While attending the Memorial Service recently for my friend’s sister, Dave asked me why no one “crossed themselves” before praying. The service was not Catholic and Dave’s exposure to most Protestant customs is limited. Since I didn’t know the answer to that question either, I later asked my friend why they don’t cross themselves. She retorted, “why do Catholics?” Hmmm, ahhh, duh…I’d forgotten. Not being a cradle Catholic, having come to the faith well into adulthood, and being one who frequently can’t remember these things right off the top of my head, I blanked.

Later while offering my friend’s retort back to my husband, he reminded me that we cross ourselves before prayer to invoke & call upon the One to whom we are praying. We also cross ourselves to remind us of the sealed sign of the cross made on our foreheads with Holy Chrism (oils) during the Sacraments of Baptism & Confirmation. It is a Catholic’s sign of belief, something of a creed of our belief in the Triune God. And Satan does not like it. Catholics can also make this sign during times of temptation or need with great spiritual benefit…makes those demons scamper!!

I was just online looking at what others have said about the sign of the cross and one young person said their religious instruction teacher told them this: In the Name of the Father (you are asking God to be in your thoughts while touching your forehead), And of the Son (you are asking God to be in your heart while touching your chest), And of the Holy Spirit ( you are asking God to be in all your actions while touching each shoulder). Very sweet and very poignant, for me at least.

So Dave’s question still remains unanswered, why don’t non-Catholic Christians cross themselves before prayer? At least now I hope I remember the reason why we do!! Makes me wonder how many other things I do out of habit and can’t remember why it’s done.