“I claim you for Christ by the sign of his cross.” These words from the Rite of Baptism, spoken as the priest traces a cross on the infant’s forehead, perfectly communicate the significance of that simple, familiar action. In signing the cross, we claim ourselves again and again for Christ, unite ourselves with His sacrifice on Calvary, and confess his victory over death.

Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times, as evidenced by writings from Tertullian, Hippolytus and St. Cyprian. The ritual action is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

In the Latin rite, it is made either with a movement of the full hand from one’s forehead, breast and shoulders (going right to left) or with the thumb tracing the cross on the forehead, lips and breast.

©LPi