Question

What causes the various signs of the cross to differ?

Answer 1

Good question, not. It's like asking, why doesn't everyone speak English the same. Everyone tells their own version of the same fairy tale.

Answer 2

Okay, now for the "official" answer...LOL. All Christians crossed themselves head, stomach (or breast), right then left until the medieval period. I no longer remember the pope of Rome who changed the rubrics for use with the Roman service. All Christians went from right to left, but when the priest blessed the laity, from the laity's perspective he did it from left to right due to the mirror effect. So the Pope reversed the rubric so that the hand motions of the priest matched the hand motions of the laity. Communications being what they were, the laity misunderstood and reversed the way they crossed themselves. The Anglicans have probably made a slight variance over time as well.. . The right to left has a symbolic meaning. Since this symbol goes with prayers of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," it can be looked at as Jesus descending from the Father in Heaven, coming to Earth, ascending sits at the right hand of the Father, and sent his Spirit to dwell in our Hearts. Likewise, the Orthodox and Oriental Catholics will bring their first three fingers together for the three persons of the Trinity and keep the two final fingers together to remind of the divine and human nature of Christ.

Answer 3

my guess is:. . head-breast symbolizes vertical connection between God and human; left-right symbolizes horizontal connection between human and human

Answer 4

no real reason it`s just they way they do it

Answer 5

There is only one cross that Jesus died on. Take up the cross everyday and follow him."if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." God Bless!!

Answer 6

When the church of England (Anglican Church) separated from the Roman Catholic the adjusted the way they crossed themselves as just another means of separation.

Answer 7

No real reason, if you want interesting, you should watch the Orthodox Catholics.. . Technically, though, the sign of the cross should go:. . Head, Breast, (then back to mid-point between head and breast), Left, Right, (then back to mid-point between left and right), to finish with your hands in the "classic" prayer position (palms together with fingers extended straight up).