Use of Holy Water/Sign of the Cross

Q With some COVID restrictions now lifted, I am now able to use holy water and sign myself when I enter our church.  Why do we do this?

A When we dip our fingers in holy water and sign ourselves with the sign of the cross, we are called to remember our baptismal covenant.  The waters of baptism opened up the gates of heaven to us and allow us to journey to the eucharistic table at each Mass where we renew this holy covenant.  

Those seeking to come into the Catholic Church through RCIA or RCIC may also sign themselves when entering a Catholic church.  Baptized Christians in another faith are already part of the church of Christ; signing themselves should help them remember their baptism.  The unbaptized could sign themselves as a symbol of the sacrament of baptism for which they are preparing.
Secondly, when signing ourselves we should pray “In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”  This is a very powerful prayer where we profess the deepest mystery of the Christian faith: the Trinity – father, son and Holy Spirit, one God, three persons – and the saving work of Christ on the cross. We are actually praying a creed (a statement of our belief) and marking ourselves as Christians. 

In signing yourselves, think about what you are doing.  Sign yourself with reverence and precision, not hastily or carelessly.  Remember, you are saying a prayer.  

Q What is the origin of the Sign of the Cross?

A The July/August 2018 issue of “Catholic Answers” magazine addressed the issue of the origin of the Sign of the Cross: “The earliest reference to making a sign of the cross comes from the Father Tertullian, who described around the year A.D. 211 how Christians make a small sign of the cross on their foreheads.  He wrote ‘in all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupy us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross.’ In the fourth century, the small forehead sign of the cross developed into the larger sign that involves the head, chest and shoulders.”

There is a more detailed article on the internet at:  catholicstraightanswers.com/what-is-the-origin-of-the-sign-of-the-cross/.

Q Why are priests now wearing green vestments?  What does green symbolize?

A The church is very “sensual” in that it wants to engage all of our senses.  The different colors help us on our journey to Christ and our ultimate goal of heaven.  

Green vestments are worn throughout the year during what is called “Ordinary Time.”  This includes most of the days throughout the year except for special feast days, Good Friday and the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and easter.

Green symbolizes life and hope, the life that we desire with Christ in heaven and the hope that God will give us the grace to attain it.  White represents purity, light and joy, and is worn during the Easter and Christmas seasons, on feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the angels and saints that are not martyrs.  

Purple symbolizes solemnity, preparation and penance and is worn during Lent and Advent.  Red vestments have several symbolic meanings: blood shed for the faith and the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Red is worn on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and the feast days of martyrs (blood) and Pentecost (the fire of the Holy Spirit).

For more information, check out: uscatholic.org/articles/201701/why-do-priests-wear-green-ordinary-time-30900.

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at ghooper@diobr.org.