catholic through RICA.   Well, our family went to visit my mother for her 70th birthday.  When dinner time came/prayer she put her hands out for us to hold hands for prayer.

So, I called my children in for a "Come to Jesus meeting".  I told them, whenever we have prayer together it is the "Sign of the Cross" and fold hands.  Don't worry, Grandma knows better, we will remind her.

So, when meal time came, as soon as my mom put out her hands, our family did the Sign of the Cross and folded our hands.  My mom could say nothing, she knew better!

I recently read the following in a little book (translated from the French in 1873), The Sign of the Cross in the Nineteenth Century by Mgr. Jean-Joseph Gaume: "The present world does not make the Sign of the Cross, or makes it seldom, or makes it badly.  The Primitive Christians made it, they made it frequently, they made it well.  We are right and they were wrong, or we are wrong and they were right.  Which is it?"

The entire book is a lengthy, but continually hard hitting and inspiring apologia of and exhortation for making the Sign of the Cross (an ancient prayer in itself) and making it with real reverence and devotion.  (My later edition of the book includes, among other things, a brief by Pius IX on the Sign of the Cross which grants a a 50 days indulgence to "all and every one of the faithful of both sexes, every time that , at least, contrite in heart, and adding the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, they make the sign of the cross."  The pope goes on to state that the indulgence is granted in perpetuity, "notwithstanding all things to the contrary."

I have long been amazed at how fast and often seemingly nonchalantly some, if not even many, of even our trad clerics can often tend to be in the making of the cross.  Ah, how hard it can be this matter of human respect!  Such a simple thing, but so nice if someone else would do it!  That is -- going up to the cleric in question and talking about this issue!

If there is one thing we should NOT be ashamed of, it is making the sign of our faith (and making it well), the Sign of the Cross. (cf. Luke 9:26)

Excellent apology for the Holy Sign of the Cross, which honors the Holy Triune Godhead, the Holy Trinity. Thank you very much.

In an article I read a couple of years ago, the priest said that those who make the Sign of the Cross irreverently and with great distraction, are condemning themselves. The devil delights in this misbehavior, which is a sin. The Sign of the Cross said irreverently becomes a distraction to others too or is seen by non-Catholics as a mere fly swatting.

On the contrary, a properly and devoutly made Sign of the Cross drives away the devil and sanctifies us.