Catholic question about the sign of the cross?

Question

I asked this earlier, but didn't seem to get much response. Perhaps the wording didn't draw enough people in. :) Anyway, I have noticed people tapping their chests or forheads after making the sign of the cross. I understand the sign and the prayer, I just don't understand the tapping. Can someone explain this? Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm a life-long Catholic who grew up in an area where there were a lot of different ethnic groups, but I never saw anybody do that until I moved to an area where there is a huge Hispanic population. I asked a couple people about it and they just looked blank. I suppose it's tradition--they were taught it by their parents and grandparents and just do it automatically.

Someone mentioned the kissing of the fingers. I do remember that as a kid--mostly the older, foreign-born women did it. If I remember correctly, it was something similar to kissing the crucifix on the rosary when you finished saying it. Don't quote me on this as my memory is hazy.

Answer 2

SIGN OF THE CROSS The most popular profession of the Christian faith in action form. The cruciform sign professes one's belief in human redemption through Christ's death on the Cross. The pronunciation of the names of the Three Divine Persons professes belief in the Holy Trinity. the first of the Church's sacramentals, it has its origins in apostolic times. It is made by saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," and its action takes the form of a cross. One touches the forehead, the breast, and the left and right shoulders with the right hand as the words are recited. The prayer ends with "Amen" and is regularly made with holy water as a person enters a church or chapel or, in religious communities, upon entering one's room.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what that's all about, but I have noticed that it seems to be more prevalant in the churches I've been in that have a strong ethnic population such as Italian. I'd like to know the answer to that, too.

I was told that the reason some people kiss their fingertips after making the Sign of the Cross is that it's to show respect for the gesture.

Answer 4

I do that sometimes. I don't really think about it a whole lot and I'm not exactly sure why I do it, but it somehow seems strange if I don't tap my heart. Like the cross allows Jesus into my heart, and I'm kinda just acknowledging God in my heart, or asking him to come into my heart.

One theory is that it's a miniature form of beating one's breast in unworthy sin.

The bottom line is that it is not necesary, but if anyone feels comfortable tapping your heart after the sign of the cross, then by all means go for it. But the sign is by no means incomplete without the tapping of one's heart.

Answer 5

I think mostly Hispanic people do that. I'm not certain where it comes from- it is a custom, not a Tradition, like the sign of the Cross itself.

More often, you will see people kiss their right hand- this is because the way they hold their thumb and finger is in the form of a cross- they are kissing the cross.

Answer 6

I'm not sure about the tapping but I am sure about the cross.
Jesus never died on a cross. If you will turn to Gal. 3:13 you will notice that most Bibles state that Jesus died on a tree or stake, opposite of popular belief this is in harmony with the greek word " strarous." In the Greek transliteration of the scriptures Jesus died on a Strarous as defind as " Stake "
"pole " or " Tree " with no referance to a cross member.

Jesus also died under the Mosaic Law Covenant as a Jew.
The Romans gave Jesus over to the Jews to put him to death.
Under the Law covenant any Jew who was put to death was to be hung on a stake Deuteronomy 21:22, Jos 8:29 , Jos 10:26. Jesus died as a perfect human still abiding by the Mosaic Law. There are specific reasons why a stake was used and not the Roman Cross as many people have been mislead to believe. The veneration of the cross began to appear after the Roman Empire bagan to crumble and different fragments of the churches began to spread out and adopt false teachings about the Christ in order to gain worshipers, If you need more information I just E-mail me.

Sincerely yours,
Fred M. Hunter
[e-mail]

Answer 7

It's superstition. The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics says: “With the 4th cent[ury] magical belief began to take a firmer hold within the Church.” As with a magic charm, simply making the sign of the cross was thought to be “the surest defence against demons, and the remedy for all diseases.” Superstitious use of the cross continues to this day.

It cannot be denied that many perform the sign of the cross with little thought of religious devotion. When asked why he made the sign of the cross on the playing field, an Australian football player admitted: “I suppose it’s just a superstition in a way.” Not surprisingly, this ritual has had superstitious overtones from the beginning. “The Catholic Encyclopedia” says: “From the earliest period it has been employed in all exorcisms and conjurations as a weapon against the spirits of darkness.

It is clear that those who gave me a thumbs down have not done any research.

Answer 8

I know when I was dating a Catholic, in his church everyone went back to the center.

It was up down side side--to the center. As a way of both centering your mind and as a symbol of "in your heart".

The cross on its own has no meaning unless it is inside you and in the center of your mind.

Answer 9

i personally will hold my hand to my heart... to feel the heart beat as a reminder that god is the giver of my life...

others tapping forehead? chest? not sure.. they hv to answer for themselves... tapping of forehead could just be them saying OMG! hahaha

Answer 10

"They want it to be in them !!!!" You must have atleast been exposed to elders in church..."They want it in them and keep believing...They want it in hem ,they know itfeel it and want it .
Thats all .So maybe you saw this or a friend as a child and never got an explanation because you are,were....
But I think they want to know God etc so much and got all exiteted that some by happen stance done this ,then others saw,and then thought without thinking "What a silly question only a child might ask" ......"Hello" I had church exposer at a young age my mema sat in the first pew and would stick her arms up and get hysterical quietly and cry..."I knew" ...
I never had to ask...................."I dont think you have to worry..
It's just physiological ,physical expression...