January 7, 2006
The Sign of the Cross in the Early Church
Tertullian, (168 ad to 225 ad) a theologian from North. Africa writes
“In all our travels and our movements, in all our comings in and goings out in putting on our shoes at the back, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down and sitting down, whatever employment occupies us we mark our foreheads with the Sign of the Cross”.
St. John Chrystondom, the patriarch of Constantinople who lived from 347 to 407 writes about the sign of the cross:
“Never leave your house without making the sign of the cross. It will be to you a staff, a weapon, an impregnable fortress. Neither man nor demon will dare to attack you, seeing you covered with such powerful armor. Let this sign teach you that you are a soldier ready to combat against the demons and ready to fight for the crown of justice. Are you ignorant of what the cross has done? It has vanquished death, it has destroyed sin it has emptied hell. It has dethroned Satan and restored the universe. Would you then doubt its power”?
This is a quote from Martin Luther in his small Catechism:
“As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless yourself with the sign of the cross, saying may the will of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be done today. Amen.”
A citation from Cyril of Jerusalem:
”Let us not be ashamed of the cross of Christ. Even if someone else conceals it, you must carry its mark publicly on your forehead so that demons seeing the royal sign, they will fly away trembling forever. Make this sign on all occasions.”
St. Augustine:
“If you bear on your forehead the sign of the humility of Jesus Christ, bear in your heart the imitation of the humility of Jesus Christ”.
Yet another quote from the Venerable John Henry Newman the great convert of nineteenth century England:
“Whenever across the sinful flesh of mine, I draw the holy sign.
All good thoughts stir within me and renew their slumbering strength divine.
Till there springs up a courage high that’s true, to suffer and to do.”