sign of the cross
Forehead-chest-shoulders motion
The sign of the cross is a hand gesture tracing a cross shape over one's body, used in Christian prayer and worship.
Catholics and Orthodox Christians touch forehead, chest, then shoulders while saying "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The gesture invokes divine blessing or protection: She made the sign of the cross before entering the church.
It also appears as a reflex of shock or superstition.
Ritual water purification ceremony
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
- communionProfound shared closeness
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
confirmation · ordination · anointing · holy water · Mass · liturgy · blessing · consecration
Godhead as three persons
- FatherMale parent or priest
- Holy SpiritThird divine person
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
amen · protection · intercession · devotion · worship · supplication · thanksgiving · grace
Protected person; division
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- spiritual warfareReligious combat against evil
evil eye · demons · temptation · sanctify · holy · sacred · guardian · intercession
Face above eyebrows
- chestRibcage region or strongbox
- shoulderUpper arm joint
- handGrasping body part
- fingersAppendages of the hand
touching · tracing · genuflection · kneeling · bowing · prostration · reverence · devotion
Papal church adherent
- AnglicanChurch of England member
- LutheranReformation-era Protestant denomination
- EpiscopalU.S. Anglican denomination
- ByzantineOf Constantinople's civilization
Roman · Coptic · Greek Orthodox · Russian Orthodox · Protestant
baptism
Ritual water purification ceremony
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
- communionProfound shared closeness
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
absolution · confirmation · ordination · anointing · holy water · Mass · liturgy · blessing · consecration · benediction
Trinity
Godhead as three persons
- FatherMale parent or priest
- Holy SpiritThird divine person
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
blessing · amen · protection · intercession · devotion · worship · supplication · thanksgiving · grace · petition
ward
Protected person; division
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
spiritual warfare · evil eye · demons · temptation · sanctify · holy · sacred · guardian · intercession · faith
forehead
Face above eyebrows
fingers · touching · tracing · genuflection · kneeling · bowing · prostration · reverence · devotion · piety
Catholic
Papal church adherent
- AnglicanChurch of England member
- LutheranReformation-era Protestant denomination
- EpiscopalU.S. Anglican denomination
Byzantine · Roman · Coptic · Greek Orthodox · Russian Orthodox · Protestant
- Catholic practicesconfession booth, First Communion, genuflection, holy orders, kneeling
- Catholic Ritesfuneral rite, marriage rite, last rites, holy orders, matrimony
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- Church Ritesbaptizing, Holy Communion, christening, Lord's Supper, adult baptism
- liturgical actionsgenuflection, kneeling, standing, sitting, bowing
- liturgyDivine Office, missal, lectionary, rite, Tridentine Mass
sign of the crossgenuflection
Knee-bending act of reverence
prostration · bowing · laying on of hands · kneeling · mudra
sign of the crossdevil horns
Two-finger rock gesture
sign of the horns · curse · hex sign · desecration · middle finger
sign, signs, signed, signing, signer, signal, signals, signaled, signaling