Originally posted by isshinwhat
The same thing happened with me, Joe. It'll come with time. I still feel self-conscious making the sign of the cross in public from time to time... On occasion, though, I find myself making it spontaneously, yet prayerfully... that feels nice. I have faith that eventually it won't bother me at all. It's hard, though, after living as a Protestant for 21 years.
Well, I do it occasionally, esp when I say the Rosary. When 9-11 rolled around, some of the church groups on campus put flowers at the flag poll. I felt compelled to give the sign of the cross out of respect, so I did it. Of course, this was early in the morning when not many people were around, and when I tried doing it later in the day as I passed the poll, I felt greatly intimidated. I've also made a habit of giving it when I pass cemeteries while driving. My friend said that that is one of the occasions on which it is a standard practice. I don't know if she meant strictly
Catholic cemeteries or what, but I believe that all those that have passed on into Glory deserve respect.
The sign of the cross makes me feel good, for lack of satisfactory wording. It makes me feel united with Christ. Sometimes when I go to the Chapel on campus to pray, right before I walk out the door, I will give it, and that reminds of who I am and what I'm supposed to do in this world. I can feel and remember that initial impression upon my forehead, and I "feel" and remember the cross that is "laid" upon me as and after I complete the sign. I feel "marked" for Christ, His child and His conduit for God's love on Earth. It sets the mood of constant prayer upon me throughout the rest of the day. It really is a wonderful thing to feel and behold.
It also reminds me of the love that my brothers and sisters in Christ hold for me. Whenever I give it, it reminds me of the blessing that the priest gave me when I went to my first mass. I remember the love with which he blessed me, the sense of power and love that I felt. It is indescribable. I'm saying that word, "love", a lot, but such an example deserves its constant presence. Love is what I felt when I was blessed, and love is what I am reminded of all throughout the day.
I've never been around a lot of Catholic Christians, and this blessing was a way that I could let them love me, because I have never done such before. It opened me to a new experience of compassion from a "type" of Christian that I had had very little interaction with before. It was a wonderful experience, and I remind myself of it as often as possible with the sign of the cross. It is such a simple act, it requires almost no effort, and yet the power and spiritual reflection that it induces is incalculable.