Father Orione often recommended: “Make the Sign of the Cross, and decide as God inspires you.” He also said: “Make the Sign of the Cross and move forward, with your eyes open, of course, but move forward with faith.”
The Sign of the Cross is the identifying sign of us Christians. It is a sacramental, that is, a sign of sanctification adopted and recommended by the Church. Let’s learn more.
The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in God
We can consider the Sign of the Cross a shortened form of the Apostles’ Creed. Touching the forehead, chest, and shoulders, we declare our faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is a renewal of Baptism
In the first century, Christians began making the Sign of the Cross as a memorial and renewal of what happened at their Baptism. It is still the same for us today. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we declare that in Baptism we sacramentally died with Jesus on the cross and entered into a new life with him.
We belong only to Jesus
When we make the Sign of the Cross, we are affirming that we do not belong to ourselves but belong only to Jesus.
It is the triumphant sign of Christ’s victory over demons
Saint Thomas says that the Sign of the Cross is the triumphant sign of Christ’s victory over demons. And the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “the Sign of the Cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties” (CCC 2157).
The Church Fathers then teach us that the Sign of the Cross has defeated powerful temptations such as anger and lust.
When the Virgin appeared to Bernadette for the first time, she instinctively wanted to make the Sign of the Cross, but emotion held her back and her hand was trembling; the beautiful Lady then made the Sign of the Cross, and Bernadette stopped trembling, receiving from her the strength to do it herself.
We read in the life of Saint Bernadette that from then on, simply watching her make the Sign of the Cross was enough to feel immediately uplifted to the realities of heaven.
How wonderful it would be if we too could evangelize in this way—if nonbelievers or lukewarm Christians, seeing us make the Sign of the Cross, were to have the same experience as those who watched Bernadette. Had you ever reflected on the power of the Sign of the Cross? Write it in the comments.
