BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Do not be shy in marking yourself with the Sign of the Cross.

As Catholics, making the Sign of the Cross should be second nature. Most of us learned it as children. When we pray, we always begin our prayer with that holy gesture. We do it so often, in fact, that we sometimes forget what it is we are doing. Despite its simplicity, the Sign of the Cross is rich in meaning. Each time we make the Sign of the Cross we renew our profession of faith; express our belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. We invoke the Holy Trinity. The Sign of the Cross is a Sacramental. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we ask God to sanctify us. Before we begin each day, start an activity, and before each meal, we elevate whatever we are doing and draw ourselves closer to God. The power and importance of making the Sign of the Cross in our daily life is a beautiful witness of our faith.

The Sign of the Cross is a blessing prayer. A priest will make the Sign of the Cross when blessing someone, or a group of people, such as, the congregation during Mass or other liturgical celebrations. And many parents bless their children with this ancient sign—and are encouraged to do so! Parents have the weighty task of bringing their children to God. Our Catechism explains how, “Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children.” (CCC 2225)

One simple way to bless your child is to use your thumb and make the Sign of the Cross on their forehead saying, “May God bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The Sign of the Cross is a weapon against the devil. St. Athanasius wrote that before the coming of Christ, demonic powers used to deceive the pagans into worshipping them and obeying their oracles. “But now,” he observed in the fourth century, “since the divine appearance of the Word (Christ), all this deception has come to an end. For by the Sign of the Cross, if a man will only use it, their deceptions are driven out.” Knowing this, it is appropriate to make the Sign of the Cross whenever we are feeling spiritually attacked.

The devil hates this sign, so we wield spiritual power when we use it. Unfortunately, this custom has fallen out of use, but it is a sure way to drive away fear and inspire courage. May we never forget the powerful prayer that is the Sign of the Cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn