The sign of the Cross: its power, its benefits, a sacrament for each moment

Simple to do, it defends us from evil, protects us against the attacks of the devil and makes us obtain precious graces from God.
Towards the end of the fourth century, a large multitude gathered around a pine tree waited with trepidation for the epilogue of a compelling episode. Bishop San Martino di Tour had sacked a pagan temple and decided to cut the pine which was near the room and was the object of idolatrous worship. Numerous pagans opposed this and launched a challenge: they would have consented to the felling of the "sacred tree" if the Saint, as proof of his faith in Christ, had been willing to remain tied under it, while they themselves they cut.
So it was done. And vigorous blows of hatchet in a short time meant that the trunk began to hang ... in the direction of the head of the man of God. The pagans rejoiced fiercely for this, while the Christians looked anxiously towards their holy bishop. He made the sign of the cross and the pine tree, as if driven by the breath of a powerful gust of wind, fell on the other side over some of the most iron enemies of the Faith. On this occasion, many converted to the Church of Christ.
Back to the time of the Apostles
According to tradition, the sign of the cross corroborated by the Fathers of the Church dates back to the time of the Apostles. Some say that Christ himself, during his glorious Ascension, blessed the disciples with this symbol of his Redemptive Passion. The Apostles and above all disciples would consequently propagate this devotion in their missions. Already in the second century, Tertullian, the first Christian Latin-speaking writer, exhorted: “For all our actions, when we go in or out, when we get dressed or bathe, sitting at the table or lighting a candle, when we go to sleep or sit down, at the beginning of our work, let's make the sign of the cross ”. This blessed sign is an occasion of thanks both in the most important and in the most ordinary moments of Christian life. It occurs to us, for example, in various sacraments: in Baptism, at the moment in which we mark with the cross of Christ the one who will belong to Him, in Confirmation, when we receive holy oil on the forehead, or again, at the last hour of our life, when we are pardoned with the Anointing of the Sick. We make the sign of the Cross at the beginning and end of prayers, passing in front of a church, receiving the priestly blessing, at the beginning of a journey, etc.
A meaningful devotion
The sign of the cross has innumerable meanings, among which we note in particular the following: an act of dedication to Jesus Christ, a renewal of Baptism and a proclamation of the main truths of our Faith: the Holy Trinity and the Redemption.
The way of doing it is also rich in symbolism and has suffered some alterations over time.
The first of these seems to have been the result of a controversy with the monophysite sect (XNUMXth cent.), Who made the sign of the cross using only one finger, meaning that in the person of Christ the divine and the human they were united in one nature. In opposition to this false doctrine, Christians have made the sign of the cross by joining three fingers (thumb, forefinger and middle finger), to underline their worship of the Holy Trinity, and resting the other fingers on the palm of the hand, to symbolize the double nature (divine and human) of Jesus. Moreover, throughout the Church, Christians of this era made the sign of the cross in the opposite direction to that in use today, that is, from the right shoulder to the left.
Innocent III (1198-1216), one of the greatest popes of the medieval period, gave the following symbolic explanation of this way of making the sign of the cross: “The sign of the cross must be done with three fingers, since it is done with the invocation of the Holy Trinity.
The way must be from top to bottom and from right to left, because Christ came down from Heaven on earth and passed from the Jews (right) to the Gentiles (left) "Currently this form continues to be used only in Eastern Catholic rites.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, some faithful, imitating the priest's way of giving the blessing, began to make the sign of the cross from left to right, with a flat hand. The Pope himself tells the reason for this change: “There are some, at this moment, who make the sign of the cross from left to right, meaning that from misery (left) we can reach glory (right), just as it happened with Christ in going up to Heaven. (Some priests) do this and people try to imitate them. " This form has ended up becoming custom in the whole Church in the West, and remains so to the present day.
Benefits effects
The sign of the cross is the most ancient and main sacramental, a term that means, a "sacred sign", by which, in imitation of the sacraments, "are mainly meant spiritual effects that are obtained by the supplication of the Church" (CIC, can. 1166). It defends us from evil, protects us against the assaults of the devil and makes us propitious for the grace of God. St. Gaudenzio (set IV) states that, in all circumstances, it is "an invincible armor of Christians".
To the faithful who appeared troubled or tempted, the Church Fathers recommended the sign of the cross as a remedy with guaranteed efficacy.
San Benedetto da Norcia, after having lived for three years as a hermit in Subiaco, was sought by a group of monks who lived nearby, who asked him to accept that he was their superior. However, some monks did not share this plan, and attempted to kill it, offering him poisoned bread and wine. When San Benedetto made the sign of the cross on food, the glass of wine broke, and a crow flew to the bread, took it and took it away. This fact is still remembered today in the "Medal of Saint Benedict".
Hail, O Cross, our only hope! In the Cross of Christ, and only in it, we must trust. If it sustains us, we will not fall, if it is our refuge, we will not be discouraged, if it is our strength, what can we fear?
Following the advice of the Fathers of the Church, let us never be ashamed of doing it in front of others or negligence in using this effective sacramental, since it will always be our refuge and protection.