A Sign to guard and guide

Tradition and story, ritual and re-telling in the many facets of human existence help us to remember and keep to what is important. Whether it is grandmotherly recipes or the nuances of faith, tradition and ritual can have great value. Lent is a time of remembering our origins and our traditions and bringing us back to them. Of such is the Christian tradition of making the Sign of the Cross. In the main, the sign is associated with Catholic and Orthodox traditions. In the Reformed traditions of Western Christianity, it is maintained in the Anglican and Lutheran traditions.

But perhaps the Sign of the Cross is about to make a comeback. The evangelical magazine, Christianity To-day, has published an article which includes two book reviews on the topic.

Miss Eagle would like to bring to remembrance the Catholic tradition of the triple sign of the cross when standing to receive the Gospel. The triple sign of the cross is made with the thumb by tracing a cross on the forehead; on the lips; and on the sternum. As this is done the following words are said:

The Word be in my head

The Word be on my lips

The Word be in my heart