Crossing oneself

[rockytrails]

I cross my self when Satan is throwing my sin's in my face to remind Myself and Him
Iam baptized and no sins of mine are stronger than that.

 

[Constantine_Orthodox]

There really is no "Lutheran" way to do it.

The Roman Catholics do it (with the right hand) head, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder. There is a specific reason they do it that way. Christ came from heaven (head) down to earth (chest) descended into hell (left shoulder) and ascended to the right hand of God (right shoulder).
The EOC does it right shoulder to left shoulder so that the right hand ends up over the heart. Most Lutherans I know (including myself) do it the Orthodox way, but basically because it's a more natural movement for the right hand. But neither way is strictly "Lutheran".

Question: How do the Lutherans hold their fingers when they 're crossing themselves?
The Orthodox hold the thumb, index finger and middle finger together representing the Trinity, and the ring finger and the little finger pressed in the palm representing the 2 natures (divine and human) of Christ.

 

[DaRev]

Question: How do the Lutherans hold their fingers when they 're crossing themselves?
The Orthodox hold the thumb, index finger and middle finger together representing the Trinity, and the ring finger and the little finger pressed in the palm representing the 2 natures (divine and human) of Christ.

Lutherans do it a variety of ways. Many do it as the EO do. Many will use the index and middle fingers together, others will use the whole hand with fingers tight together. I personally do it the way the EO do. The symbolism is wonderful.

 

[Aibrean]

We attended a new LCMS church last week and while I didn't notice if anyone was crossing (particularly because I didn't notice if the pastor was doing it) there were little crosses in the liturgy (so THAT is what those were for!). My home church - the pastor does it (and especially the assistant pastor because he was raised RC) and many members do as well.

I would love to personally but since I didn't grow up with it I feel a bit awkward like I'm not doing it right.

 

[LutheranChick]

Question: How do the Lutherans hold their fingers when they 're crossing themselves?
The Orthodox hold the thumb, index finger and middle finger together representing the Trinity, and the ring finger and the little finger pressed in the palm representing the 2 natures (divine and human) of Christ.

Interesting - no one in our church practices crossing themselves, and so I have never done it either. But just now, I tried to hold my thumb, index and middle fingers out while pressing the other 2 into my palm and had quite a time doing it, with my right hand! My left hand however, can do it just fine. Perhaps because I am left-handed. Sorry to interrupt, I just thought it was an interesting observation...

 

[wildboar]

I generally cross myself during those points in the service indicated by LSB. I'm not sure what percentage of the people do or don't do it in my church. I think most don't but some do. I don't really pay attention and I don't think anyone pays much attention to me doing it. Sometimes I am trying to keep my boys in line and can't quite pull the crossing myself off. I make the sign of the cross like the "old believers" among the Orthodox do with the two fingers slightly bent (representing the divine and human natures of Christ) and my thumb and other two fingers folded in to represent the Trinity. They argue that you shouldn't put the Trinity on the cross and I think it makes sense but I've never argued with anyone about it or even really talked to my pastor about it.

 

[cassie121]

Erm, I've actually never seen anyone at church cross themselves...I didn't know lutherans did that.

 

[seajoy]

Erm, I've actually never seen anyone at church cross themselves...I didn't know lutherans did that.

I've never seen a WELS person, but I have seen one LCMS person cross herself.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Erm, I've actually never seen anyone at church cross themselves...I didn't know lutherans did that.

For me it all started when we learned the catechism and Luther's morning and evening prayer. The Catechism tells us to "Make the sign of the Holy Cross and say: "In the Name of + the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I've never seen a WELS person, but I have seen one LCMS person cross herself.

In WELS, does the pastor not do the sign of the Cross at Baptisms, when he pronounces the Trinity (such as at the Invocation), at the Consecration of the Elements, when excusing tables of Communion and at the Benediction?


In my LCMS church, the pastor does the sign at all those places. He also crosses himself in the Creed and as he departs from the Holy Eucharist. Roughly half of us laity Cross ourselves during the worship, but then roughly half of us are former Catholics.




.

 

[seajoy]

In WELS, does the pastor not do the sign of the Cross at Baptisms, when he pronounces the Trinity (such as at the Invocation), at the Consecration of the Elements, when excusing tables of Communion and at the Benediction?


In my LCMS church, the pastor does the sign at all those places. He also crosses himself in the Creed and as he departs from the Holy Eucharist. Roughly half of us laity Cross ourselves during the worship, but then roughly half of us are former Catholics.




.

I was talking about the congregation. Yes, of course the pastor does the sign of the cross.

 

[seajoy]

Also, Josiah......do women pastors do the sign of the cross in the LCMS?.....if not (because there aren't any) you were not being consistent in your question to me, because I mentioned a women I saw in the LCMS crossing herself.

 

[porterross]

Erm, I've actually never seen anyone at church cross themselves...I didn't know lutherans did that.

I do it more often than I might realize. Remember, Luther encouraged it and rightfully so. My mother has always done it and I learned to appreciate why.
It is, for me, a very personal thing between me, the Father, Christ and HS and it is such a meaningful part of my personal devotion that I can't imagine how people function without it. It's not done to draw attention to yourself, but to remember your baptism and acknowledge the Holy Trinity, at the very least, anyway.

In UK, ALL Lutherans I've encountered cross themselves during DW when the Trinity is mentioned. I love it!!!!

I can hardly wait to get to Germany, Finland, etc. to see how orthodox they are there. This odyssey God has me on is most wondrous.

 

[seajoy]

I do sometimes cross myself when I pray at home by myself....but in my church, it would really draw attention to me because no one else does it.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I do sometimes cross myself when I pray at home by myself....but in my church, it would really draw attention to me because no one else does it.

Most likely few would notice. Those that do and take offense, It's their problem, not yours.

There are only three of us who do in my Congregation, four if you count Pastor, and no one says anything.

We started doing it during the Invocation at the beginning of Divine Service. Got comfortable, and now do it more often.

It is "good and right so to do".

Mark

 

[Melethiel]

I do sometimes cross myself when I pray at home by myself....but in my church, it would really draw attention to me because no one else does it.

I cross myself, as do a couple of other people. Nobody really seems to notice or care.

 

[seajoy]

I cross myself, as do a couple of other people. Nobody really seems to notice or care.

That's great - it just isn't done (by the congregation) in my church.

 

[joyfulthanks]

I cross myself Eastern-style (push rather than pull), but most of the other people in the congregation who cross themselves (of which there are only a few) cross themselves Western-style (pull rather than push).

It became very apparent recently when I was receiving communion next to a young man, and both of us crossed ourselves at the same time - only in opposite directions.

I always wonder if they're secretly laughing and thinking that I don't know how to cross myself correctly.

Maybe I should switch directions.

 

[LutheranHawkeye]

We attended a new LCMS church last week and while I didn't notice if anyone was crossing (particularly because I didn't notice if the pastor was doing it) there were little crosses in the liturgy (so THAT is what those were for!). My home church - the pastor does it (and especially the assistant pastor because he was raised RC) and many members do as well.

I would love to personally but since I didn't grow up with it I feel a bit awkward like I'm not doing it right.

I didn't grow up with it either. I started doing it in college and it really is a wonderful act of reverence, acknowledging the presence of God in the midst of the Divine Service. Funny story: I came back from college and attended my home church and I got a few stares when I went up for communion. A bunch of people had asked my dad if I had become Catholic at college. He just said that if every pastor does it why shouldn't every pre-seminarian do it. It really is fine though, you should try it and you'll really notice that it'll enhance your spiritual life.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I cross myself Eastern-style (push rather than pull), but most of the other people in the congregation who cross themselves (of which there are only a few) cross themselves Western-style (pull rather than push).

It became very apparent recently when I was receiving communion next to a young man, and both of us crossed ourselves at the same time - only in opposite directions.

I always wonder if they're secretly laughing and thinking that I don't know how to cross myself correctly.

Maybe I should switch directions.

Does not matter. Pastor and I do it "Eastern", the rest "Western". Either is good!