I Confess My Faith with The Sign of The Cross
The celebrant begins the great mystery of our faith, that is the Holy Mass, at the altar of Christ. Because the entire Sacrifice of Christ will be present on the altar, and the altar itself symbolizes the person of Christ, the celebrant is obliged to express the honor due to the altar. He does this by bowing and kissing the altar, and sometimes also with incense. He always does this on behalf of the whole assembly. The celebrant usually goes straight to the chair (in front of the altar). Together with the entire congregation, he makes the sign of the cross, simultaneously speaking the words: In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The sign of the cross is associated only with Christianity (crosses on the chain we wear around the neck are a profession of faith and admission to it). This sign obviously refers to the crucified Christ. It is a sign of salvation, redemption, eternal destiny of man, and above all a sign of God's love for man. The sign of the cross is therefore the first prayer of those present at the Mass Liturgy, including gesture and verbal formula. Making the sign of the cross on us, we touch our forehead, heart and shoulders, embracing by the cross our entire being and action.
At the very beginning of the Mass we receive a hint that liturgy dos not "like" silent, passive observers / participants. If someone leaves before the final blessing or the end of the Holy Mas, they "do not feel" it, because they did not join in its course and action, did not focus on the Eucharist and did not try to understand the words conveyed in the liturgy.
When we make the sign of the cross on ourselves, we say the formula we mentioned before: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This formula reminds us of the important truth that the Eucharistic liturgy is a sacrifice offered to God the Father by Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. Calling on the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Mass liturgy reminds us that we have been baptized in the name of the Three Divine Persons and only because we are baptized can we participate in the Holy Mass. We make the sign of the cross in a standing position. Many biblical texts explain to us that this attitude is a sign of respect, self-control, vigilance, readiness, but also symbolizes upright and straightforward person.
The celebrant then greets those present using one of several formulas to choose from. These are all taken from the Bible, from the New Testament. These all have a joyful character and are a friendly call to the community to prayer and unity with God.
The most commonly used salutation comes from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:13):" The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.”
In the greeting "The Lord be with you" we recognize the promise of Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation ("Lord with You"). All the initial greetings by the celebrant contain one fundamental message: they declare the presence of Christ himself among us, and the spread hands of the priest, accompanying the words of greeting, want to embrace everyone present at the Eucharist. "The Lord be with you" ... are we also with the Lord? Do we understand what Jesus says to us during the Holy Mass and do we use it in everyday life?
How to correctly make the Sign of the Cross
There are those among us who are too shy when making the sign of the cross: they make it in the upper part of the breast, while barely noticeable. It is worth remembering that about the people who are ashamed of professing their faith Jesus said: " Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels”.
(Mk 8:38).
Many people make the sign of the cross nervously and carelessly. Such neglect expresses a lack of respect for God. About people who boldly wave their hands in the air, Saint John Chrysostom said that their actions are enjoyed by demons. On the contrary, when the sign of the cross is done slowly, with respect, it frightens the unclean spirits and attracts God's grace. Therefore, the sign of the cross should be done with humility, awareness of the sacred and great cause, with living faith in the Crucified One and hope for His mercy.
There is a large and small sign of the cross.
The large sign of the cross in the Catholic Church and in the Evangelical Lutheran churches is made with five fingers of an open hand in memory of the five wounds on the body of Christ. Drawing a vertical line from the forehead (saying the words "in the name of the Father") to the heart ("and of the Son"), and then a horizontal line from the left to the right shoulder ("and of the Holy Spirit").
By making the Cross on ourselves, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and express our readiness to take our cross and follow the Lord.
The small Sign of the Cross consists in making on the body (usually with the thumb of the right hand) three crosses: on the head, mouth and heart. It expresses our readiness to understand, proclaim and live the Word of God in our lives.
This sign is performed during Holy Mass at the beginning of the Gospel proclamation.
By marking ourselves with the sign of the cross, the opportunity to do great things are given to us. The sign of the cross gives the soul strength and wisdom, the power to overcome evil and do good. Let us remember this!
Until Tomorrow
fr. george