Latin Catholicism: can we sign the cross from right to left?
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I am a Latin Rite Catholic, but since September, I have been primarily attending Melkite and Ruthenian Divine Liturgies. Recently, I started attending the Latin Mass again, and while the transition has been mostly seamless, I’ve encountered one challenge—I find it nearly impossible to revert to making the Sign of the Cross from left to right.
In the Divine Liturgy, one makes the Sign of the Cross over a hundred times, and after crossing myself from right to left over a thousand times, it has become deeply ingrained in my muscle memory.
What is the historical or theological reason behind the difference in the direction of the Sign of the Cross between Eastern and Western traditions? Additionally, as a Latin Catholic, is it acceptable for me to continue crossing myself from right to left, or should I consciously work to revert to the Western practice?
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(855 rep)
Mar 3, 2025, 01:59 AM
Last activity: Mar 3, 2025, 02:49 AM
Last activity: Mar 3, 2025, 02:49 AM