Making the sign of the cross

Making the sign of the cross Question from on 05-17-2007:

I am a cradle catholic, so sometimes when im asked a guestion about my faith, i dont always know the answer. resently i was asked why we make the sign of the cross.... i was stumped. i thought i knew, but i didnt want to answer because i was not 100% sure. i felt silly. can you please explain this to me, so i can answer this question. e.w.t.n. has been envaluable to me as far as education. there is so much that i do not know, but i feel w/ the help of e.w.t.n. that im am much more informed today . thank you, kelly.

Answer by David Gregson on 06-01-2007:

The Sign of the Cross is an invocation of the Blessed Trinity on the basis of Our Lord's Sacrifice on the cross. It is His Sacrifice of Himself, in atonement for our sins, that merited for us the priviledge of calling on God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to aid us in our need, and finally to bring us to everlasting life in heaven.

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel Question from on 05-30-2007:

Dear Judie Brown--I was told that the teaching of the catholic church is that a baby does not have his or her own guardian angel during the nine months of pregnancy but is protected by the mother's guardian angel. It is at birth, so I am told, that a baby receives his or her own guardian angel. Is this true? Thank you, Warren.

Answer by Judie Brown on 06-01-2007:

Dear Warren The Catholic Encyclopedia, which is on line, makes this statement which is the statement upon which I base my opinion: "That every individual soul has a guardian angel has never been defined by the Church, and is, consequently, not an article of faith; but it is the "mind of the Church", as St. Jerome expressed it: "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it." (Comm. in Matt., xviii, lib. II)." I believe that if St. Jerome had been privy to the scientific facts we have today, he would agree that each of one us has a guardian angel the moment we receive our immortal soul, which is at some point prior to birth, and to my mind is at conception/fertilization. If you read the entire Catholic Encyclopedia article (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm) you will discern, as I have, the only definitive answer awaits us in Heaven. In the meantime, we can speculate. Judie Brown

before Jesus

before Jesus Question from on 05-20-2007:

What happend to people, specificly Jews, who commited a mortal sin. Could they be forgiven? If so, how without confession, if they can't why? PS. What happens to Protestants who commit mortal sins?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 06-02-2007:

Dear Trevor, God holds people only to what they can do. Those outside the Church do not accept the Catholic teaching on confession and so have to repent of their sins more on their own. Of course, God is there to help them. If this were not so, they would never be forgiven. This would have been the case millions of people who lived before the coming of Christ when confession was not available. Hearing this some object, saying that if they don't have to go to confession, why do Catholics have to go? The answer is that, since they are Catholics, they already know what they should do. They are really blessed with this knowledge. But sometimes Catholics react as if they were cursed or burdened with this knowledge. God deals with people according to what they already know. Dr. Geraghty

Making the sign of the cross

Making the sign of the cross Question from on 05-17-2007:

I am a cradle catholic, so sometimes when im asked a guestion about my faith, i dont always know the answer. resently i was asked why we make the sign of the cross.... i was stumped. i thought i knew, but i didnt want to answer because i was not 100% sure. i felt silly. can you please explain this to me, so i can answer this question. e.w.t.n. has been envaluable to me as far as education. there is so much that i do not know, but i feel w/ the help of e.w.t.n. that im am much more informed today . thank you, kelly.

Answer by David Gregson on 06-01-2007:

The Sign of the Cross is an invocation of the Blessed Trinity on the basis of Our Lord's Sacrifice on the cross. It is His Sacrifice of Himself, in atonement for our sins, that merited for us the priviledge of calling on God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to aid us in our need, and finally to bring us to everlasting life in heaven.

Making the sign of the cross

Making the sign of the cross Question from on 05-17-2007:

I am a cradle catholic, so sometimes when im asked a guestion about my faith, i dont always know the answer. resently i was asked why we make the sign of the cross.... i was stumped. i thought i knew, but i didnt want to answer because i was not 100% sure. i felt silly. can you please explain this to me, so i can answer this question. e.w.t.n. has been envaluable to me as far as education. there is so much that i do not know, but i feel w/ the help of e.w.t.n. that im am much more informed today . thank you, kelly.

Answer by David Gregson on 06-01-2007:

The Sign of the Cross is an invocation of the Blessed Trinity on the basis of Our Lord's Sacrifice on the cross. It is His Sacrifice of Himself, in atonement for our sins, that merited for us the priviledge of calling on God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to aid us in our need, and finally to bring us to everlasting life in heaven.