Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/433



HERE is  nothing  which  can  more  effectually  assist you to  recollect  the  presence  of  God,  and  remind you of  the  duty  of  consecrating  all  that  you  say  or do  to  his  honour  and  glory,  than  the  frequent  and devout use  of  the  sign  of  the  Cross. This sacred sign has  always  been  used  by  the  Church  to  signify, that all  graces  and  spiritual  assistance  are  derived from the  cross  and  passion  of  Jesus  Christ. When accompanied with  corresponding  sentiments,  it  is  an excellent  form  of  prayer,  a fervent  act  of  faith,  of hope,  and  of  charity,  beside  being  a public  and  solemn profession of  our  belief  in  those  mysteries  of  our religion, which  we  must  all  believe  and  profess  in order  to  be  saved; namely,  the  Unity  and  Trinity  of God,  the  Incarnation,  Death,  and  Resurrection  of our  Saviour.

The sign  of  the  Cross  should  always  be  dear  to  you as the  sign  of  a Christian,  the  badge  of  a Christian, and the  glory  of  a Christian — as  the  distinctive  mark of Christ’s  true  followers, — as  a memorial  of  the sufferings of  Christ  on  the  Cross,  and  of  your  own  deliverance from  eternal  death  by  and  through  those  sufferings. To merit,  by  an  application  of  this  saving sign, the  fruits  of  that  Cross  and  Passion,  which  it represents,  you  should  accustom  yourself  to  make  it devoutly,  frequently,  and  openly. You should  make it devoutly, that  is,  with  gratitude  for  the  blessings which you  enjoy  through  that  Passion,  and  with sincere sorrow  for  your  sins. Remember that  a precipitate,  disrespectful,  as  it  were  half  method  of signing  yourself  with  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  is  in reality  to  dishonour  it,  and  to  liken  yourself  to  those