Each morning, whilst waking up, I make my sign of the cross. I deeply love this comforting, dedicatory and meaningful gesture, even though its traditionally-associated words: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen, are gendered. Yesterday, as I was following my usual practice, new words followed, so I wrote them down to form this blog.
Over many years, I have developed my own way of making the sign of the cross. My approach is based on a combination of the Anglican method, the Catholic method, the Orthodox method, and some spontaneous additions of my own.
This is how I make the sign of the cross:
- Just before saying the first word, I bring together the thumb and first two fingers of my right hand, then kiss their tips.
- Keeping these three fingers together, I say, “In the name of the Father”, whilst touching my fingers to my forehead.
- Next, I use them to touch my breastbone, whilst saying, “And of the Son”.
- Then I use them to touch my right shoulder, then my left, whilst saying, “And of the Holy Spirit”.
- Lastly, I say, “Amen; amen; amen”. On the first, “amen”, I touch my heart; on the second, my forehead; and on the third, I end by kissing my three fingertips again.
This might sound complicated, but through regular practice this little gesture, with its accompanying words of self-dedication, soon becomes habitual. Making my sign of the cross reminds me that I am always in God’s loving care, and enables me to re-dedicate myself and my life to God.
This way of making the sign of the cross can be used in many different situations, for example:
- On waking
- Before praying with words
- On entering wordless prayer
- Before eating, drinking, taking pills, or having any kind of medical test, treatment, procedure, or surgery
- Before beginning a task, especially one which is challenging, or sacrificial
- On setting out from home
- When entering a feared situation
- During a panic attack
- On boarding a plane
- Immediately before an interview
- When feeling tempted to think, say, or do, something we know to be wrong
- As we settle down for the night
The possibilities for re-dedicating ourselves to God’s care and service with this little gesture are endless. So, here is today’s prayer, whose rhythm fits exactly with making my sign of the cross, as described above:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
I – love – You.
Mother, Daughter, Comforter:
I – love – You.
Brother, Sister, Counsellor:
I – love – You.
Neighbour, Stranger, Enemy:
I – love – You.
Shepherd, Saviour, Advocate:
I – love – You.
Threefold God, in Everyone:
I – love – You!
I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
References
We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always” (Matthew 28:18-20; NLT).
