The Sign of the Cross

Fr. Jim Stehly visited with our young adult group tonight and led a very rousing and moving discussion on the Sign of the Cross. It's something we so easily take for granted, but I think most of us would be wise to spend some time reflecting on the awesome mystery made present by this simple gesture, which is a prayer of extraordinary power all in its own, as it recalls the immensity and profundity of God's love for each and every one of us evident in His suffering and death; a love made manifest through that instrument of torture and execution, the Cross -- this is the symbol we trace on our bodies. This is the symbol we carry with us, in our liturgy, and in our lives.

From the earliest generations of Christians, the Cross was appropriated as a sign of triumph and as a powerful reminder. In tracing the development of the practice of the Sign of the Cross in prayer, Fr. Jim referred to one of my favorite early saints, St. Cyril of Jerusalem (3rd century), who in his volume of Catechetical Lectures wrote:

Lecture XIII, 36.

Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow, and on everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we rise up; when we are in the way, and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the sake of the poor; without toil, for the sick; since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of devils: for He "triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly" (Col. 2:15); for when they see the Cross they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, "who bruised the heads of the dragon" (Psalm 74:13). Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the gift; out for this rather honour thy Benefactor.

And so what have we done, we who are here centuries after St. Cyril's generation, with this simple gesture? We have the Cross, as the earliest Christians had it, but we also have inherited a wealth of theological reflection and Christian practice. If only we could remember the inestimable value of the treasure we have, folks. Even with the simplicity of making the Sign of the Cross. The next time we make the Sign of the Cross, whether it be at mass or in private prayer, let us not see in it a meaningless gesture. Rather, grab hold of it and allow God to draw you into His depths and let Him reveal His love for you, the love of a God who loved us so much, He suffered and died to set us free.

In talking with Fr. Jim afterward, I came to find out that he has a presence in some of the comment boxes around St. Blog's; If you're reading this, thank you for visiting with us!

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti