More Than a Gesture: Veneration of the Cross in Every Move

Reflection on the Meaning of Crossing Oneself

By Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, Metropolitan-Emeritus

On this third Sunday of Great Fast, a time when we observe the Veneration of the Holy Cross, let’s reflect on a significant way we regularly proclaim the meaning of the cross in our faith in our daily life.

When you and I enter our Church, what is perhaps the first thing you may find yourself doing, almost automatically? You probably crossed yourself as you are entering a sacred place. You crossed yourself, quietly praying “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.  

That humble physical action of crossing yourself expressed and strengthened some spiritual realities. Let’s give some thought at what crossing ourselves means for us.

You and I acknowledge the presence of God. You and I invite GRACE into the moment of entering a sacred place.  It serves as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It invokes God’s protection and blessing.

When we cross ourselves, we are making a profession of faith in God as He revealed Himself.  In a sense, we are reciting a shortened version of the Apostles Creed, as we are declaring our belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

Every time we cross ourselves, we are recalling for ourselves our baptism, when the sign of the cross was made by the celebrant over our forehead. We are reminded that we die with Jesus and we are resurrected with Christ. We recall our baptismal call to seek the salvation of souls, following the instruction of Jesus to “Go and baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. We are affirming the Holy Trinity, God in unity of love of Three Persons.  

With that simple action, that simple gesture of crossing ourselves praying “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, we recall that God is with us. We recall our call to take up our cross; we affirm the Holy Trinity. We prepare for our own salvation in Jesus Christ. This simple action serves as a visible expression of our faith and our commitment to our Christian beliefs.

The huge significance of this action of crossing ourselves speaks loudly to you and to me as to the importance of our performing this action with great reverence.  

We place our three forefingers together signifying the Holy Trinity, and then touch our forehead, our breast, the right shoulder and then the left shoulder with reverence, and not quickly.  We affirm the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as if speaking to God personally and from our heart.

We are acknowledging the presence of God and inviting Grace into the moment, whether the moment involves prayer, or entering a sacred place, or responding to a moment of temptation or difficulty.  When something is disturbing you, or upsetting you, pause for a bit, sit down, cross yourself affirming the Holy Trinity, and allow God’s grace to calm you.

Making the sign of the cross is very powerful.  I have seen crying babies during baptisms often almost immediately stopping to cry after the sign of the cross being made over their forehead.

 I have read accounts of prisoners of the gulags in Russia reverently crossing themselves over a small piece of dry bread and a bowl of awful soup and the impact of inspiring hope and peace amidst his fellow prisoners who are observing that man crossing himself.

Watch professional football, soccer and hockey players pause to cross themselves in public and on media, invoking God’s grace and protection.   Observe the effect it has on yourself watching this action, and the effect it has on others who may be watching.

Making a sign of the cross on yourself can have a huge and unknown impact on others around you, perhaps reminding them of the presence and protection of God.  Unknown to you, it can bring hope and peace to someone struggling with life’s challenges.  It may even remind others of their own faith, and serve as a call to rekindle their journey with God.

The cross speaks to you and to me of the extraordinary gift of God. Jesus spoke to us of self-denial.  Jesus asks you and me to humble ourselves that we may continue to understand His gift on the cross for you and for me.

You and I walk through the entrance doors of our church always mindful of our being clothed in weakness.  We enter the church to rekindle our love for God.  We seek the Lord’s mercy.  We are nurtured by God’s Word and nourished by the Holy Eucharist.  

Choose to relate with the Lord with great humility in the simple action of making the sign of the cross.  Do it with great reverence, mindful that you are ‘speaking’ to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

Remember that you are fulfilling Jesus’ command to “go and baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit” by your own example of living and praying with great humility.  You can serve as a powerful instrument of rekindling others’ faith and offering God’s grace and peace.

You and I will leave the Church through the same doors empowered with joyful enthusiasm to bring the good news to all.  We, like the penitent thief, come to a deeper insight as to the power of Jesus’ kingdom.  

The exciting gift of God is that our growing in understanding of God assures you and me of hearing the words of Jesus, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43).

Слава Ісусу Христу! Glory be to Jesus Christ!

Photo: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago