Sign of the cross and tapping?

Question

I've seen people tap their chests after making the sign of the cross. Why?

I fully understand the sign, and the prayer.....I just don't understand the tapping on the chest or forhead.....is it a toned down version of the chest pounding thing people used to do along with the Kyrie, or......?

Answer 1

Cathlic sign for the Holy Trinity... "Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit" I don't know why they do it, my fiancee does it, and he doesn't know why they do it...

Answer 2

It quite possibly is a personal reverential action either to represent sorrow for sins (as with the 'mea culpa'), humility, or of love (the chest is where the heart is after all!).
I do know that some kiss their thumb after making the sign of the cross, which they cross over their index finger in a form of the cross. It is a personal devotion, as they are symbolically kissing the cross.