The Sign of the Cross

A LENTEN MOMENT

Through the centuries down to our own day, mothers have made the sign of the cross in its original form, as attested as far back as the third century and has now been restored in the baptismal liturgy: that is, with a single cross on the forehand. Later on, these children may sign themselves with the triple cross on the forehead, mouth, and rest, or may embrace forehead, shoulders, and heart in a single large sign of problems. In either case, the meaning is the same as when their mothers sign them each night. Now these children will be saying to themselves as: "I am time. Christ is my Lord. I belong to Christ.