SIGN OF THE CROSS

BASIC R.C. BELIEF

According to many theologians, the most important sacramental of the Roman

Catholic Church. One makes the sign with the right hand, touching in turn

the forehead, below the breast, the left and right shoulders while saying

"In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." For

blessing persons and objects, a sign of the Cross is made over the object

by movement of the right hand.

Roman Catholics are supposed to be reminded of the sufferings of Christ

by making the Sign of the Cross, which is a profession of faith.

No liturgical function is performed without the Sign of the Cross. It is

used 14 times in Baptism, 17 times in Extreme Unction, 12 times when

blessing Holy Water.

It is supposed to have originated in the 2nd century and is indulgenced.

A simple sign gives 100 days indulgence; when done with Holy Water, 300

days (The time value has now been removed).

CHRISTIAN COMMENT

The Sign of the Cross probably originated in ancient pagan worship; the

devotional symbol being T for Tammuz.

With most Roman Catholics it is an automatic reflex action that is not

devotional. It is used when a Roman Catholic is confronted with danger,

pain, sorrow or death.

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