A Short reflection in prparation for Lent which for Latin rite Catholics begins this Wednesday, February 13th.
As we prepare to enter the sacred season of Lent it's a good time to reflect on one of the most common of prayers recited by Catholics as well as by many of the other Christian faiths; specifically "the Sign of the Cross".
Blessed Alcuin who lived from around 730 a.d. and died in 804 a.d. notes:
"Infinite Wisdom has chosen the cross because a slight motion of the hand is sufficiant to trace upon us the instrument of the divine torture--the bright and powerful sign that teaches us all that we have to know and serves as a sign against our enemies."
A few years ago I read the book "The Sign of the Cross" by Bert Ghezzi, copy written in 2004 and published by Loyola Press. I learned from this book that the making and praying this prayer is one of the most ancient in Christiandom; in another publication I read that reportedly the early Christian martyrs made the sign of the cross just preceding their executions in the various arenas
differentciating themselves from the non-Christians being executed.
A close reading of two of Saint Paul's letters (Ephesians 1:13 and Galatians 6:17) indicates to some the existance of this prayer in his lifetime. I understand that the earlist specific description of the Sign of the Cross was by Tertullian whose approximate dates of birth and death are 160 and 225 a.d. respectively.
The Sign of the Cross was a common prayer throughout Christandom up to the Protestant Reformation when it was discouraged as superstition. The misuse of this prayer is at fualt. As early as the 5th-6th century Saint Caeserius (ca. 470-543 a.d.), the bishop of Arles (modern day France) warned against abusing the pray/sign. Martin Luther however, retained the prayer and encouraged in his "The Small Catechism" "As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say: 'May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be done. Amen.'"
In the Latin rite Catholic Church when a person makes the Sign of the Cross today the short prayer is: "In the Nanme of The Father, and The son and The Holy Spirit. Amen." This is a profound prayer and we may wish to pray it often throughout the day, especially during the Sacred Season of Lent. Another short prayer warranting reflection and recitation is "The Glory Be". This short prayer is: "Glory be to The Father, and to The Son and to The Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen"
(Some of the above thoughts are my own though most were prompted by Bert Ghezzi's book--which I recommend reading, it's only 120 pages long--The the quotes of Blessed Alcuin and Martin Luther are found in his book.)
As we prepare to enter the sacred season of Lent it's a good time to reflect on one of the most common of prayers recited by Catholics as well as by many of the other Christian faiths; specifically "the Sign of the Cross".
Blessed Alcuin who lived from around 730 a.d. and died in 804 a.d. notes:
"Infinite Wisdom has chosen the cross because a slight motion of the hand is sufficiant to trace upon us the instrument of the divine torture--the bright and powerful sign that teaches us all that we have to know and serves as a sign against our enemies."
A few years ago I read the book "The Sign of the Cross" by Bert Ghezzi, copy written in 2004 and published by Loyola Press. I learned from this book that the making and praying this prayer is one of the most ancient in Christiandom; in another publication I read that reportedly the early Christian martyrs made the sign of the cross just preceding their executions in the various arenas
differentciating themselves from the non-Christians being executed.
A close reading of two of Saint Paul's letters (Ephesians 1:13 and Galatians 6:17) indicates to some the existance of this prayer in his lifetime. I understand that the earlist specific description of the Sign of the Cross was by Tertullian whose approximate dates of birth and death are 160 and 225 a.d. respectively.
The Sign of the Cross was a common prayer throughout Christandom up to the Protestant Reformation when it was discouraged as superstition. The misuse of this prayer is at fualt. As early as the 5th-6th century Saint Caeserius (ca. 470-543 a.d.), the bishop of Arles (modern day France) warned against abusing the pray/sign. Martin Luther however, retained the prayer and encouraged in his "The Small Catechism" "As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say: 'May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be done. Amen.'"
In the Latin rite Catholic Church when a person makes the Sign of the Cross today the short prayer is: "In the Nanme of The Father, and The son and The Holy Spirit. Amen." This is a profound prayer and we may wish to pray it often throughout the day, especially during the Sacred Season of Lent. Another short prayer warranting reflection and recitation is "The Glory Be". This short prayer is: "Glory be to The Father, and to The Son and to The Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen"
(Some of the above thoughts are my own though most were prompted by Bert Ghezzi's book--which I recommend reading, it's only 120 pages long--The the quotes of Blessed Alcuin and Martin Luther are found in his book.)
Labels: Reflection
posted by Paul Amrhein | 3:30 PM
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