The sign of the cross is a beautiful gesture which reminds the faithful of both the cross of salvation while invoking the Holy Trinity. Technically, the sign of the cross is a sacramental, a sacred sign instituted …

Concerning the making the sign of the cross at the proclamation of the Holy Gospel, after the deacon or priest says, “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to ….,” he and the faithful make the sign of …

The simple answer: No, IHS is not an acronym for “I have suffered.” Rather, IHS is a Christogram — a combination of letters that represent the holy name “Jesus.” Early scribes would abbreviate the …

Why does the orthodox cross have three bars with the bottom one slanted? The cross with which most Roman Catholics are familiar is technically termed the “Latin Cross,” which has the long vertical …

A fifth century story of the life of St. Genevieve recounted how St. Germain placed a medal marked with the sign of the cross around her neck to be a physical reminder of her vow of virginity.

The formal greeting sequence at the beginning of Mass is recorded in St. Augustine’s The City of God. Since the earliest times of the Church, the Mass began with the sign of the cross.

The practice of genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament, whether enclosed in the tabernacle or exposed in a monstrance, is a beautiful sign of adoration. This physical act of genuflection …

The priest blesses the ashes and imposes them on the foreheads of the faithful, making the sign of the cross and saying, “Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Turn away from …

For example, we begin and end Mass by making the sign of the cross; during the Confiteor, we strike our breast; we sign ourselves with the cross on the forehead, lips, and heart at the proclamation of …

The stole too is of ancient origin. Rabbis wore prayer shawls with tassels as a sign of their authority. The crisscrossing of the stole also was symbolic of the crisscrossed belts the Roman soldiers wore: one …