The Sign of the Cross: Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer

In RCIA we were taught how, and basically when, to make the sign of the cross correctly. This wonderfully informative and inspiring book takes us way beyond, and so much deeper, than just the rubrics of this beautiful sign which is seen by so many as being only a casually made Catholic gesture.Bert Ghezzi, with great care, shows us how this act of faith engages God's love for us and can release spiritual power that blesses, protects, identifies who we are, and helps us gain victory over our 'self-indulgent' nature in order to deepen our relationship with Christ.I'm still learning to experience/utilize all the things we Catholics have available to help us be aware of God's constant presence and to 'stay connected'. This book enabled me to see that the sign of the cross used as a regular spiritual discipline is just such a tool, making it a much cherished visible sign of the connection between me and my Lord. I'm grateful to the author of this terrific book for sharing his wisdom and insight. Definitely a must read!

The Sign of the Cross is one of those prayers and gestures that we use so frequently, we rarely stop to think about it. It has become an automatic way to begin and end prayer. In "The Sign of the Cross: Rediscovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer," Bert Ghezzi invites us to take a closer look at this long-standing sign of our Christian faith. He offers a fascinating short history of the Sign of the Cross, exploring the many ways it has been performed and used from the earliest days of Christianity to today. Ghezzi then examines six ways the Sign of the Cross can help us in our lives, devoting one chapter to each of these ways: an opening to God, a renewal of Baptism, a mark of discipleship, an acceptance of suffering, a defense against the devil, and a victory over self-indulgence. Who knew such a simple prayer could do so much? When we make the Sign of the Cross in public, we are announcing to the world that we are Christian and that in itself is a counter-cultural act in our secular world. The Sign of the Cross is a powerful prayer and one that we should pay more attention to and make more use of. Many thanks go to Bert Ghezzi for helping to show us the way.

I learned why Christians cross themselves. I always thought it originated with Catholics but it's origin is an early church tradition! I cross myself all the time now!

Very informative with rich content. It helps me to understand more deeply the sign of the cross in our liturgy and in my daily life.

I loved the history and context provided in this book. It was what I was looking for and helped me understand some of the depth to a seemingly simple action. The book is a little repetitive. But it's a good, quick read.

An incredible insight into the power of the sign of the cross

I thought this book was powerful. I never thought of the Sign of the Cross in the way it is described. Love Bert Ghezzi books.

Help you understand the Sign of the Cross. Wonderful little book with lots of information. Helped me understand more about why and how powerful the Sign of the Cross is.

A most uplifting and wonderfully enlightening book. It opens up new horizons of the soul.