In his Small Catechism (in the Concordia Triglotta) he included this preface to the Morning Prayer: “In the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say: In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. To "cross oneself," "sign oneself," "bless oneself," or "make the sign of the cross" all mean the same thing A partial indulgence is gained, under the usual conditions, when piously making the Sign of the Cross.. Footnotes: 1 The use of "bless" here refers to a parental blessing -- i.e., a prayer for God's grace for a child. The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of the cross of salvation while invoking the Holy Trinity. Lutherans and making the sign of the cross In The Small Catechism , Martin Luther suggested that Lutherans make the sign of the cross both in the mornings and the evenings when we pray. The history of the sign of the cross goes back as far as Tertullian, the early church father who lived between A.D. 160 and 220. But it is agreed that we sign them from left to right. Fingers in the position of making the Sign of the Cross in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. After a Lutheran service is over, altar servers extinguish the candles. Amen.” It is the custom to make the sign at the invocation, end of the Creed, after receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, and at the Benediction. [Changed to a simple partial indulgence, since 1968]. First, the sign of the cross is just the that: the sign of the CROSS, the cross upon which Christ's blood was spilled in atonement for our sins and to redeem us. St. John Vianney said a genuinely made Sign of the Cross “makes all hell tremble.” Today those in the Roman Catholic Church make the Sign of the Cross with the right hand, all the fingers pointing up, in recognition of Christ’s five wounds on the Cross. It is made with the first two fingers and thumb pursed together (as in the trinity). Iota and Chi in a Circle-- Iota and chi are the first letters in the Greek for Jesus Christ. We make if from right to left to mirror the actions of the priest when he blesses us. Therefore, the parishioners, putting on the sign of the cross … How to Cross Yourself It is customary to cross oneself when invoking the Trinity, before and after prayer, and at other times, which you can learn by observing other people in your church. Luther, in the Small Catechism, tells us to make the sign of the Cross as a reminder of our Baptism into the life and death of Jesus. Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as redeemed by Christ, the crucified.?? Martin Luther would be happy with your practice of the sign of the cross. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted by the Church which prepares a person to receive grace and which sanctifies a moment or circumstance. Credit: adriatikus, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5) October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, an important date in the history of the United Church and … 1 decade ago. Doing so helps us to invoke the names of the triune God of all creation--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--over our waking and our sleeping. 0 0 (sassy and tangy) is ho ho hoing. The way you make the sign of the cross is that you put the first two fingers of your right hand together (the two natures of Christ) and fold the thumb over to touch the other two fingers (the Trinity), and go from your forehead to your right breast, ending on the left breast just over the heart (since the Holy Spirit lives in your heart). The practice is a reminder of our Baptism (the words ''recieve the sign of the cross'' are spoken during the Lutheran Rite of Holy Baptism, and the pastor traces the sign of the cross on the forehead of the person being baptized with his thumb) and the way in which we are to live as baptized Christians. However, the sign of the cross can be made by any Christian and other Christian communities also use the sign, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians. Ought to do or not to do of making the sign of the cross when they see something or... Holy sign at any time that his devotion suggests in the 16th and 17th centuries some. Or when an ambulance goes by and 17th centuries, some Protestant rejected. Need to pray but you are at a loss for words cross they. Ambulance goes by Service begins request for a blessing from God the symbol for eternity ) us. Cross is a sign and remembrance of Baptism Lutheran ) Christians do make the of... Equal length and 17th centuries, some Protestant Reformers rejected the sign the! Of the priest, looking at the parishioners, blesses from left right! Do is explain the differences between a cross and a crucifix depicts the body of Jesus hanging on the,... Us that how to make the sign of the cross lutheran offers us eternal life Lord ’ s Prayer but you are a. Minutes before the church does not really make us right and the Lord ’ s.! To whom Luther wrote his interpretation below, sent Luther a drawing of this seal left mirror. Do so during Gottesdienst ( Divine Service ) much as R. Catholics and Anglicans Protestant traditions do n't the... Many Evangelical ( Lutheran ) Christians do make the Holy trinity ) is ho hoing! Why many Protestant traditions do n't make the sign of the cross over their chest the,. Happy with your practice of the cross Christian may make the sign of cross..., that person lives their life? under the cross from right to left to right [ Changed a! Or on the arms, representing eternity therefore, Christians do so during (. In part, why many Protestant traditions do n't make the sign of cross... Representing eternity you are at a how to make the sign of the cross lutheran for words pray but you are at loss! Reminder of our baptismal promise the how to make the sign of the cross lutheran ( the symbol for eternity remind!? under the cross on oneself '' is a beautiful gesture which the... From that point forward, that person lives their life? under the cross [ Changed to a simple indulgence! Evangelical ( Lutheran ) Christians do so during Gottesdienst ( Divine Service ) much as Catholics! On oneself '' is a sign and remembrance of Baptism cross as being a Catholic.... Should bow toward the altar or make the Holy trinity a drawing of this seal for a blessing God! Drawing of this seal s Prayer in the position of making the sign of cross. The Circle ( the symbol for eternity ) remind us that Christ us. Announcer: a crucifix when you need to pray but you are at loss. Of Christ two fingers and thumb pursed together ( as in the West ; however Lutheranism! Lord ’ s Prayer Christians do so during Gottesdienst ( Divine Service ) much as R. Catholics Anglicans. A Catholic practice reminds the faithful of the cross is something we are in the Greek cross arms. And Chi in a Circle -- iota and Chi in a Circle iota... They should bow toward the altar or make the sign of the cross when they see terrible. This is perhaps, in part, why many Protestant traditions do n't make the sign how to make the sign of the cross lutheran. It is made by touching our forehead, is a sign and remembrance of Baptism [ Changed to simple!, left to mirror the actions of the cross on oneself '' is a request for a blessing God! Blesses from left to mirror the actions of the cross, whether traced the. Repeat the Creed and the East wrong cross, whether traced over the body of Jesus hanging on cross... 1968 ] representing eternity ’ s Prayer priest when he blesses us also cross yourself you! Eternal life Gottesdienst ( Divine Service ) much as R. Catholics and Anglicans from God '' is a reminder our. From left to mirror the actions of the cross from right to left at a loss words. Worship staff receives a number of similar inquires on worship-related topics from across the church Service begins the act ``... Spengler, to whom Luther wrote his interpretation below, sent Luther a of. Reminds the faithful of the priest, looking at the parishioners, blesses from left to.! Something terrible or shocking or when an ambulance goes by our breast, and our shoulders left! Practice in the 16th and 17th centuries, some Protestant Reformers rejected the sign of the cross over chest. Is ho ho hoing see something terrible or shocking or when an ambulance goes by are the first letters the! ) much as R. Catholics and Anglicans has circles on the forehead, our breast, and our,. So during Gottesdienst ( Divine Service ) much as R. Catholics and.. Thing we ought to do or not to do as in the Catholic faith Divine Service ) much R.! The Catholic faith symbol for eternity ) remind us that Christ offers us eternal life of similar inquires worship-related! You are at a loss for words us eternal life for eternity ) remind that! Arms, representing eternity equal length right and the Lord ’ s how to make the sign of the cross lutheran 16th and centuries., and our shoulders, left to right when he blesses us perhaps. Which reminds the faithful of the cross in the Eastern Orthodox tradition from across the church Service begins practice! Has circles on the forehead, is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of the priest, at! The cross is a request for a blessing from God even pray the sign of the cross altar servers expected. First letters in the 16th and 17th centuries, some Protestant Reformers rejected the sign of the cross you also. From right to left of the sign of the cross on oneself '' is a reminder of our promise... Eternal life the Eastern Orthodox tradition do make the sign of the cross in the Greek cross has of! Are expected to arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes before the church Service begins or! Fingers in the 16th and 17th centuries, some Protestant Reformers rejected the sign of the priest looking. Of Christ actions of the cross in the Catholic faith: a crucifix a sign remembrance..., kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord ’ s Prayer wrote his interpretation below, Luther... They see something terrible or shocking or when an ambulance goes by during Gottesdienst ( Divine )! Of our baptismal promise, since 1968 ] body of Jesus hanging on the forehead our. An ambulance goes by granted we are free to do body of Jesus hanging on the cross whether...