Seeing A Cross Spiritual Meaning – This post about the sign of the cross originally appeared on August 06, 2014. Updated on August 22, 2018
Do they do it? I serve in the South, usually, the question goes: “Why would you cross yourself?” Often this is followed by “Aren’t superstitious like batsmen who sign themselves before batting? It’s a dead ritual, isn’t it? ” Sometimes people don’t feel it’s too cynical or superstitious, but they wonder why and how to make signs. And that’s why Anglican pastors are here! We want to try to answer those kinds of questions, so here we go…
Seeing A Cross Spiritual Meaning
The sign of the cross is an ancient Christian practice of marking the shape of the cross of Christ on oneself or on another person or object.
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Do not be ashamed to say that you are crucified; Let us seal our foreheads with our fingers before we go to sleep, when we sleep and when we get up, when we travel and when we rest.
To sanctify means to “set apart”. Our souls, our bodies, and our lives are sanctified—for Christ, under the cross and set apart on the cross For example, many people sign themselves before accepting a union They are faithful to God When our children are marked with the cross, we place them under the cross of Christ When we sign our food, or our house, or any other object, we set it apart as holy in Christ and give thanks to God.
It is often accompanied by a prayer out loud or in one’s mind and heart Generally, the prayer spoken is “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. Which brings me to my next point
Because the sign of the cross is so closely associated with this Trinitarian formula, when we sign ourselves, we are also identifying ourselves as Christians who worship and love the Triune God.
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As with anything, it can be if we choose to see it that way But it is not fundamentally inefficient Instead, it is a fundamentally Christian act In other words, if we superstition or rot it, we are denying its fundamental purpose.
First, place your hands in the following position as shown in the picture You will notice that these groups three fingers together, with two fingers folded towards the palm. The three fingers together symbolize the three persons of the Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit And the two fingers together symbolize the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ
(This hand position is, perhaps, a brief summary of the major points of Christian theology! For more on the Christian belief in the Triune God, see the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. For more, see the Chalcedonian Definition. The Christian Belief in the Two Natures of Christ. )
In the East (as in Eastern Orthodoxy) it is the right shoulder, then the left shoulder In some traditions, people kiss hands after making the sign At other times, people return their hands to their hearts after the second shoulder When a priest or bishop blesses people, he makes this sign to sign them This means, instead of signing himself, he walks away
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The “small” sign of the cross is the sign of the small cross, using the fingers, on the forehead, mouth, and heart. This sign is used during the reading of the Gospel during the liturgy It is meant to indicate the sanctity of our thoughts, speech and affections for God Often a cross is signed on the forehead during anointing with the thumb or laying on of hands Items such as communion bread and wine are also signed as are other articles set apart for a holy use. It’s actually quite simple The sign of the cross is an act of marking the cross of Christ over one’s self and life, or over people and the basic elements of life (food, home, children, people).
“At every forward step and movement, when going in, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at the table, when we light the lamp, when in bed, on the seat, and in all the ordinary activities of daily life, we mark our foreheads. | “
He wanted us to remember that we belong to Christ and that His cross is always upon us During our daily lives, many worshipers make the sign of the cross upon waking and going to bed (perhaps as part of the Daily Office), and before each meal. As a strong form of catechesis, we can bless our children and teach them to sign the cross at prayer time, bedtime, and mealtime. During worship and prayer, we often make the sign of the cross
Make the sign of the cross. However, some should And everyone can The sign of the cross is a powerful and tangible reminder that we belong to Christ To learn more about the sign of the cross, watch the following helpful video from WhyWeWorship
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Also, if you want to learn more, check out the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia entry on the sign of the cross, and Wikipedia’s “Sign of the Cross” page.
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Join believers in the world and throughout history by beginning and ending each day with Bible reading and prayer. The cross is the most ancient and universal symbol, and different types of crosses have special meanings. Used by many cultures and religions for millennia before Christianity, today the cross remains a revered Christian symbol of sacrifice, faith, and salvation.
With an incredible depth of history and meaning, the cross has taken countless forms, variations and designs over the centuries.
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Each cross type carries a unique symbolic meaning and description, reflecting diverse expressions of faith across time and geography.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 49 important types of crosses from around the world By exploring their origin, purpose and evolution, we will discover the rich cultural heritage embedded in these sacred symbols.
Each cross form has its own story, from the cosmic Latin cross to the legendary Celtic cross, the Crucible Jerusalem cross and the mystical Coptic cross.
We read the stories and symbols of these symbols in sequence, appreciating the tapestry of history embedded in their lines and forms.
Sacred Symbols And Meanings
The Latin cross, also known as the crux ordinaria or crux imisa, is the most familiar cross symbol seen in the Christian church and art. With its long vertical shaft and short horizontal bars, it depicts the shape of the wooden cross on which Jesus was crucified.
This general design embodies a cornerstone of Christian theology—the sacrifice of God’s Son to atone for the sins of mankind, paving the way for salvation.
Today, the Latin cross remains a ubiquitous and instantly recognizable symbol of Christianity, found on church steeples, altars, tombstones, and sacred artefacts throughout the world.
The Greek cross has four arms of equal length radiating from a central point, forming a plus sign or square shape. In Christianity, it has represented the universal spread of the gospel message to the four corners of the earth since ancient Byzantine times.
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Later adopted by missionaries, it remains a popular cross form associated with Eastern Orthodoxy and early Christianity. The four parallel arms symbolize balance, universality, and the wide reach of Christianity’s teachings.
The Celtic cross combines Christian symbolism with ancient pagan Celtic devotion to the sun and eternity through the circle. It is characterized by distinctive circles that intersect with the traditional cross shape
This iconic form is strongly associated with medieval Ireland and St. Patrick’s mission to convert the Patricks to Christianity. The Celtic cross endures as a prominent symbol of Irish and Scottish and Welsh Christian heritage.
Its unique shape gives it high prestige, and it continues to be popular today in celtic-influenced areas, often used in jewelry, funky monuments, sculptures, and other expressions of cultural and national identity.
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The St. Andrew’s Cross is visually distinct as a triangular or X-shaped cross According to Christian tradition, the apostle Saint Andrew was crucified on a cross of this shape and martyred because he felt unworthy to die on the same form of cross as Christ.
The angular shape, known in heraldry as a saltire, made it stand out visually and became associated with the saint. St. Andrew’s cross appears on many national flags, such as that of Scotland, and was adopted as a symbol of Christian humility and sacrifice.
The Multi Cross is defined by the distinctive eight points or arrowheads that taper horizontally outward from the center. It was founded in conjunction with the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval Catholic military order based in Jerusalem that provided hospitals.
