Sign of cross in front of deceased?
Question from Anonymous CA on 4/11/2008:
Was wondering why do we make a sign of the cross in front of a deceased person/casket? Are we praying to the Lord asking for Him to accept the deceased? Or is the deceased now holy? Thank you in advance.
Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 4/29/2008:
This is a pious custom, an intercessory prayer of the body, as it were. It therefore assumes the deceased needs our prayers. It is also a pious custom to do so when passing a cemetary, accompanied by some prayer for the dead buried there.
It can also be understand as a recognition that as even Christ died all must eventually die, a timely reminder of our own mortality.
No comments:
Post a Comment