A powerful prayer with the Sign of the Cross, from St. Anthony Mary Claret: By the Sign of the Cross, deliver us from all our enemies, O Lord our God. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. There is an old legend about a Jew many hundreds of years ago, in an old abandoned house in a back room, and he could hear demons talking in the other room, and he was afraid. He knew about the sign of the Christians so he made the Sign of the Cross to protect himself. The lead demon was interrogating the others about how they were coming along on tempting certain souls. When he finished he told them to go get tht guy and bring him in. They went and came back empty-handed, and he said, “Why didn’t you bring him with you?” And they replied, “He made the Sign of the Christians. We couldn’t bring him.” The Sign of the Cross protected him from the demons. It’s a powerful Sign but it should be made slowly and reverently; not hastily and without thinking.
The Sign of the Cross is an ancient prayer rich in meaning. Each time we make the Sign of the Cross, we renew our profession of faith; express our belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and acknowledge the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. We invoke the Holy Trinity. St. John Chrysostom says, “Never leave your house without making the sign of the cross. It will be to you a staff, a weapon, an impregnable fortress. Neither man nor demon will dare to attack you, seeing you covered with such powerful armor. Let this sign teach you that you are a soldier, ready to combat against the demons, and ready to fight for the crown of justice. Are you ignorant of what the cross has done? It has vanquished death, destroyed sin, emptied hell, dethroned Satan, and restored the universe. Would you then doubt its power?”
– St. John Chrysostom, 4th-century Preacher and Patriarch of Constantinople.
St. John Chrysostom goes on to say, “When you sign yourself, think of all the mysteries contained in the cross. It is not enough to form it with the finger. You must first make it with faith and good will. . . . When you mark your breast, your eyes, and all your members with the sign of the cross, offer yourself as a victim pleasing to God.“
Tertullian, who lived from 160 – 240 A.D., said the following about the Sign of the Cross: “At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.”
We should remember making the Sign of the Cross also has an indulgence attached to it, and a larger indulgence if the prayer is said while making it. These indulgences can be given to the poor souls in purgatory to relieve them or possibly to liberate them and send them to heaven. Think how grateful they will be to you if you send them to heaven. They will always be praying for your good on earth and your eternal salvation.
St. Basil (ca. 329 – 79 A.D) said that the Apostles “taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord,” that is, those who presented themselves for baptism. It is also believed that the Apostles actually received this Sign and blessing from Jesus Christ himself because the Scripture says He lifted up His hands and blessed them, “And he led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up to heaven.” St. Luke 24:50-51. This is what the priest does for us at the end of every Mass, except the funeral Masses, that is. And he told them to go and baptize in the Name of the Holy Trinity: ”Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” St. Matthew 28:19. So it is reasonable to believe that this is where the Apostles received the blessing.
Prayer of St. Benedict, on the medal: The Holy Cross be my light, and not the devil be my guide. Begone Satan! Suggest not vain things to me. Evil is the cup thou offerest. Drink thou thine own poison.
Because the sign of the Cross is the mark of our redemption, Satan hates it. Demons flee from the sign of the cross when it is devoutly made. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 386), Bishop of Jerusalem, says the following of this powerful sign:
“Let us, therefore, not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon thy 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.”
Pope Benedict XVI making the sign of the Cross during mass.
Some good suggestions when to make the Sign of the Cross.
1. Immediately after waking and before sleeping – Making the sign of the Cross immediately after waking and before sleeping is as ancient as Christianity. It is a powerful way to consecrate our day to Our Lord.
2. When passing a Catholic Church – There is a beautiful Catholic tradition of crossing oneself while passing a Catholic Church in order to recognize Jesus present in the tabernacle and to show him honor and dignity.
2. At the Name of the Holy Trinity – In Catholic prayer, the name of the Holy Trinity is often invoked. To show honor to the Holy Trinity, it is a good idea to Cross yourself when saying the Glory Be or any other time the Name is invoked.
3. In reparation for blasphemy – The name of God is abused frequently in daily conversations. If you want to make an act of reparation to God for this abuse of his Name, you can quietly make the sign of the Cross.
4. Before entering a room or house – G.K. Chesterton, the famous Catholic convert and all around genius, was said to have made the sign of the cross before entering any room. This Catholic custom also applies to entering a house, and many (including this Catholic gentleman) have Holy Water fonts next to the door for blessings oneself when entering or leaving the home.
5. Blessing people or things – A small sign of the cross can be traced on the forehead of a child or upon an object which you wish to bless.
6. When afraid – In old movies that involve Catholicism, you will often see people cross themselves when in the presence of death, upon receiving bad news, or when generally afraid. Sadly, this custom has fallen out of use, but it is an excellent way to drive away fear and to inspire courage.
