HISTORY We find it from the Fathers of the Church as early as the 2nd century (thousands of years before any other denominations were born). In the 4th century, St Basil said that the apostles 'taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord.' At first the cross was traced on the forehead and later evolved to include marking the breast and each shoulder as well. It was Pope Leo IX in the mid 9th century that gave instruction on making the practice what it still is today. WHY WE DO IT? It is far from just a gesture or worse, a superstition. Each time we sign ourselves with the Cross (the symbol of our salvation), we are asking for God's blessing and remembering our baptismal promises. (Matthew 28:19 Go, therefore... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the H oly Spirit.) CATHOLICS DID NOT INVENT SIGNS & SYMBOLS Outward signs are important to human beings. The use of symbols and signs is innatel...
