The Sign of the Cross

The Sign of the Cross is the foundational gesture of Catholic prayer and worship — the act of tracing the cross over one's body while saying "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It professes the two greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the Trinity and the Incarnation (CCC 2166).

What It Means

The words "In the name" — singular, not plural — profess the unity of God. "The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" professes the Trinity. The gesture of tracing the cross over the body brings together the mystery of the Trinity with the instrument of our salvation — professing that the Triune God saved us through the cross of his incarnate Son (CCC 2157).

How It Is Made

In the Latin Church, the Sign of the Cross is made by touching the forehead (Father), the chest (Son), the left shoulder, then the right shoulder (Holy Spirit). In the Eastern Churches, the order of shoulders is reversed (right before left). Both forms are equally valid (CCC 2157).

When Catholics Make the Sign of the Cross

Catholics make the Sign of the Cross at the beginning and end of prayer, when entering a church (with holy water), at the beginning of Mass, when receiving a blessing, and at many other points throughout the liturgy and personal devotion. It is the Christian's daily reminder of their Baptism and their identity as children of God (CCC 2157).

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the Sign of the Cross? The Sign of the Cross is among the earliest documented Christian practices — Tertullian (c. 200 AD) mentions that Christians traced the cross on their foreheads at all moments of daily life. The full form tracing the cross over the body developed later in the liturgy (CCC 1235, 2157).