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Sign of the Cross
This ancient Christian gesture traces the cross on oneself, on objects, or other people. Depending on the context, the gesture may express personal Christian devotion or identity, blessing, absolution, exorcism, consecration to holy use, or the conclusion of something done to the honor of God. The sign of the cross may be traced with a hand, as when the sign of the cross is made over an object or when one signs the cross on oneself from forehead to lower chest and from shoulder to shoulder. In the Christian west, this gesture customarily moves from the left shoulder to the right shoulder, while in the Christian east this gesture moves from right to left. Signing of the forehead alone, or of the forehead, lips, and heart at the gospel in the eucharist, is customarily done with the thumb. The sign of the cross is a customary gesture in a variety of liturgical contexts. For example, it may be used at the beginning or ending of one of the Daily Offices, at the reading of the gospel in the eucharist, or at the absolution following the confession in the eucharist. The BCP directs that the celebrant at baptism will make the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate for baptism (using chrism if desired), saying "You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever" (BCP, p. 308). In the form for Ministration to the Sick, the BCP directs that if the sick person is to be anointed, the priest dips a thumb in the holy oil and makes the sign of the cross on the sick person's forehead (BCP, p. 456). The BOS provides that at the admission of catechumens, each catechumen is presented by name to the celebrant who marks a cross on the forehead of each with a thumb, saying, "Receive the sign of the Cross on your forehead and in your heart, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Although use of the sign of the cross is widespread throughout the Episcopal Church by celebrants, officiants, and parishioners, its use is typically a matter of custom and personal piety. The BCP does not require the gesture to be made by members of the congregation at any time.
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Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from "An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians," Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors. |
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