"The
Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe
truth it is this, and Protestantism has ever felt it so; to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." (-John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine).
"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.
“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15
"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811
"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.
“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15
"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811
The Sign of the Cross is the Power of God! 1 Cor. 1:8
Says a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo cult of Manalo "The Sign of the Cross is the mark of the Beast". Perhaps that's the reason why their "houses of worship" DO NOT have crosses on it.
However, let us consult the Holy Scripture if it's true. Let us
understand our rich Catholic Tradition and delve ourselves deeply in the
Scriptures and find out why we Christians love the Cross of Christ
which for many anti-Catholics consider the "Mark of the Beast".
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
The great tradition of Catholics, to be proud of the ‘Sign of the Cross’
was mocked and teased today by some anti-Catholic medias because of
their ignorance about the biblical and historical basis of this
spiritual tradition. We sign ‘the cross’ on our forehead; decorate our Churches with cross and administer sacraments with the same sign.
The Biblical basis: When we make the sign of the cross, we proclaim the
message of salvation purchased by Jesus through the cross. The Bible
clearly states: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of
God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
The Bible teaches us to be proud of it as the message of the cross is the power of God; “But
God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
(Gal. 6:14)
Cross symbolizes our day to day sufferings without which there is no
crown for Christians. When Peter tried to keep Jesus away from the
Cross, he called Peter “Satan.” So it is clear, Satan is afraid and keeping himself away
from the Cross as it is through the Cross, Jesus destroyed the devil’s
kingdom and saved mankind from the slavery of sin and death.
Early Christians, even before the Bible was formed, kept this
spiritual practice in common to keep Satan away and to save themselves
from the powers of evil.
Cyril of Jerusalem wrote in A.D. 386: “Let us therefore not be
ashamed of the cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou
openly seal it upon thy forehead , that the devils may beheld the royal
sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and
drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at
walking: in a word, at every act.”
Ephrem of Syria testifies in A.D. 373: “Make all your actions
with the sign of the life-giving Cross. Do not go out from “the doors of
your house till you have signed yourself with the cross. Do not neglect
that sign whether in eating and drinking or going to sleep, or in the
home or going on a journey. There is no habit to be compared with it.
Let it be a protecting wall around all your conduct, and teach it to
your children that they may earnestly learn the custom.”
Thousands of saints used this sign to be victorious over satanic attacks
as it is through this sign Jesus made possible the forgiveness of our
sins. In the Christian world, Sign of the Cross was widely used very
effectively in exorcism throughout the centuries. Christians must use
this sign proudly as it trembles Satan and the Bible proves it.
Jesus says to us: “Take your cross and follow me.” Centuries old spiritual experiences of holy people show Satan is afraid of the Sign of the Cross and he hates it. Iglesia Ni Cristo, Dating Daan and some other sects also hate the Sign of the Cross! (‘Remove all crosses’ is one of the commands of ‘Pandoktrina’ the official teaching of INC, page 14.)
