So, yeah, I haven't stayed away have I? Well, I guess I am not going to, but these posts are going to be significantly shorter than usual and more ad-libbed.
Anyway, I've been trying to figure out if I'm being a bad catholic somehow because I generally fail to make the Sign of the Cross before praying. Actually, that isn't wholly truthful because I do make the sign of the cross in the presence of other Catholics or before I pray the rosary while I exercise. I just don't make the Sign of the Cross clearly before I pray over my meals, or when I am in the presence of my non-Catholic Christian brethren. I do tend to do either a mental Sign of the Cross or a mini-sign with my thumb on my forehead, but those just seem lacking to me now.
My excuses are basically "I don't want to stand out," "I don't want to appear presumptuous ," or "I don't want to deal with an apologeticx argument now."
So, since most of my excuses sound pathetic when I voice them, I figure I've got to step up and step out. However, before I deal with my excuses in particular, I think you might agree with the question "why should I care?" Really, doesn't everything come down to that? As in, what's the point? Truly, if there is no reason then well... there is just plain no reason, right?
The point then of the Sign of the Cross is what? Okay, are you ready for the cookie cutter answer I've known since I was little but have been unable to explain for so long? The Sign of the Cross is the simplest profession of faith in the form of an outward sign used to mark myself as in accord with Christ's church and in communion with all of Christianity. Yeah, cute, eh? My issue has always been with what does that exactly mean? Moreover, how would I explain it to a hostile crowd that would see accord with the church as something that mindless sheep do.
The thing about having something bother you interminably is that you think about it and anytime you encounter anything related to it, it sticks. I use this approach to thought when I'm studying Japanese by creating a state of preoccupation with the language. However, I digress. Anyway, my search for information on the Sign of the Cross has been scattered at best but my thoughts on the Sign of the Cross seem to have come to a boiling point tonight and no amount of forced necessity concerning schoolwork or Japanese can seem to yank me away from expressing my thoughts.
The Sign of the Cross is significant, plain and simple. What other belief system has such a defining characteristic? Besides, the action mirrors that of the great commission, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matt 28:19 RSV That however, only deals with the form of the Sign of the Cross. The form, by the by, is very simple:
In the name of the father (Touch one's forehead)
And the Son (Touch one's chest)
And the Holy Spirit (Touch one's left and then right shoulder)
Amen (typically: fold one's hands together)
I guess you could say, the Sign of the Cross is used to log in or to log out of prayer. Why? I don't know, but it seems fitting to open and end with a fiat.
There are apparently variations that are concerned with whether you touch with your index finger, your middle finger, your thumb and forefinger together, your thumb, index and middle finger together to represent the trinity, etc etc etc. I've come to the conclusion that that part doesn't matter so much, besides its not like any of the variations previously mentioned are truly substantial matters. For personal significance, I like taking the three fingers together to represent the trinity and then, per what seems to me to be a Hispanic tradition, I kiss the three fingers at the Amen part. Especially if this action is accompanied by a genuflection, it just seems more reverent to me. I really only would use that form in a church though because it would seem excessive any other time.
So, then, because I know I haven't answered anywhere near well enough the questions that would be raised with regard to the scriptures, I must continue. First of all, it doesn't appear to be contradictory to scripture to me, so I would have trouble understanding any opposition to anything so hardcore as an external sign accompanying faith, but then again, I am the Catholic talking now. So, the best directly Biblical comparison that I can give besides the great commission is that of the seals on the foreheads of the many saved in the Revelation of John. (7:3, 9:4, 14:1 for those who want to check) However, yeah, that is a somewhat weak argument for the Sign of the Cross, but on the other hand, anything evenly slightly positive for it is far better than the negatives I have been unable to find.
Allow me for a moment to step up my explanation a notch. The Sign of the Cross is first of all, a lowercase-t tradition which means it is not doctrinal, but like the convention of chapters and verses in the Bible, it too serves a purpose. When one performs the Sign of the Cross one affirms their faith in the living God, recalls their baptism, reveals their connection with Christ's church and awakens one's senses to be better attentive in prayer. In essence, it makes you accountable.
Which, of course, brings me all the way back around to my first thoughts: Do I fail?
I don't want to stand out
Just remember the nail that sticks out gets hammered down is a prevailing notion that I have been steeped in because of my connections with Japanese culture. This excuse just smacks of my Japanese-ish side horribly. I never actually noticed till now, that when you think about, that statement is horribly accurate. How do you think the Church grew in the early days? The blood of the martyrs acted as seeds for the faith of many. They stood out and got hammered down, but what happened? More rose to take their places, and more will if it happens again.
"I don't want to appear presumptuous"
Actually, I don't have a strong argument against this one. Why? Well, because this is a rational fear that my ego will get in the way and I will be making the Sign of the Cross just so I can proclaim my own righteousness. That would be an epic fail and a good reason for me to actually not make an outward sign.
"I don't want to deal with an apologeticx argument now."
1 Peter 3:15, I think I quoted this in a previous post, but pause for a second to think about it. "Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;" RSV Yeah, so I guess, what part of always don't I understand? I guess I need more faith and a willingness to trust the Lord so that I won't get tongue-tied.
I guess, I will be using the Sign of the Cross more frequently from here on out. Ooh, maybe I should start saying it in Japanese. I might then have the gumption to do it.
父と子と精霊のみなによって、アーメン。 だって日本語のほうは短いとは思わないの？
Go and Set the World Ablaze.
2 comments:
hm... I might have messed up my browser so comments don't get sent. Apologies if this is a repeat.
>[in regard either to the sign of the cross of the kissing of the fingers, don't remember which]...Especially if this action is accompanied by a genuflection.
This is not a contention, it's a genuine request for clarification... I thought "genuflection" *was* the sign of the cross? Can you differentiate or confirm?
>...reveals their connection with Christ's church and awakens one's senses to be better attentive in prayer. In essence, it makes you accountable.
In engineering terms, I've come to think of quite a few Catholic practices (such as praying the rosary or wearing medals) as psychological activators; utilities for taking advantage of the spiritual law that what we fixate on, we bring into our lives. In that sense, making the sign of the cross is kind of like stepping on your mind's gas pedal.
In a very real sense, you are invoking the thought energy of Catholics who have been doing this through the ages, while contributing your own. Thus it has a very palpable effect on your religious discipline, the intended mechanical function of which is to fixate your mind - with a force similar to a magnet, or rather, the gravity of a supernova - on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
By the way, I haven't heard of any well-established objections to the sign of the cross. Part of the reason for this is that most people really have no idea about what it is or means, to the point where you will find Muslims, Native Americans, and Buddhist monks using it in cheesy movies. The only reason I can think of for Protestants to criticize it is precisely because of its distinction as a Catholic practice. As harsh as it is, we evangelicals put you guys on pretty much equal footing with the other major world religions (he said, gleefully alienating the audience)... that's why I used to assume that Catholics see us the same way.
you lucked out: no repeat comments. ^_^
At least as far as I know, Genuflection is the act of bending one's knee(s) and assuming temporarily a kneeling position. Typically, I kneel on my right knee, but in cases where there is exposition of the Eucharist, I find it more fitting to drop to both knees, contemplate why I'm there, and then make the sign of the cross before standing again.
I like your engineers perspective. It's not a bad description of what the driving thought is behind sacramentals.
Yeah, I guess that's true. I hadn't actually tried to figure out what would be the objections raised to the sign of the cross... well, outside of the typical "its not in the Bible" argument. Which it is... sorta.
Laters
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