The Sign of the Cross & Non-Catholic Churches

A reader writes:

I hope you can help me with this question. I understand that Catholics

make the Sign of the Cross when passing in front of a Catholic Church in

reverence to the Blessed Sacrament contained within. I also understand

that the Orthodox churches also have the Real Presence of Christ within

their church. Knowing this, is it appropriate for Catholics to make the

Sign of the Cross when passing by an Orthodox church? Thank you very

much and God bless you.

There is no canon or liturgical law on this point. Even the sign of the cross in front of a Catholic church is not itself required. As a result, such reverences are voluntary.

Since making the sign of the cross in such cases generally is taken as a sign of reverence for the presence of Christ rather than the presence of a parish of Christ’s Church, it makes sense to do it wherever a valid Eucharist is reserved.

I myself make such a sign of reverence in front of non-Catholic churches where a valid Eucharist is reserved, though in my case this sign may take the form of a tip of the Stetson as I am driving by in my pickup.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

3 thoughts on “The Sign of the Cross & Non-Catholic Churches”

  1. Whenever I pass an Orthodox parish or an Eastern Catholic parish, I cross myself Eastern fashion, right to left. Passing a Latin parish, I cross myself Western fashion, left to right. 🙂

  2. Do the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their churches? I was under the impression it was a Western practice.

  3. No reserved Sacrament in Eastern rite churches, Orthodox or otherwise. The Eucharist is never worshipped outside the Liturgy, and besides, being leavened it would go stale or mouldy.

    It is the altar of sacrifice, the place where the Lord and His sacrifice is made present, and also the icon of Heaven which the whole Temple around the altar is, that we reverence.

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