The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/On the Sign of the Cross
On the Sign of the Cross
THERE is nothing which can more effectually assist you to recollect the presence of God, and remind you of the duty of consecrating all that you say or do to his honour and glory, than the frequent and devout use of the sign of the Cross. This sacred sign has always been used by the Church to signify, that all graces and spiritual assistance are derived from the cross and passion of Jesus Christ. When accompanied with corresponding sentiments, it is an excellent form of prayer, a fervent act of faith, of hope, and of charity, beside being a public and solemn profession of our belief in those mysteries of our religion, which we must all believe and profess in order to be saved; namely, the Unity and Trinity of God, the Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection of our Saviour.
The sign of the Cross should always be dear to you as the sign of a Christian, the badge of a Christian, and the glory of a Christian — as the distinctive mark of Christ’s true followers, — as a memorial of the sufferings of Christ on the Cross, and of your own deliverance from eternal death by and through those sufferings. To merit, by an application of this saving sign, the fruits of that Cross and Passion, which it represents, you should accustom yourself to make it devoutly, frequently, and openly. You should make it devoutly, that is, with gratitude for the blessings which you enjoy through that Passion, and with sincere sorrow for your sins. Remember that a precipitate, disrespectful, as it were half method of signing yourself with the sign of the Cross, is in reality to dishonour it, and to liken yourself to those who professedly deride and contemn it. Next, you should make the sign of the Cross frequently. This is inculcated by the example of the primitive Christians, who by this sacred sign, consecrated themselves to God, and implored his blessing in every action. It is also strongly recommended by all the great saints and fathers of the Church; among the rest by the devout St. Ephraim, who says, speaking on this subject: “ Cover thyself with the sign of the Cross, as with a shield, signing with it thy limbs and thy heart. Arm thyself with this sign at thy studies, and at all times, for it is the conqueror of death — the opener of the gates of paradise — the great guard of the Church. Fail not to carry this armour about with thee in every place, every day and night, every hour and moment. Whether thou art at work, or eatest, or drinkest, or travellest, or whatsoever else thou dost, sign and arm thyself with the saving sign of the Cross. Sign with it thy bed; and whatever thou usest, sign it at first with the sign of the Cross, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This is an invincible armour, and no one can hurt thee, if thou art armed with it.” Endeavour to reduce this strong admonition so fervently to practice, that your most devout and ordinary actions, the beginning and end of all your duties, may be the sign of the Cross; but be particularly exact in following the directions of your Catechism on this head, and never fail to make it with faith, devotion, and confidence, in all temptations and dangers, and before and after prayer.
Lastly, you should make the sign of the Cross openly, because it is by this sign that you show yourself a Christian, and prove that you do not blush at the Cross and humiliations of your God and crucified Saviour. "While others," says a pious author, “ boast of ribbons and stars, which are worn and gazed on because they are badges of worldly honour, conferred by the great ones of the earth, you should think it the greatest happiness, the greatest honour, to bear that holy ensign of the King of kings, which is expressive of his greatest mysteries.” Therefore, far from refraining from this sacred sign, which would point you out as a Christian to utter strangers in the furthest quarter of the globe, you should always make it openly and without hesitation. Remember, however, that you are to be guided in this most particularly by prudence, which should direct and accompany every action to make it virtuous. You cannot make the sign of the Cross too frequently, or too openly at present, nor perhaps in future, if you be in the bosom of a Catholic and pious family; because you will be sure of that sacred sign being duly reverenced; but there are occasions in which it would be more prudent to refrain from making the sign of the Cross outwardly, as often as you are now accustomed to make it. For example, to make the sign of the Cross when the clock strikes, as at home you are in the habit of doing, may perhaps expose that sacred sign, as likewise the cause of piety in general, to laughter and derision. Therefore, on that account, through respect for the sign of -the Cross, and not from any apprehension of drawing ridicule on yourself, you would do letter to confine yourself to that elevation of heart to God, and simple thought of the passion which should always accompany the outward sign of the Cross, to make it meritorious and salutary. Be careful, however, not to confound those occasions with others in which your not making the sign of the Cross may be taken, if not for a denial of your faith, at least for a wish to conceal it. Among those, you may, for example, consider the custom of blessing yourself before and after meals; because in all companies, though composed of different persuasions, Catholics are expected to make the sign of the Cross. Then, and on all such occasions, you should call to mind, that those who deny Jesus Christ before men, shall be denied by him before his Father (St. Matt. x. 88), and do not hesitate to show yourself a Catholic by making the sign of the Cross openly, devoutly, and with that generous, noble species of pride, which made St. Paul glory in this Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world was crucified to him, and he to the world.