Expert: Griff Ruby - 1/27/2010

Question
Hello,
     I was wondering if you could tell me about the motions that people do before the reading of the Gospel. The crossing of the forehead, lips, and heart.
     Thank you for the work you do to help us understand.
         David

Answer
Taken from "My Catholic Faith," the section on The Sign of the Cross:

3.  Another way of making the sign of the cross is used at the two Gospels of the Mass.  Then small signs of the cross are made with the thumb of the right hand on the forehead, on the lips, and on the breast.  This was the sign the early Christians used under persecution.
   The sign on the forehead is intended to show our will to carry out Our Lord's teaching.  The sign on the lips is intended to express our wish to profess God.  And the sign on the breast is a symbol of the love for Him that fills our heart.
4.  In countries under Spanish and Portuguese influence, this sign of the cross is the one used:
   With the thumb of the right hand a small cross is made on the forehead, meanwhile saying:  "By the sign of the holy Cross"; then a small cross is made on the lips, while saying:  "from our enemies"; then a small cross is made on the breast, while saying:  "deliver us, O Thou Lord our God"; and finally with index and middle fingers a large sign of the cross is made, touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders, saying:  "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."  All these words are from the Roman Missal.

One other possible interpretation I have seen is that one is praying, "May the word of the Lord be upon my mind, my lips, and my heart, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.