WHY DO CATHOLIC SIGN OF THE CROSS?
The sign means a lot of things. In the book, I describe six meanings, with and without words. The sign of the cross is: a confession of faith; a renewal of baptism; a mark of discipleship; an acceptance of suffering; a defense against the devil; and a victory over self-indulgence.When you make the sign, you are professing a mini version of the creed — you are professing your belief in the Father, and in the Son and in the Holy Spirit. When you say the words and pray in someone’s name you are declaring their presence and coming into their presence — that’s how a name is used in Scripture.
The sign of the cross is a mark of discipleship. Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” . Self-denial is not just giving up little things; to be a disciple you are under Christ’s leadership and you don’t belong to yourself. By doing the sign of the cross, you’re saying to the Lord, “I want to obey you; I belong to you. You direct all my decisions. I will always be obedient to God’s law, Christ’s teachings and the Church.”
When suffering comes, the sign of the cross is a sign of acceptance. It’s remembering that Jesus became a man and suffered for us and that we participate in Christ’s suffering. The sign of the cross says, “I am willing to embrace suffering to share in Christ’s suffering.” Is it obligatory or is it the commandment of God? Not really there is no verses in the bible that commanded us to make a sign of the Cross even the priest never commanded us to do so. you are doing it in your own free will. God have given us the free will to choose what is right and what is wrong? Sign of the cross is a mark that show how faithful you are to God and you re willing to carry your cross and follow the path of Christ.
IS THERE ANY BIBLBICAL BASIS CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF SIGNING THE CROSS?
In the original Hebrew word “ TAW” or “ TAV” was used which means mark The sign of the cross was originally used by the Hebrew in the shape of a cross, It is very clear that even the early age the sign of the cross was used by the Hebrews. It is God who commanded the Jews to make a sign of the cross Ezekiel 9:4 and the Lord said unto him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who cry because of all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.”
That is why we Catholic make a sign of the cross as sign of faith to God. If you read the Hebrew bible it is written “emoi de mE genoito kauchasthai ei mE en tO staurO tou kuriou hEmOn iEsou iEsou christou di hou emoi kosmos estaurOtai kagO tO kosmO”
which means “ “But may it never be for me to boast, except in the cross our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the World.”(Galatians 6:4). St Paul used the world “Lexicon” which mean to glorify or to boast that is why St. Paul glorify the cross of the Lord It is a sign of God’s victory from death and the salvation of mankind. In Philippians 3:17 it is written Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark those who so walk, as ye have us for an example.” We catholic believes that we should be proud of the cross. Because of the God’s love to us. He brought salvation to mankind. Ephesians 2:15-16 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that He might make in Himself one new man out of the two, so making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God’s power