The Sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross is a very simple, very powerful prayer and expression of our faith. In Scripture, St. Paul says:
23But we preach Christcrucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:
The sign of the cross which we etch on our being reminds us that Christ was crucified and died for our salvation.
Scripture says:
19Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the HolyGhost.
When we etch the sign of the cross upon ourselves, we say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". This reminds us of our Baptism by which we are incorporated into the Body of Christ.
The sign of the cross which we etch upon ourselves reminds us that we are marked as children of God:
4 And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem: and markThau upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the midst thereof.
3Saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree: but only the men who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.
Before hearing the Gospels in the Mass, we sign the cross three times.
First on our forehead, and we say, "May the Word of God be ever on our minds...".
Then on our lips and say, "... on our lips ..."
And then over our hearts and say, "And in our hearts. Amen."