Why do Roman Catholics "cross themselves" different than Orthodox Christians?

[Frankl]

The Catholic Encyclopedia states that in the Roman Catholic Church, the faithful crossed themselves from right to left, just as the Orthodox do, until the 15th or 16th century.
Why Roman Catholics changed the apostolic tradition?

 

[tz620q]

The Catholic Encyclopedia states that in the Roman Catholic Church, the faithful crossed themselves from right to left, just as the Orthodox do, until the 15th or 16th century.
Why Roman Catholics changed the apostolic tradition?

It seems there is general agreement that the earliest apostolic tradition was to trace it on the forehead. One thought on this was that this small movement could be used to identify oneself to another Christian in a crowd even during persecution without drawing overt attention from non-Christians. It was only after the persecutions stopped that the more familiar crossing of the body seems to take precedence. Still within Catholicism, and many other groups, this small cross on the forehead is used for Ashes on Ash Wednesday, Oils for Chrismation, or before the Gospel reading during liturgies. So it has not been completely abandoned.

As far as left to right or right to left, this does seem to vary over time and different groups. I am not sure one can say there is any apostolic mandate for either. The closest thing that I could find that might indicate an "appropriateness" for right to left is the thought that the downward movement is symbolic of Christ's descent to Earth for our salvation and the upward movement is symbolic of Christ's rising again to Heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

[ArmyMatt]

dunno, but this isn't that big a deal.

 

[prodromos]

The sign of the cross has developed over time and in response to heresy. The way we make the sign of the cross today is not the same as the manner in which it was handed down by the Apostles.

 

[WanderedHome]

The Catholic Encyclopedia states that in the Roman Catholic Church, the faithful crossed themselves from right to left, just as the Orthodox do, until the 15th or 16th century.
Why Roman Catholics changed the apostolic tradition?

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy, said the reason the Vatican Council changed the direction the priests faced was because of a lack of understanding within the modern Catholic Church of the ancient Tradition of facing East (he advocates for a return to the old Tradition). Since no one knew the real reason, they took it upon themselves to invent a new one. My guess is that the making of the sign of the cross from left to right was probably due to the same ignorance.... FYI, I am not using "ignorance" in a hateful way, just the literal meaning. Ignorance is not a sin.

 

[Tigger45]

*Just anecdotal* I heard the reason Orthodox cross themselves from right to left is because Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

[WanderedHome]

The sign of the cross has developed over time and in response to heresy. The way we make the sign of the cross today is not the same as the manner in which it was handed down by the Apostles.

The way many things develop in the Orthodox Church

 

[Albion]

The official answer is probably one of those things that is lost to history. However, here's a guess.

For people who are righthanded--and the great majority of us are righthanded--it is more natural and/or comfortable to go next to the left shoulder after touching the breast, rather than to the right shoulder.,

 

[WanderedHome]

The official answer is probably one of those things that is lost to history. However, here's a guess.

For people who are righthanded--and the great majority of us are righthanded--it is more natural and/or comfortable to go next to the left shoulder after touching the breast, rather than to the right shoulder.,

That’s another difference- usually Orthodox go all the way down to the belly, not to the breast.

 

[FenderTL5]

It was suggested to me, as a guess during catechism, that it likely has to do with mirroring the Priest during services. At some point, the Roman priests turned around to face the congregation instead of facing east with the congregation. Over time, the mirroring caused it to reverse.

 

[prodromos]

It was suggested to me, as a guess during catechism, that it likely has to do with mirroring the Priest during services. At some point, the Roman priests turned around to face the congregation instead of facing east with the congregation. Over time, the mirroring caused it to reverse.

It does make sense.

 

[Anhelyna]

I've heard that theory too

 

[ArmyMatt]

It was suggested to me, as a guess during catechism, that it likely has to do with mirroring the Priest during services. At some point, the Roman priests turned around to face the congregation instead of facing east with the congregation. Over time, the mirroring caused it to reverse.

I heard and thought that too, but Rome was crossing themselves differently long before the priests faced the altar I think.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

 

[AMM]

It was suggested to me, as a guess during catechism, that it likely has to do with mirroring the Priest during services. At some point, the Roman priests turned around to face the congregation instead of facing east with the congregation. Over time, the mirroring caused it to reverse.

I thought I’d heard that too but Fr Matt seems to have a point. I’m not sure on the history but I am guessing that their crossing-direction goes back further than 70 years.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

dunno, but this isn't that big a deal.

Agreed! Its best described as trivia.

 

[Xenophon]

I recall reading that the Russian Old Rite crosses in the Latin way and it was during those reforms that the mainstream Russian Church adopted the way we know it at that time.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I recall reading that the Russian Old Rite crosses in the Latin way and it was during those reforms that the mainstream Russian Church adopted the way we know it at that time.

no, the Old Rite crosses their own way, with the index and bent middle finger (for the two Natures of Christ)

 

[Xenophon]

no, the Old Rite crosses their own way, with the index and bent middle finger (for the two Natures of Christ)

But is it in the Latin direction or the orthodox direction? I thought it was also that the direction was different.

 

[ArmyMatt]

But is it in the Latin direction or the orthodox direction? I thought it was also that the direction was different.

Orthodox, I believe