How important is it that Eastern Catholics do the sign of the cross different than Western Catholics?

[hamburglar]

I was recently talking to a Ukrainian Catholic priest, and I don't want to say he scolded me, but he was sure to take time to tell me that Eastern Catholics do it correctly (right shoulder then left shoulder), and the Latin Church does it incorrectly (left shoulder then right shoulder).

I realize that it is because it is to mirror the priest when he does the sign of the cross to you, but how important is this difference? I guess the Eastern way makes more sense, but it really seems like he put a lot of importance on it.

[ronyodish]

I was recently talking to a Ukrainian Catholic priest, and I don't want to say he scolded me, but he was sure to take time to tell me that Eastern Catholics do it correctly (right shoulder then left shoulder), and the Latin Church does it incorrectly (left shoulder then right shoulder).

hamburglar,

Not all Eastern Christians do the sign of the cross the same way Greek Christians do it.

Check out this Syriac Orthodox video. The sign of the cross is done the same way the Latins do it (left to right):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qrc4cH9PlyU

God bless,

Rony

[East and West]

Originally Posted by hamburglar

I was recently talking to a Ukrainian Catholic priest, and I don't want to say he scolded me, but he was sure to take time to tell me that Eastern Catholics do it correctly (right shoulder then left shoulder), and the Latin Church does it incorrectly (left shoulder then right shoulder).

I realize that it is because it is to mirror the priest when he does the sign of the cross to you, but how important is this difference? I guess the Eastern way makes more sense, but it really seems like he put a lot of importance on it.

I don't think either way is right. I think that different Churches just have different traditions when it comes to how to make the sign of the cross.

[rome1453]

Exactly!

I do not think it is important which way you do it, but why you do it and for which reason.

John

[ronyodish]

Question: What is the right way to do the sign of the cross?

Answer: The right way to do it is to go from right to left, and the left way to do it is to go from left to right!

That was the answer Jimmy Akin gave at a Chaldean convention in San Diego in 2004 when the Assyrian bishop Mar Bawai, and the Chaldean bishop Mar Sarhad were present.

Then, the person who asked the question said something like:

Question: I'm not satisfied with that answer. Mar Bawai, how do you answer?

Answer: I agree with Jimmy!

At that answer, everyone started laughing, and the poor questioner seemed embarrassed by the answer

God bless,

Rony

[Charlie Zeaiter]

FYI: Maronite Catholics do it the same way as Latins; Left shoulder to right.

[mardukm]

It's been explained to me that the significance of the direction reflects the direction Christianity spread - from "East" to "West" (right to left) - also analogized by the direction of the Sun rising from East to West. I guess when Christians in the West found themselves facing East, the mirror image would be left to right, which accounts for the change in direction.

I could be wrong, but I believe the Armenians also sign the same way the Latins do it. Perhaps Oriental Christianity in general is reflective of its unspoken status as the "middle way" within apostolic Christianity (no knock to the Anglicans who claim "middle way" status within Western Christendom )

Blessings,
Marduk

[Alexius]

Armenians go from left to right, but they posture their fingers the same way the Greek Church does. I have heard that the West used to do it the same as the Greeks, so I think that that would make the Latin way wrong. What is certainly incorrect if you are comparing to the majority, is the open hand--I never understood that.

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

[mardukm]

Originally Posted by Alexius

Armenians go from left to right, but they posture their fingers the same way the Greek Church does. I have heard that the West used to do it the same as the Greeks, so I think that that would make the Latin way wrong. What is certainly incorrect if you are comparing to the majority, is the open hand--I never understood that.

From my observation, the Latin finger posture is the same as the Old Believers finger posture. Why would that be wrong?

Blessings

[Byzcat]

OK.

The proper way to do it is to bring the thumb and index fingers together, representing the Trinity, with the third and fourth fingers folded against the palm, representing the hypostatic union of God and man in Christ. You cross from right to left.

Get with the program, people.

drattedcrossingyourselvesbackwardlatinsw hohavetoanalyzeeverythingtodeathandmakel istsandcategoriesandpronouncedogmaonever ynitpickylittletheologicaldetailanduseth reedimensionalstatuesinsteadoficonsliked ecentproperChristiansdo.

[mardukm]

Originally Posted by Byzcat

OK.

The proper way to do it is to bring the thumb and index fingers together, representing the Trinity, with the third and fourth fingers folded against the palm, representing the hypostatic union of God and man in Christ. You cross from right to left.

Get with the program, people.

drattedcrossingyourselvesbackwardlatinsw hohavetoanalyzeeverythingtodeathandmakel istsandcategoriesandpronouncedogmaonever ynitpickylittletheologicaldetailanduseth reedimensionalstatuesinsteadoficonsliked ecentproperChristiansdo.

The finger posture you have described is what I have observed Latins do. I don't know why brother Alexius thinks that is wrong.

Actually, my best friend told me of an apparently rare Latin form that utilizes the first three fingers with the thumb facing the three fingers. The three fingers denotes the Trinity, and the thumb, denoting the unity.

Blessings,
Marduk

[ronyodish]

drattedcrossingyourselvesbackwardlatinsw hohavetoan alyzeeverythingtodeathandmakelistsandcat egoriesand pronouncedogmaoneverynitpickylittletheol ogicaldeta ilandusethreedimensionalstatuesinsteadof iconsliked ecentproperChristiansdo.

What's this?

God bless,

Rony

[mardukm]

Originally Posted by ronyodish

What's this?

God bless,

Rony

I thought it was kind of funny. I hope it was meant to be funny.

Blessings

[Alexius]

Originally Posted by mardukm

From my observation, the Latin finger posture is the same as the Old Believers finger posture. Why would that be wrong?

Blessings

Really? I've always seen it done with an open hand...

[Alexius]

Originally Posted by mardukm

The finger posture you have described is what I have observed Latins do. I don't know why brother Alexius thinks that is wrong.

Actually, my best friend told me of an apparently rare Latin form that utilizes the first three fingers with the thumb facing the three fingers. The three fingers denotes the Trinity, and the thumb, denoting the unity.

Blessings,
Marduk

What ByzCat just stated is the Greek way with the right shoulder to the left shoulder, not the Latin way...The way I see Latin rite Catholics make the Sign of the Cross is to keep their hand open and touch their forehead with either their middle finger or their first two fingers. The other variation is to use your first two finger with your thumb alongside and make a V-shape between your middle finger and ring finger, but keep your ring finger and your pinky together just like you index and middle fingers and thumb...