St. Tobias Parish issued the following announcement on Oct. 25.
As she began the session with those inquiring about Catholicism through the RCIA, Roberta led the participants in prayer, beginning with the Sign of the Cross. Following the prayer, one of the inquirers, Rita, asked Roberta about the tradition of signing oneself with the cross. “I know Catholics always begin prayer this way," Rita said. "I have even seen families making the Sign of the Cross at restaurants before meals, and that has always impressed me. But why? Isn’t the Crucifixion sad? Why remind ourselves of it so often?”
Roberta appreciated the depth of Rita’s question. She replied: “Rita, in some ways you are correct, the Crucifixion is sad. It is a sign of our sinfulness and our unwillingness to accept the love of God to which Jesus testified. But the cross is also a sign of the depths of God’s love, of Jesus’ acceptance of death for our sake, of the salvation which Christ offers, and it is a witness to Christ’s victory over death in the Resurrection. The sign is not simply a statement of faith, however. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we are also mindful of our call to live as Christian disciples, humbly carrying Christ’s life and love to the world.”
The participants then discussed the many ways they have experienced people sharing Christ’s love through their actions and words, taking a stand and reaching out, even when it is unpopular to do so.
Roberta reminded them of the threefold signing just before the Gospel is read, explaining that as we sign ourselves we ask God to be in our minds, on our lips and in our hearts. Rita voiced what many in the group were thinking: “This simple prayer conveys so much! It could take a lifetime to grasp it fully!”
This article comes to you from Grace In Action (Our Sunday Visitor) courtesy of your parish or diocese.
Original source can be found here.
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