Have you experienced this? You’re in worship, someone beside you quietly traces a cross from forehead to chest and shoulder to shoulder, and you wonder, What exactly are they doing? Is this just a habit, a superstition, or something deeper?
Find out why Anglicans make the sign of the cross in this short video:
Want to learn a little more? Join us as we explore the sign of the cross.
The sign of the cross is a simple prayer made with our bodies, tracing a cross from the forehead to our chest and across our shoulders, saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” echoing Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19.
In many Christian traditions, the priest traces a small cross on the forehead of the person being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s a simple gesture with a beautiful message: “You are sealed as Christ’s own forever.”
Each time we cross ourselves, we remember that seal and the comforting truth behind it: we belong to Christ and are deeply loved, forgiven, and united with Jesus in his death and resurrection.
Christians have also turned to the sign of the cross for courage and reassurance when facing temptation or praying for protection from evil. This is part of what Christians mean by “spiritual warfare”: facing evil with confidence in Jesus rather than relying on our own strength.
In fact, many believers still make the sign of the cross before leaving home, starting a difficult conversation, or settling down to sleep as a reminder: “I belong to Christ, and I don’t face this alone.”
It’s not about how brave or strong we feel. It’s about trusting that Jesus is faithfully near, whatever comes our way.
Finally, you might be surprised to learn just how far back this practice goes. Around AD 200, the Christian writer Tertullian described believers tracing a cross on their foreheads throughout the day: “in all our actions, when we come in or go out, when we dress, when we wash, at our meals, before retiring to sleep.”
It was a simple way Christians brought their faith into everyday life.
Find out WHEN people make the sign of the cross.