The Sign of Grace [Sign of the Cross]

Catholic Exchange ^ | 07-05-04 | by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D

[Salvation]

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

The Sign of Grace

07/05/04

			To some, being Italian-American means overindulging in pasta and joking about tough guys. But being Italian means being heir to a rich tradition stretching back before the Caesars. Included are philosophers like Seneca, poets like Dante, artists such as Michelangelo, and saints like Francis of Assisi.

To some, being Catholic means giving up chocolate for Lent. But those who explore their Catholic heritage discover thousands of years of meaning, insight, and life-giving resources: inspiring stories about people from Abraham to Mother Teresa, practical instruction by some of the most brilliant thinkers of all time, tried and true spiritual practices that make people grow in character and happiness.

In John 10:10, Jesus said “I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” That recalls Isaiah who, speaking of God’s people, says: “Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent” (Is 66: 10-14). The Catholic Church is all about preserving and enjoying the whole, rich heritage of Christ. In fact, the word “Catholic” comes from the Greek word for “whole.” The problem is that some preserve outward practices of this heritage, like giving up something for Lent, but have lost the connection with the meaning and power of the practice.

Take for example the sign of the cross. For some it is just a mechanical part of “logging on” and “logging off” of our time “connected” to God via prayer. For others, it seems no more than a good luck charm to make superstitiously before stepping up to bat.

To see what it really means, we need to look where it comes from. In baptism, a cross is traced on the foreheads of the baptized. The same happens in confirmation, when it is done with sacred oil called “chrism.” As the cross is traced, the name of the triune God is pronounced, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

How far back in time does this practice go? Paul says “I bear the brand marks of Jesus in my body” (Gal 6:14-18). Notice that in the book of Revelation, those doomed to death have the mark of the beast on their foreheads while the 144,000 in white robes have been sealed with the name of God and the Lamb (Rv 7:3-4, 11:1). Sounds a lot like the sign of the cross, doesn’t it?

In the early Church, the sign of the cross was seen as the brand mark on the body of a Christian that indicated that he or she was now the property of a new master and under the protection of that master. The blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites protected them from the Angel of Death who “passed over” their homes. The sign of the cross on the Christian says “Hands off!” to the power of darkness. Note that Jesus says to His disciples “I have given you power to tread on snakes and scorpions and all the forces of the enemy, and nothing shall ever injure you” (Lk 10:19). The sign of the cross is the sign of this power.

But this sign means even more than belonging to the triune God. It indicates how and why we’ve come to belong to God and to be entitled to His protection. It means that for my standing with God, I do not trust in the good deeds that I’ve done or the “good person” that I am. Rather, I stake my claim to heaven on what Jesus did for me on Calvary. It means that I am saved by a pure gift of His love, by grace. “May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Gal 6:14).

Each time I make this sign, it is a renewal of my “decision for Christ,” my intimate relationship of love with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which comes as a pure gift of God’s decision for me, to give me grace through faith, baptism and confirmation. In this simple little sign is contained the very essence of the gospel.

The good news is that everything in the Catholic heritage is like this — full of rich meaning that we’ve forgotten. But we can recover the meaning and reactivate the power. Let’s get busy exploring and unpacking the amazing Catholic tradition!


Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He appears weekly on radio and TV reaching six continents and his books, tapes, videos, and CDs are internationally distributed. Information on his free resources, talks, CDs, videos and books is available on his website, www.dritaly.com.

For a copy of Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s book or CD Getting More out of the Mass, visit www.crossroadsinitiative.com.

(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and is used by permission of the author.)

[Jaded]

Here goes.

Last Friday I went to my 91 year old Grandmother's funeral. It was a High Mass in a church that was about 55 years old. They were one of the founding families. My grandmother and grandfather donated a mosaic of the Holy Mother. My grandparents were also part of the Altar and Rosary Society. My dad and uncle were 2 of the original 4 Altar Boys.

Anyway, I left the Mass feeling WHOLE. Okay with the whole thing. I wish I could adequately explain the feeling of comfort being in the Church at that time. Being part of the spoken prayers. Taking communion beside my Grandmother's casket covered with the while Cloth. (Don't know the name of it). I love the smell of incense, the feeling that you are part of something Sacred.

I know that some will dismiss it as "emotion" but the feeling of being part of something more was overwhelming. Being part of the Promise of Christ.

The only down side was my younger half brother who has probably never been in a Catholic Church in his life went to Communion because everyone else did. I asked him about it later and he said "I'm Catholic on one side and Christian on the other." I pointed out that being Catholic was being Christian. He just said "whatever".

[Dominick]

When I am in a restaurant I make the Sign of the Cross, pray the grace before meals, make another Sign of the Cross and then eat.

Some eyebrows are raised, but I really don't care.

Those are eyebrows that need a little raising.If you were a man coming in with womens clothing on, they wouldn't raise those infamous eyebrows.

[Desdemona]

That is a combination of a diminished sense of reverence in general, and a loss of faith in the very real and total presense of Christ in the tabernacle.

And the simple fact that no one ever told us we were supposed to do it.

[Salvation]

That feeling of belonging is one of the reasons all of us are drawn to the Catholic Church.

One
Holy
Catholic
Apostolic

It sounds as though the service was beautiful and holy. God bless you in your grief.

[tiki]

Darn, I was told the significance of the thumb kissing but it slips my mind at this moment.

[B Knotts]

I don't have this book, but heard the author on Catholic Answers Live, and he seemed very knowledgeable:

The Sign of the Cross, by Bert Ghezzi

[Dominick]

Darn, I was told the significance of the thumb kissing but it slips my mind at this moment.

You make a cross with your thumb and forefinger. I usually touch my shirt where my scapular is, sometimes I have to hunt for it, in the hot summertime. There are a lot of regional drift to the Sign of the Cross, among different nations.

[Salvation]

**You make a cross with your thumb and forefinger**

This makes sense to me.

[NYer]

I've never heard of this!

The Maronite Church is the only one among the Eastern Churches that has always maintained its bonds with Rome and the Successor of St. Peter. In fact, in 517, as controversy continued to rage over the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451) regarding Christ as “true God and true Man,” persecution of the Maronites broke out which resulted in the martyrdom of 350 Maronite monks on account of their defense of the Council’s decrees.

Here is something else you have probably never heard.

The Divine Liturgy of the Mass traces its roots to Antioch, where “the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26). St. Peter fled to Antioch when a persecution broke out in Jerusalem, resulting in the martyrdom of St. James (cf. Acts 12). According to tradition, St. Peter founded the Church at Antioch and became its first bishop (cf. Eusebius, History of the Church, III, 36). The early Maronites were the direct descendants of the people who received their faith from the Apostle Peter.

Shortly after the time of the Apostles, while abiding by our Lord’s command, “Do this in memory of me,” a liturgy developed in Antioch which exists today in the Maronite rite. The overall characteristic of this liturgical tradition is a strong Trinitarian expression, coupled with emphasis on Jesus Christ as true God and true Man. The Maronite liturgy also retains certain aspects of the ancient liturgy of the Old Testament. For example, at the Consecration, the priest tips the chalice in the four directions of the compass to symbolize the shedding of Christ’s blood for the entire universe, which recalls the practice of sprinkling the four corners of the altar with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. From this ancient and rich spirituality, which cultivates a living spirit of adoration for the Eucharist, many saints have been raised up from among the Maronites.

[.45MAN]

ping

[Aquinasfan]

Bump!

[Dancing Jane]

"And when is it appropriate to make the sign of the cross?"

We also make the sign of the cross when tempted to sin.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Could any of you tell me what the Communion protocol is for non-Catholics attending a Catholic church?

I'm not sure what we're supposed to do to let the priest know that we aren't taking it.

[Dancing Jane]

Just do not walk up for communion. Get up to let the others out of the pew, but then sit back down.

If you feel you absolutely must walk up with the others to the front of the church, you can cross/fold your arms across your chest and the priest should just give you a blessing. This is what some Catholics do when we are not in the state or grace necessary to receive. However, in some areas, the signal for not receiving is putting your right hand on your shoulder (or so I have heard). As it varies from place to place and I do not see it done very often, I just remain in my pew when not receiving so as to avoid confusion.

Also, I don't walk up to receive a blessing because I may wind up in front of an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and it is not proper for them to bless others.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Thank you. I wasn't sure what to do and wanted to save us possible embarrassment.

[NYer]

That evangelical church couldn't survive the egos and conflicts present in every human situation because it was just the one congregation. No, "sign of the cross" no tradition to sustain them, no hierachy and no history to connect them. Some returned to their old churches, some lost their faith, some started new churches, which have petered out and some still "church hop". There were no roots to sustain them.

What an astute and beautiful testimony to time honored, solid, tradition! Thank you for posting this.

[Salvation]

You can go forward for a blessing if you wish or remain in the pew. When going up in the Communion line, simply cross your arms over your chest touching each should with the opposite hand and you will receive a blessing from the priest.

[Salvation]

**Also, I don't walk up to receive a blessing because I may wind up in front of an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and it is not proper for them to bless others.**

This is new to me; care to clarify your statement?

[Dancing Jane]

A priest will make the sign of the Cross in the air in front of the person who is not receiving the Eucharist as a blessing. When lay people are acting as ministers of the Eucharist, they should not do this. However, sometimes they do not realize this, and they will make the sing of the Cross in the manner of the priest. Unfortunately, this mistake happens rather frequently.

I apologize because I also made a mistake in my last post. Lay people may bless others, as parents often do for their children, but just not by making the sign of the cross in the air. There's egg on my face!