When and why do we make the Sign of the Cross? What does it mean? All the answers

From the moment we are born until death, the Sign of the Cross marks our Christian life. But what does this mean? Why do we do it? When should we do it? In this article, we tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this Christian gesture.

Towards the end of the XNUMXnd century and the beginning of the XNUMXrd century Tertullian said:

"In all our travels and movements, in all our departures and arrivals, when we put on our shoes, when we bathe, at the table, when we light candles, when we go to bed, when we sit down, in any task of which we take care, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross ”.

This sign comes from the first Christians but ...

Father Evaristo Sada it tells us that the Sign of the Cross "is the fundamental prayer of the Christian". Prayer? Yes, “so short and so simple, it is the summary of the whole creed”.

The cross, as we all know, signifies the triumph of Christ over sin; so that when we make the sign of the cross "we say: I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe in him, I belong to him".

As Father Sada explains, making the Sign of the Cross saying: "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen", We undertake to act in the name of God." Whoever acts in the name of God claims to have the certainty that God knows him, accompanies him, supports him and will always be close to him ", added the priest.

Among many things, this sign reminds us that Christ died for us, it is a testimony of our faith before others, it helps us to ask for Jesus' protection or to offer God our daily trials.

Every moment is good to make the sign of the cross, but Father Evaristo Sada gives us some good examples.

• The sacraments and acts of prayer begin and end with the sign of the cross. It is also a good habit to make the sign of the cross before listening to Sacred Scripture.
• Offering the day when we get up or the start of any activity: a meeting, a project, a game.
• Thanking God for a benefit, the day that starts, the food, the first sale of the day, the salary or the harvest.
• By entrusting ourselves and putting ourselves in the hands of God: when we start a journey, a football match or a swim in the sea.
• Praising God and acknowledging his presence in a temple, event, person or beautiful spectacle of nature.
• Asking the protection of the Trinity in the face of danger, temptations and difficulties.

Source: Church Pop.