The Sign of the Cross
Traditional prayer of the Church. · The rights holder named on the source
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Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Latin text
Signum Crucis
In nomine Patris, et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.
Meaning in brief
The Sign of the Cross professes faith in the Triune God while marking ourselves with the cross of Christ. Its words echo Jesus' command to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19), so it reminds us of our Baptism.
Intentions and hope
The faithful make the Sign of the Cross to entrust themselves, their prayers, and their activities to God, and to ask for strength when facing temptation and difficulty. What we may hope for is closeness to God and a heart ready to receive his grace.
When and how to pray
- Use your right hand, either with three fingers held together or with an open palm.
- Touch your forehead while saying "In the name of the Father".
- Touch your chest while saying "and of the Son".
- Touch your left shoulder and then your right shoulder while saying "and of the Holy Spirit", then close with "Amen".
- Make it at the beginning and end of prayer, when Mass begins and at the final blessing, when entering a church (often with holy water), before and after meals, on waking, and before sleep.
- Make it also when receiving a priest's blessing, or when you are anxious or tempted.
Where it comes from
History
The earliest form of the Sign of the Cross was a small cross traced on the forehead with the thumb or one finger. Later the gesture was enlarged to cover the whole upper body. [5]
The larger gesture, from forehead to chest and then from shoulder to shoulder, is thought to date from around the fifth century. It is associated with debates about the two natures of Christ and about the Trinity. To this day that way of making the sign is still practiced by the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches. [3]
Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) described the Sign of the Cross made with three fingers, in keeping with the invocation of the Trinity. His description reflects a shift in the Latin Church toward the Western custom of touching the left shoulder first, then the right. [3]
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 2157) teaches that Christians begin their day, their prayers, and their activities with the Sign of the Cross. The Catechism also states that this sign strengthens us in temptations and difficulties. [4]
Tradition · The Church counts the Sign of the Cross among the sacramentals: holy signs that prepare a person to receive grace and sanctify a moment or situation. [3]
Sources & version
Text: The rights holder named on the source. Checked word for word against the source on 2026-10-30.
- Catholic Prayers
Text taken from www.xavier.edu
Prayer text © The rights holder named on the source; quoted with attribution and a link (owner decision K2, ADR 0067).
- Traditional Catholic Prayers in Latin
Latin text from www.loyolapress.com
Latin text quoted with attribution and a link.
- What is the origin of the sign of the cross?
Published by Catholic Straight Answers
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2157
Published by St. Charles Borromeo (CCC text)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- The Sign of the Cross: Its History, Meaning and Biblical Basis
Published by CatholicConvert.com
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
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