Why Do We Do That

A question came up in confirmation class last week that seemed worth answering for everyone: Why (and how) do we cross ourselves?

You see this on Sunday all the time, people around you are making the sign of the cross. But if you are new to the Episcopal Church, or if you have been here for years and simply never stopped to ask, you might wonder, “Why do we do that?”

The short answer is simple: we cross ourselves as a way of remembering that we belong to Christ.

Making the sign of the cross is an ancient Christian practice. It is not required of Episcopalians, and there is no “right” number of times to do it. Some people cross themselves often, and some not at all. Either and any number of times in between is fine. It is a personal devotional practice, not a test.

During a service, there are many times where it is appropriate. When we mention the Trinity at the words “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” and after receiving a blessing. When the priest professes God’s forgiveness at the absolution (after the confession) and before or after receiving communion are all perfectly appropriate and encouraged times to cross yourself.

The gesture is a physical reminder of the central story of our faith: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that is part of what makes Episcopal worship so engaging. We use our bodies and our senses, and not just our brains. We stand, sit, kneel, sing, pray, listen, receive Communion, and we also make a gesture with our bodies that reminds us to whom we belong.

So the next time you see someone cross themselves at Emmanuel, you don’t have to wonder if you missed something in the bulletin. You haven’t. They

are simply taking a moment to remember: I belong to Christ, and Christ has blessed me in his life, death and resurrection.

So, if you’ve never crossed yourself, give it a try. First touch your forehead, then your chest, your left shoulder, your right shoulder, then back to your chest.

If you have other questions about why Episcopalians do what we do, or why we are the way we are, feel free to ask. I’m sure other people want to know the answer as well.