16
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Before the Gospel is read, a Catholic makes signs of the cross, with the thumb, on his or her
forehead,
mouth, and
heart,
which represents that the Catholic must
understand the Gospel,
proclaim it, ...
- 37.8k
11
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Why do Catholics sign themselves three (3) times just before the Gospel is read?
To understand the significance of this tradition, let us take a look into its origins.
Concerning the making the ...
- 65.3k
10
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Contrary to what you say about missals, the rubrics in my missal (The CTS New Daily Missal) say that before the reading of the gospel, "He [the deacon/priest] makes the Sign of the Cross on the book ...
- 201
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a 'correct' pattern for Anglicans and/or Roman Catholics when crossing yourself?
For Catholics, it's using the right hand, forehead-chest-left shoulder-right shoulder.
The Sign of the Cross (from the Fountain of Catholic Knowledge,
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC PUBLICATIONS, Imprimatur,...
- 6,707
8
votes
Accepted
Why did this Early Version of the Watchtower Magazine include Crosses, and what do these other Symbols on the Magazine Represent?
The Jehovahs Witness teaching of the symbol of the cross was changed about the 1930's by Joseph Rutherford.
Prior to this they accepted the cross that is widely accepted in Christendom today.
So the ...
- 100
7
votes
Is it appropriate (as a Catholic) to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Is it appropriate for a Catholic to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Of course it is!
It is also a tradition for some ...
- 65.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Biblical Prophecy about Sign of the Cross?
Thre is no Biblical prophecy about a sign of the cross appearing in the sky. However, some have interpreted Matthew 24:30 to be that sign.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in ...
- 3,744
5
votes
Why did this frustrated person make the sign of the cross in front of me?
The sign of the cross is a sacramental (a sacred sign instituted by the Church, not one of the seven sacraments, but still a way to bring one's focus onto holy things, to become more prayerful in the ...
- 710
5
votes
Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically?
The reason a Catholic does physical acts of devotion, and not simply mental ones, is because he is composed of a body and a soul. Bodily acts affect one's soul.
St. Thomas Aquinas writes in Summa ...
- 37.8k
5
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Having been a lifelong Catholic, I have only picked this up through seeing other people do it. That being said, I have always seen it as being symbolic of keeping the Gospel in my mind, on my lips, ...
- 489
4
votes
Accepted
What Prayer/words are associated with the solemn sign of the cross?
Growing up, I was taught that it was tradition to silently say while making the Threefold Sign of the Cross just before the gospel is read with these words: "May the words of the Gospel be on my mind, ...
- 65.3k
4
votes
Accepted
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
It is in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal Number 134:
At the ambo, the Priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, The Lord be with you, to which the people reply, And with your ...
- 56
4
votes
Why do Catholics make the sign of the cross at the Eucharist?
Why do Catholics make the sign of the cross at the Eucharist?
It is an act of Catholic piety!
Before going on into the main body of my answer, I would like to point out that in the Extraordinary ...
- 65.3k
4
votes
Is it appropriate (as a Catholic) to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Of course Eastern Orthodox church, like Russian, or Greek, have the tabernacles of Eucharist gifts in their churches. Orthodox christians called it as kibot (ru: Кивот, gr: κῑβωτός). It is always ...
- 531
4
votes
How do I know when to cross myself during Mass (Novus Ordo)?
How do I know when to cross myself during the Mass of Pope Paul VI (Novus Ordo)?
To start with, prior to Mass, we bless ourselves with Holy Water at the entrance of the church by dipping our fingers ...
- 65.3k
3
votes
Accepted
Why Don't Protestants Cross Themselves?
Given the reformers emphasis on sola scriptura, this particular practice is not found in Scripture and was seen as idolatry by some reformers. Because Protestantism is rooted in the reformation, there ...
- 1,196
3
votes
Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically?
Why do we have to make the Sign of the Cross physically?
There are several reasons why we make the sign of the cross physically.
Man is composed of a soul and a body. As such the body is united in ...
- 65.3k
3
votes
Is it appropriate (as a Catholic) to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Although the Orthodox are, in the traditional Catholic view, schismatic, they do have valid priestly orders, which means they are able to validly consecrate the Eucharist, so I don't see what would be ...
- 37.8k
2
votes
Biblical Prophecy about Sign of the Cross?
Is there any Biblical prophecy mentioning that there will be a sign of the cross put in the sky? Either in the Old Testament or the New Testament?
The closest we can find to such a possible statement ...
- 65.3k
1
vote
Was the full Sign of the Cross prevalent in entire Catholic Church?
From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
The manual act of tracing the cross with the hand or the thumb has at all periods been quite commonly, though not indispensably, accompanied by a form of words. The ...
- 4,591
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