I asked the children about making the sign of the cross.
Why do we do it?
What does it mean?
What do we think will happen?
The answers were interesting but if we asked ourselves and each other the same three questions, what would our answers be?
After thousands of times making this sign does it have any personal meaning and what does it trigger in us?
The sign of the cross is often seen as the way we begin prayer, but is it more and what is prayer these days anyway?
There are so many any ways to experience prayer and with the internet and email there are now all those feel good little poems floating out there in the ether. What do they do for us, what do we do after reading them, do we feel any better?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I remember in an Infants school, we had a 'silent' sign of the cross! It actually meant a lot more to the little children as it involved actions that reflected what the words meant. We had a lot of 'action' prayers/ hymns... I think for little ones the more physically involved they are, the more a prayer or hymn or ritual involves them, and assists them to make meaning.
Sign of the cross....
I tend to think of it as "signing on" and "signing off"....similar to the old fashioned punch cards at the begining and end of a working shift.
(I haven't had specific experience with these machines, although i do remember seeing one once on a re-run of Laverne and Shirley. Others @ HFS might be able to relate better)
ANYWAY....the sign of the cross is like a reminder, a call for reverence. I am about to begin my conversation with God and I will settle myself accordingly.
As I read the children's responses in Margaret's class I related to one in particular, viewing the sign of the cross as a way of telling God I want to talk to him and saying "Amen" was signing off as Mel also said. Although I don't always focus on what I am saying at the time of doing the sign of the cross, I feel it gets me to focus on what I'm about to say in my prayer.
We call it a blessing. We say we "bless ourselves." Tracing with our hand the figure of the cross on our forehead, our breast, our shoulders, we bless ourselves
The Sign of the Cross expresses blessing. It symbolizes God blessing us, God embracing us with blessings.
Some other ideas to a simple yet deep ritual
As a further to Mr b's comment, I concur that it is a blessing but by the naming of the three persons of the Trinity it comes to me that the blessing is being asked of God in all the forms that we as humans attempt to place on him/her. To our God who is everywhere in everyway.
Post a Comment