An simple but powerful Christian prayer, the Trinitarian formula must be our first resort when faced with spiritual challenges. Learn more about this ancient prayer and what the Saints have to say about it.
In Nomine Patris,
et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.
In the Name
of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Whenever faithful Christians gather themselves to pray at their local church for Holy Mass, or in their families, or even alone, they begin by making the Sign of the Cross. It is one of the most recognisable performative signs associated with Christianity; it is regularly used in popular media to declare Christian belief: a person using their right hand to trace a vertical line from their forehead to their chest, and then a horizontal line from the left shoulder to their right.
For all its popularity, the Sign of the Cross is a prayer taken for granted, even by many Christians. A lot of people see it as a token gesture, something merely cultural. Poorly catechised Christians think of it as an omittable outward sign of faith. And in an increasingly secular world that shuns the public display of personal religious convictions, even well catechised Catholics have begun to disregard it in favour of silent, mental prayer.
However, the Sign of the Cross is more than an inconsequential Christian ritual. It is, in fact, a Christian practice of manifold significance. It is a prayer, a blessing, a reminder of the Gospel, and a statement of faith.
Like most Christian prayers, the Sign of the Cross is inspired by both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. The words of the prayer were first spoken by Christ Himself, at the moment He ascended to heaven before His Apostles. As recorded in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter 28, verses 19 and 20, Christ instructed His Apostles,
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
With these words, Christ gave His Apostles – his chosen twelve disciples – the Great Commission. They were to take the message of the Gospel to all corners of the world. And when they blessed and baptised any person, they would do so by invoking the names of the Triune God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This purely Christian Tradition has been passed on from generation to generation. Through Jesus Christ, the One God is revealed to us in all of His Three Divine Persons.
Today, all Christians affirm that God is One, with Three Divine Persons in Him, equally true and equally great. Anyone who does not hold this belief cannot be Christian. And that is why, whenever Catholics impart a blessing, they do it by tracing a cross over them, reciting “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, and since the days of the Early Church, Christians have been tracing the Sign of the Cross as a symbol of dedication and anointing. The Fathers of the Early Church mention it in their sermons, letters and other writings, often instructing the faithful to sign themselves, their families, and their possessions.
Consider the words of the Early Church author Tertullian. Defending Holy Tradition in De Corona (A.D. 201), chapter 3, he writes,
“At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.”
In Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena and Rebecca, which records the conversion and journeys of the sisters St. Xanthippe and St. Polyxena of Spain, who lived at the time of the Apostles, we come across the Sign of the Cross in two different paragraphs. In paragraph 7, when entering Spain, we see St Paul blessing himself:
“And coming up to the gates of the city he stood and prayed, and crossing himself entered the city.”
Further, in paragraph 10, St. Paul blesses the home of Probus, with whom he resided during his time in Spain:
“And Paul perceived her prayer, and made the sign of the cross, and for several days the people entered unhindered, and as many as had sick and vexed by unclean spirits brought them, and all were healed.”
Both of these excerpts, though taken from apocryphal New Testament texts, provide evidence that the Apostles themselves practiced making the Sign of the Cross. Both De Corona and Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena and Rebecca show that the Sign of the Cross is a form of dedication to Christ. It is a spiritual mark that protects souls from the Evil One.
In Athanasius of Alexandria’s Life of Anthony (A.D. 360), where we learn much about St. Anthony the Great, the Sign of the Cross is mentioned multiple times. In paragraph 13, St. Anthony defeats demons, shielding himself and his acquaintances with the Sign of the Cross:
“Them he quickly heard, though he had not given a thought to the demons, and coming to the door he besought them to depart and not to be afraid, ‘for thus,’ said he, ‘the demons make their seeming onslaughts against those who are cowardly. Sign yourselves therefore with the cross, and depart boldly, and let these make sport for themselves.’ So they departed fortified with the sign of the Cross. But he remained in no wise harmed by the evil spirits, nor was he wearied with the contest, for there came to his aid visions from above, and the weakness of the foe relieved him of much trouble and armed him with greater zeal.”
And then in paragraph 23, St. Anthony addresses monks, encouraging them against the wicked crafts and deceitful ways of Satan. He says,
“For when they cannot deceive the heart openly with foul pleasures they approach in different guise, and thenceforth shaping displays they attempt to strike fear, changing their shapes, taking the forms of women, wild beasts, creeping things, gigantic bodies, and troops of soldiers. But not even then need you fear their deceitful displays. For they are nothing and quickly disappear, especially if a man fortify himself beforehand with faith and the sign of the Cross.”
Again, in paragraph 35, St. Anthony presents the Sign of the Cross as a weapon to fight the deceptions of Satan:
“'When, therefore, they come by night to you and wish to tell the future, or say, ‘we are the angels’, give no heed, for they lie. Yea even if they praise your discipline and call you blessed, hear them not, and have no dealings with them; but rather sign yourselves and your houses, and pray, and you shall see them vanish. For they are cowards, and greatly fear the sign of the Lord’s Cross, since of a truth in it the Saviour stripped them, and made an example of them.”
Finally, in paragraph 80, we read how St. Anthony refuted the power of Pagan idols and magic, which draw power from demons, and healed people by blessing them with the Sign of the Cross:
“And having said this he called upon Christ, and signed the sufferers two or three times with the sign of the Cross. And immediately the men stood up whole, and in their right mind, and immediately gave thanks unto the Lord. And the philosophers, as they are called, wondered, and were astonished exceedingly at the understanding of the man and at the sign which had been wrought.”
From these passages we learn that the Sign of the Cross is a powerful prayer, protecting all who dedicate themselves to Christ through it.
St. Ephraim the Syrian, a Doctor of the Church, also exhorts us to hold on to the Sign of the Cross dearly. In his Homily on Admonition and Repentance (approx. A.D. 350), St. Ephraim writes,
“Hate mockery which is altogether (the cause of weeping), and mirth which is (the cause of) cleansing. And if you should hear a mocker by chance, when you are not desiring it, sign yourself with the cross of light, and hasten from thence like an antelope.”
“Do nothing at all without the beginning of prayer. With the sign of the living cross, seal all your doings, my son. Go not forth from the door of your house till you have signed the cross. Whether in eating or in drinking, whether in sleeping or in waking, whether in your house or on the road, or again in the season of leisure, neglect not this sign; for there is no guardian like it. It shall be unto you as a wall, in the forefront of all your doings. And teach this to your children, that heedfully they be conformed to it.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, another Doctor of the Church, in his fourth Catechetical Lecture (approx.. A.D. 350) speaks of the power of the Sign of the Cross to protect Christians from the snares of Satan:
“Let us, therefore, not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon your forehead, that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act.”
We also read about the Sign of the Cross multiple times in his thirteenth lecture. In paragraph 22, followed by paragraph 36, he writes,
“Let none be weary; take your armour against the adversaries in the cause of the Cross itself; set up the faith of the Cross as a trophy against the gainsayers. For when you are going to dispute with unbelievers concerning the Cross of Christ, first make with your hand the sign of Christ's Cross, and the gainsayer will be silenced.”
“Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow, and on everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we rise up; when we are in the way, and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the sake of the poor; without toil, for the sick; since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of devils: for He triumphed over them in it, having made a show of them openly (Colossians 2:15); for when they see the Cross they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, who bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the gift; out for this the rather honour your Benefactor.”
In Letters, St. Jerome also comments on the Sign of the Cross multiple times. First, in Letter 22, paragraph 37, he writes,
“When we leave the roof which shelters us, prayer should be our armour; and when we return from the street we should pray before we sit down, and not give the frail body rest until the soul is fed. In every act we do, in every step we take, let our hand trace the Lord’s cross.”
And again, in Letter 108, paragraph 22 and paragraph 29, we observe Christians leaning on the Sign of the Cross during crises:
“While thus unyielding in her contempt for food Paula was easily moved to sorrow and felt crushed by the deaths of her kinsfolk, especially those of her children. When one after another her husband and her daughters fell asleep, on each occasion the shock of their loss endangered her life. And although she signed her mouth and her breast with the sign of the cross, and endeavoured thus to alleviate a mother’s grief; her feelings overpowered her and her maternal instincts were too much for her confiding mind.”
“After this she said no more but closed her eyes as though she already despised all mortal things, and kept repeating the verses just quoted down to the moment in which she breathed out her soul, but in a tone so low that we could scarcely hear what she said. Raising her finger also to her mouth she made the sign of the cross upon her lips. Then her breath failed her and she gasped for death; yet even when her soul was eager to break free, she turned the death-rattle (which comes at last to all) into the praise of the Lord.”
Finally, in his 54th Homily on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, presents the Sign of the Cross as a remedy against rage and other sins:
“When therefore you sign yourself, think of the purpose of the cross, and quench anger, and all the other passions. When you sign yourself, fill your forehead with all courage, make your soul free. And ye know assuredly what are the things that give freedom. Wherefore also Paul leading us there, I mean unto the freedom that beseems us, did on this wise lead us unto it, having reminded us of the cross and blood of our Lord.”
The Sign of the Cross has been the Christian’s defence against Satan and his minions ever since Christ first spoke the words “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It is thus in the best interest of all Catholics to utter this prayer, and sign themselves, with due reverence whenever they are faced with temptations, or when they face spiritual attacks – both physical and emotional in nature.
As in the days of the Early Church, the Sign of Cross is still powerful. The lives and the words of various Catholic Saints affirm the power of the Sign.
St. John Bosco (1815 – 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco, was regularly persecuted by demons. The Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, volume VII, chapter 8, “Diabolical Vexations”, talks about Don Bosco’s encounters with demons. The founder of the Salesians was regularly harassed by demons to dissuade him from carrying out the work of God. However, in most of his encounters, he found strength, courage, and protection against the assaults of the Devil by making the Sign of the Cross.
In the same volume, chapter 9, “Tips on Purity”, St. John Bosco offers the Sign of the Cross as a defence against worldly vices, one we often take for granted.
“For instance, when temptation assails you, have immediate recourse to Mary. Cry to Her, ‘Mary, my beloved Mother, help me!’ Or say in the words of Holy Mother Church, ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a sinner, now and at the hour of my death.’ You might make the Sign of the Cross – something Christians sadly neglect and too little appreciate. I assure you that if you then ask onefold, the Lord will give you tenfold.”
St. John Mary Vianney (1786 – 1859), Patron Saint of Parish Priests, spoke of the Sign of the Cross dearly in his sermons:
“The Sign of the Cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil. Thus, the Church wishes not only that we should have it continually in front of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost Jesus Christ, but also that we should make it at every juncture ourselves: when we go to bed, when we awaken during the night, when we get up, when we begin any action, and, above all, when we are tempted. We can say that a Christian who makes the Sign of the Cross with genuine religious sentiments, that is to say, when fully aware of the action which he is performing, makes all Hell tremble. But when we make the Sign of the Cross, we must make it not by habit but with respect, with attention and thinking of what we are doing. Ah, dear Lord, with what devout awe we should be filled when we make the Sign of the Cross upon ourselves and recall that we are pronouncing all that we hold holy and most sacred in our religion!”
“Let us recall that from the Cross flow all the graces that are bestowed upon us and that as a consequence, a cross which is blessed is a source of blessings, that we should often make the Sign of the Cross on ourselves and always with great respect, and, finally, that our houses should never remain without this symbol of salvation.”
If you are Catholic, teach yourself to trace the Sign of the Cross in reverence. It is a powerful weapon against the Enemy, a solid defence against Satan, a blessing full of grace, and a gentle reminder to ourselves, that, no matter the circumstances, we belong to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
When we gather ourselves to pray, we bring all our burdens, all our fears and worries, all our pain and suffering before God, to place before Him, so that Christ may take them off us, and give us His yoke. Yet, in our frailty, we remain bound to our trials, and they have the power to weigh us down, and distract us in prayer. But the Sign of the Cross reorients us and helps us focus on the One Who is our healing, and our hope, and our strength.
In the face of temptation, especially temptations of the flesh, the Sign of the Cross is a potent reminder of our fidelity to Christ the Bridegroom and our love for the Triune God. It becomes a shield against our impulses and a staff on which our weary souls can lean on.
When we impart a blessing, we do so not of our own power, but by the power of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. By tracing the Sign of the Cross on a person or an object, we dedicate them to the Lord. He is the true Sanctifier, working through us.
Along with these, the Sign of the Cross is the symbol of God’s love for us. The Cross of Jesus Christ, an instrument of torture and death, became the very instrument of our salvation. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (St. John 3:16). And on the Cross, God’s love was demonstrated in its fullness. By taking our sins upon Himself, Jesus the Christ of God, God the Son Himself, paid the price of our redemption, freeing us from our bondage to sin and death. And by His resurrection, He restored all thing back to life, recreating us in His Holy Image. And that is what the Sign of the Cross serves to remind us of – that we are no longer slaves to fear; we are children of God (Romans 6:1-7).
As Pope Benedict XVI teaches us in his Homily for the Eucharistic Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions of our Lady of Lourdes (2008):
“This is the great mystery that Mary also entrusts to us this morning, inviting us to turn towards her Son. In fact, it is significant that, during the first apparition to Bernadette, Mary begins the encounter with the sign of the Cross. More than a simple sign, it is an initiation into the mysteries of the faith that Bernadette receives from Mary. The sign of the Cross is a kind of synthesis of our faith, for it tells how much God loves us; it tells us that there is a love in this world that is stronger than death, stronger than our weaknesses and sins. The power of love is stronger than the evil which threatens us. It is this mystery of the universality of God’s love for men that Mary came to reveal here, in Lourdes. She invites all people of good will, all those who suffer in heart or body, to raise their eyes towards the Cross of Jesus, so as to discover there the source of life, the source of salvation.”
I invite you, my brothers and sisters, next time, when you sit to pray, take a moment, and trace the Sign of the Cross on yourself, pondering on the words of this ancient prayer. Let it strengthen you, remind you, and comfort you. For where the Sign of the Cross is, there Christ can be found. And where Christ is found, there is fullness of faith and life.
God bless you all.