What the Sign of the Cross means

Hollywood has a surefire, shorthand way to signal that a character in a film is Catholic: have the actor make the sign of the cross. This symbolic ritual used throughout the world easily identifies a person as Catholic. Unfortunately it can also easily become a cliché. Think about the athlete who makes the sign at the free-throw line or batter's box or the person who superstitiously makes a quick sign of the cross upon hearing bad news--almost like knocking on wood.

But when we make the sign of the cross intentionally, we invoke the power of symbols that are at the core of our faith. This simple action is loaded with meaning, meaning that you can share with your kids.

The cross = Love is stronger than death.
In the name of = We intend to act as God acts.
The Father = The creator of all that is, the one who created me.
The Son = The one who saves me from sin.
The Holy Spirit = The one who guides me to the truth.

The form we trace on our bodies capsulizes the story of Jesus' dying and his rising. This is a pattern we claim for ourselves. Dying leads to rising.

What we, in essence, say to our children when we teach them the sign of the cross is the following: "This is beyond you now. But through the course of your life I hope you will come to grasp this mystery more and more. We're remembering what God has done for us: The Father has created us, as well as all that we see. What''s more, we're created in God's own likeness. The Son has lived faithfully among us, showing us the way, the truth, and the life. His Crucifixion could not stop his message. And the Holy Spirit is alive in our midst with gifts to help us live life abundantly. Don't take this sign lightly, it's the central sign of our faith."