Replies

certainly not making the sign of the Cross, genuflecting, or other meaningless actions.

Grrrrr... This priest is so far out of line here. He could learn a few things if he read about the saints. Like this one:

Extract from the Jesuit Relations, ca. 1646

"...Father Jogues blessed the food and himself with the Sign of the Cross. 'Stop that', the old [Iroquois] chief snapped at him. 'That gesture is no good. The Dutchmen have told us of it....They hate these ceremonies of yours, and we hate them also. It is the making of that sign which caused the death of your comrade [St. Rene Goupil]; and it will be the cause of your death if you continue to form it among us.'

'That doesn't make any difference to me,' Jogues answered. 'I shall continue to form this Sign of the Cross, since the Author of our lives commands it. Let the people do whatever they please about it.'

I chose the advice of a Saint and Martyr over this priest's, personally.