“Let us not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Let the cross be our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and on everything.” – St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 13

The sign of the cross is not superstition, nor a meaningless gesture. It is a holy confession: a physical sign, a joyful celebration, and a faithful response to the spiritual reality of having been adopted into God’s family through Holy Baptism.

The Cross as a Sign

When we trace the cross upon ourselves, we are marking ourselves in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This action echoes back to our one baptism into the Triune God (Matt. 28:19). It proclaims that we have been given His Name, adopted into His family, forgiven of our sins, and made heirs of an everlasting inheritance.

St. Basil the Great explained: “This is taught by unwritten tradition: that those who hope in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ sign themselves with the sign of the cross.” (On the Holy Spirit, 27.66)

Each time we make this sign, we are reminding ourselves: “I am baptized. I belong to Jesus.”

The Cross as a Celebration

Athletes rejoice when they score, and their fist pumps are visible signs of victory. In much the same way, the sign of the cross is the Christian’s victory cheer — a bodily proclamation that Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil.

As Tertullian observed in the 3rd century: “At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes… in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.” (De Corona, 3)

This is not dour ritual but joy embodied: the cross traced on us is a celebration of the resurrection.

The Cross as a Response

In human culture we salute those whom we respect, honor, and love. The sign of the cross is the Christian’s salute to the Lord and King. It acknowledges that Christ has purchased us with His precious blood (1 Cor. 6:20), and it declares to ourselves and to the world: “I am one of His faithful soldiers.”

St. Ephrem the Syrian called the cross “the armor of Christians and the terror of demons.” With it we both honor our Lord and strengthen our own faith in His victory.

Five Times in the Divine Service to Cross Yourself

Though there is never a wrong time to make the sign of the cross, the Church invites us to use this holy gesture especially at these moments in the Divine Service:

Entrance into the Church – As we pass the font, we remember John 3, that we were born anew in Holy Baptism. Many dip their fingers into the font and make the sign of the cross as a reminder: Christ has rescued me and placed His Name upon me.
Invocation – At the words: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” We confess that we enter God’s presence as His baptized children.
Gospel Reading – A small cross upon forehead, lips, and heart: asking God’s Word to dwell in our mind, on our lips, and in our heart.
After Receiving the Holy Communion – As an act of thanksgiving, many trace the cross following the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood.
At the Creed – At the words: “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” We confess the hope that baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection has given us.

The Cross in Daily Life

Beyond the liturgy, Christians are encouraged to make the sign of the cross at any moment: upon waking and at bedtime, before meals, when beginning prayer, in moments of temptation or fear, and when discouraged.

Martin Luther himself encouraged Christians in the Small Catechism to begin and end the day with the sign of the cross, commending ourselves to God’s care.

The cross upon our bodies anchors us in the storm, strengthens us for the battle, and proclaims Christ crucified and risen as our only hope.

“The cross is the guardian of the whole world, the cross is the beauty of the Church, the cross is what strengthens the faithful.” – St. John Chrysostom

So let us make this sign boldly, joyfully, reverently. For in it we confess the mystery of our salvation: Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ reigning — and His mark upon us forever.

How to make the sign of the cross?

Touch the forehead as you say or pray, “In the name of the Father”

Touch the breastbone as you say, “and of the Son”
Touch the right shoulder, then the left shoulder (or vice versa), as you say, “and of the Holy Spirit.”

Pr. Matthew+

The Sign of the Cross

Growing up I always thought someone making the sign of the cross on themselves was a pointless and superstitious gesture that just made the people doing it look silly. For real.

I’ve since changed my mind.

I have now come to believe it a very powerful reminder to myself that I have been saved by Christ’s finished work on Calvary and a bold statement to those around me of my faith and hope. And while certainly not required, I would humbly suggest it is a practice that Christians of all traditions would greatly benefit from in practicing.

Here is a brief introduction into this very ancient Christian gesture:

What is the sign of the cross?

The sign of the cross is an ancient Christian practice of marking the shape of the cross of Christ upon one’s self or upon another person or object.

What does crossing myself with the cross mean?

The sign of the cross is a physical gesture that signifies a spiritual reality. In the same way that in placing our right hand over your heart and reciting the pledge of allegiance declares a statement of belief, hope, and solidarity, so in like manner, crossing oneself with the sign of the cross is a distinctively Christian gesture that is a statement of belief and hope. This simple act reminds us that:

We have been bought and purchased by the finished work of Christ on the cross (“sign of the cross”).
We have been marked with the name of the Triune God in our baptisms (all Christians baptisms are in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
We continue to look and trust in Christ at all times and situations.
We boldly and unashamedly declare to the world that we are Christ-followers.

Do I have to do it?

Not at all! It is a matter of Christian freedom and completely optional. You may or may not feel comfortable doing it yourself, or you may not do it as often as your neighbor. That’s okay. But when the sign of the cross is made, whether by pastor or people, let this be the proclamation: Christ has died for your sins upon the cross; in Baptism he shares that cross with you; because you share in His cross, you are a child of God and are precious in His sight.

What did the early Church say about it?

The early Church Fathers attested to the use of the sign of the cross. Here are a few comments from the first several hundred years of the church.

Tertullian (250 A.D.) described the commonness of the sign of the cross: “In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross” (De corona, 30). And in another place he said, “We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross.”

Athanasius of Alexandria (269–373 A.D.) said, “By the signing of the holy and life-giving cross, devils and various scourges are driven away. For it is without price and without cost and praises him who can say it. The holy fathers have, by their words, transmitted to us, and even to the unbelieving heretics, how the two raised fingers and the single hand reveal Christ our God in His dual nature but single substance. The right hand proclaims His immeasurable strength, His sitting on the right hand of the Father, and His coming down unto us from Heaven. Again, by the movement of the hands to our right the enemies of God will be driven out, as the Lord triumphs over the Devil with His inconquerable power, rendering him dismal and weak.”

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (386 A.D.) in his Catechetical Lectures stated, “Let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in our goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are traveling, and when we are at rest” (Catecheses, 13).

How do I make the sign of the cross on myself?

Touch your head at the naming of the Father; then bring your hand to the middle of your chest (over your heart) at the naming of the Son. At the naming of the Holy Spirit, touch your right shoulder and then your left shoulder. The Eastern tradition of the Christian church goes right to left, while the Western tradition is left to right. Either is good!

When is it appropriate to make the sign of the cross?

Anytime throughout the day you feel led to or whenever you desire to be reminded of God’s presence with you and your reliance upon Him. You may do it before an especially important meeting, when you are being tempted by sin, as you drive, when you pray, before and/or after meals, and when you wake up and when you go to bed.

During the worship service it is especially appropriate to cross oneself at (1) the beginning of the service during the Invocation (In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit), (2) after the Declaration of Grace; (3) during the Creed when we declare our belief in the resurrection (“Resurrection of the body”), (4) after receiving the Holy Eucharist, (5) upon receiving the closing benediction when the pastor makes the sign of the cross upon the congregation.

A final word

If you have never made the sign of the cross, it will feel a little awkward when you first start. That’s okay. Once you have done it a few weeks it becomes quite natural and second nature. A good way to ease into it is crossing yourself at the beginning and end of your personal prayers and go from there. It is also a wonderful way to disciple your children at meals and when putting them to bed.

May the Lord’s grace and peace be upon you!

The Sign of the Cross: A Mark of Our Baptismal Identity