The sign of the cross in the nineteenth century

Front matter

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IN THE

NINETEENTH CENTURY.

Preface to First Edition 26

FIRST LETTER.

State of the Question — The Present World does not make the Sign of Cross, or makes it seldom, or makes it badly — The Primitive Christians made it, they made it frequently, they made it well — We are right, and they were wrong, or we are wrong, and they were right ; which is true 27

SECOND LETTER.

Examination of the Question — Prepossessions in favor of the early Christians — First prepossession, their lights — Second, their sanctity — Third, the practice of true Christians in every age — * Were the Fathers of the Church great geniuses ? 35

THIRD LETTER.

Continuation of the third prepossession : The Doctors of the East and West — Constantine, Theodosius, Charlemagne, St. Louis, Bayard, Don John of Austria, Sobieski — Fourth prepossession, the conduct of the Church — Fifth prepossession, those who do not make the Sign of the Cross-^Summary 44

Contents.

FOURTH LETTER.

Answer to one objection : the times are changed — Reasons in favor of the primitive Christians, drawn from the very nature of the Sign of the Cross — The Sign of the Cross is five things — A divine sign which ennobles man — Proofs that the Sign of the Cross is divine 56

FIFTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross ennobles us — It is the exclusive sign of the elite of humanity — It is the escutcheon of Catholicity — What a Catholic is — By ennobling us, the Sign of the Cross teaches us the respect due to ourselves — Importance of this lesson — Disgrace of those who do not make this sign — Picture of the contempt they have for themselves. 04

SIXTH LETTER.

Continuation of the preceding letter— The Sign of the Cross is a book winch instructs us — Creation, Redemption, Glorification : three words which contain all the science of God, of man, and of the world — The Sign of the Cross says these three words with authority, with clearness, with sublimity — It says them to every one, everywhere, and always 74

SEYEXTH LETTER.

The place which the Sign of Cross holds in the world — What the human race was before it knew how to make the Sign of the Cross — What becomes of the world when it ceases to make it — Another point of view — The Sign of the Cross is a treasure which enriches us 82

EIGHTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross known and practised since the beginning of the world — Contradictions only apparent — Seven ways of making the Sign of the Cross — Testimonies of the Fathers — David, Solomon, and all the Jewish nation made the Sign of the Cross, and knew its value — Proofs c . 92

Contents.

NINTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross among Pagans — New details of an exterior form of the Sign of the Cross among the first Christians — The Martyrs in the amphitheatre— Etymology of the word adore — The Pagans adored by making the Sign of the Cross — How they made it — First manner 103

TEXTII LETTER.

Second and third way in which the Pagans made the Sign of the Cross — Testimonies — The Pietas publico, — The Pagans acknowledged a mysterious power in the Sign of the Cross — Whence came that belief — Great mystery of the moral world — Importance of the Sign of the Cross in the sight of God — The Sign of the Cross in the physical world — Words of the Fathers and of Plato — Inconsistency of the ancient and modern Pagans — Reason of the especial hatred of the demon for the Sign of the Cross 113

ELEVENTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross is a treasure that enriches us, because it ia a prayer: proofs — A powerful prayer: proofs — A universal prayer: proofs — It supplies all our wants — For his soul man needs lights — The Sign of the Cross obtains them : proofs — Examples of the Martyrs , 129

TWELFTH LETTER.

Perpetual necessity of the Sign of the Cross to obtain strength — Its recommendation and practice by the chiefs of the spiritual combat — The Sign of the Cross in temptations — The Sign of the Cross at death — Examples of the martyrs — Examples of true Christians dying a natural death — The dying caused the Sign of the Cross to be made on them by their brethren 146

THIRTEENTH LETTER.

Effects of the Sign of the Cross in the temporal order — It cures all diseases, and removes whatever can harm us — It gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, the use of their limbs to the lame and paralyzed; cures other maladies, and restores life to the dead 159

Contents,

FOURTEENTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross a preservative against all that could injure life or health — It appeases tempests — Extinguishes fire — Protects us against accidents — Opposes a barrier to floods — Causes the waters to return to their bounds — Keeps ferocious beasts at a distance — Preserves from poison, from thunderbolts — Makes creatures the instruments of prodigies 176

FIFTEENTH LETTER.

Answer to a question — The Sign of the Cross is a weapon which repulses the enemy — Life is a warfare — Against whom ?— Necessity of a weapon within the reach of every one— What is that weapon ? — Proofs that the Sign of the Cross is the special weapon, the most forcible weapon against the evil spirits 192

SIXTEENTH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross breaks idols and expels the demons from them: examples — It expels them from the possessed: examples — Recent anecdote — Other proofs: exorcisms — It renders vain the direct attacks of the demons: examples — Their indirect attacks: proofs — All creatures subject to the demons serve as their instruments to harm us — The Sign of the Cross delivers them, and prevents their being injurious to our body or soul — Profound Philosophy of the early Christians — The use they made of the Sign of the Cross — Tableau by St. Chrysostom 210

SEVENTEENTH LETTER.

Summary — Nature of the Sign of the Cross — How it is valued at the present day — What the contempt and forgetfulness of the Sign of the Cross announce — Spectacle of the present world — ■ Satan returns — To remain faithful to the Sign of the Cross — Principally before and after meals — Reason, honor, and liberty command it — Is reason for or against those who make the Sign of the Cross over food — Examples and arguments... 228

Contents,

EIGHTEENTH LETTER.

Honor commands us to pray before and after meals — Prayer over food is as ancient as the world, as wide-spread as the human race— Proofs : Benedicite and Grace of every people — Not to say them is to liken ourselves to beings which do not belong to the human species — The blessing at table is a law of humanity , 242

NINETEENTH LETTER.

Reasons for the blessing of the table — It is an act of freedom — Three tyrants; the world, the flesh, the devil — Triple victory of the' Sign of the Cross and prayer over food — Victory over the world: proofs — Over the flesh; proofs — Over the demon: proofs — Remarkable testimony of Porphyrias — Facts cited by St. Gregory — Conclusion..... 256

TWENTIETH LETTER.

The Sign of the Cross is a guide that conducts us — Necessity of a guide — State of man here below — The Sign of the Cross conducts man to his end by remembrance, and by imitation — Remembrance which it recalls — General remembrance — Particular remembrance — Particular imitation 271

TWENTY-FIRST LETTER.

General imitation — Imitation of the sanctity of God — What sanctity is — The Sign of the Cross, the sanctifier of man and of creatures — Imitation of the charity of God — What charity is in God — What it should be in us — In teaching it to us, the Sign of the Cross is an eloquent and sure guide — Incontestable proofs 284

TWENTY- SECOND LETTER.

Sentence of the judgment between us and the first Christians — First obligation, to make the Sign of the Cross boldly, to make it often, and to make it well — Reasons for making it boldly — Disgrace and danger of not making it — State of the physical and moral health of the world at the present day 295

Contents.

TWEXTY-THIRD LETTER.

Reasons of the power and exalted mission of the Sign of the Cross — Fundamental dogma — What happens in the political order a figure of what takes place in the moral order — The Reformation, first daughter of Paganism, throws down all the crosses — The French Revolution, second daughter of Paganism, imitates her sister — Second obligation, to make the Sign of the Cross frequently — Reasons drawn from our present state — Third obligation, to make it well, condition — The Sign of the Cross, eternal sign of victory — Constantine — Praises of the Sign of the Cross 307

Dedication

TO

THE GLORIOUS ST. JOSEPH.

O Blessed Father St. Joseph ; Guardian of the Incarnate Word, Spouse of the Immaculate Mother of God, and Patron of the Universal Church; with sentiments of the deepest love and gratitude, I dedicate to thee this work, destined, I hope, to enkindle in many hearts, devotion to the Cross of Jesus, the shadow of which brooded so heavily, yet withal so gloriously, over thy life in Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth.

Preface To The Second Edition

One word on the publication of this little work, and the unexpected success it has obtained. How did the idea of this book occur to us? Who arranged the unforeseen circumstances to which it owes its origin? Why does a work, destined to reawaken the faith of the Catholic world in the Sign of the Cross, appear at this time, and not two or three centuries ago? Why is it, that until now, no Pope thought of attaching a spiritual favor to that formula, the most venerable, most ancient, and most customary of our religion? How is it, that amidst so many solicitudes, Pius IX. has deigned to listen to our feeble voice, and hastened to admonish the Christians of our day to have recourse as frequently as possible to the Sign of the Cross, conformably to the example of their primitive ancestors? Why, in order to encourage them, has he enriched its use with

1 1 an indulgence doubly precious? To all these questions we knew not, at first, what to reply. But now the light is made.

All comes to the point in the Church, for Divine Providence never gropes in' the dark. Accustomed as it is, to use that which is not, to confound that which is, it shows itself no less admirable in small things than in great. The Sign of the Cross is, then, the arm of power against the demon. Instructed by the apostles themselves, the early Christians knew it. In continual warfare with Satan in all the power of his reign, and the cruelty of his rage; the regulator of morals, ideas, arts, theatres, festivals, and laws; the master of altars and thrones, sullying all, and making of all an instrument of corruption, they had incessant recourse to this infallible means of dispelling the fascinating charm, and warding off the fiery darts of the enemy. Hence, the continual Sign of the Cross became for them an exorcism of every moment.

If, then, there appears now, without any premeditated design on the part of the author, a work designed to make the Christians of our day retake the victorious weapon of their ancestors; if, notwithstanding so manyadverse circumstances, this work spreads so

Preface to the Second Edition. 13

rapidly; if it wins, even in Rome itself, the most august and precious of all suffrages; if, in fine, after eighteen centuries, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, the Chief of the eternal combat, by a solemn act, urges the Catholic world to have recourse incessantly to this sign, so victorious over paganism: — is it not reasonable to conclude that we find ourselves, in many respects, in a position analogous to that of the primitive Christians?

If they were confronted with Satan, the king and god of that age ; if they lived in the midst of a w r orld that was not Christian, that wished not to become such, that wished no one to be such, that persecuted those who continued to be such; — are not we confronted with Satan, who, unchained on the earth, is inciting nations to rebel against Jesus Christ, and making them cry out incessantly: "We will not have Him reign any longer over us"? And amidst what do the Christians of our day live? Are they not surrounded by a world that is ceasing to be Christian ; that does not wish to return to Christianity, that does not wish others to belong to it, that persecutes in every possible way those who persist in doing so?

Cunning, violence, calumny, injury, biasphemy, sarcasm, spoliation, exile, death itself, — are not all employed against the children, as they were against the fathers? Arts, theatres, books, feasts, laws, sciences, — are they not now, as formerly, employed as weapons against Christianity ? Is it, then, astonishing that the Sentinel of Israel, the Sovereign Pontiff, has come, by an act unknown in his predecessors, to reawaken the faith of Christians, by this sign, the protector of the Church and of society? The analogy is so striking that Protestants themselves are amazed at it. In their view, as in ours, there is no salvation for the present world but in the Cross. In the beginning of October a Prussian journal, the Gazette of the Cross, published a long article entitled: By this sign thou shalt conquer: In hoc signo vinces. "To-day," said the Protestant writer, "we are engaged in spiritual warfare with the same antichristianism which Constantine, of old, vanquished with the material sword. Doubtless we should again say : ' Thou shalt conquer by this sign: in hoc signo vinces! The hidden and cruel powers of darkness rise to assault that Crown, by the grace of God, the key of the arch of the social Christian order." Must not then the evil and the remedy be

Preface to the Second Edition. y 15 equally incontestable, when we see those same Protestants who formerly repudiated the sign of the cross as an act of idolatry, proclaiming the necessity of having recourse to it in these days, as a weapon, indispensable to us, if we wish to conquer the hidden and cruel powers, whose triumph would be that of barbarism?

The appearance, in some manner providential, of The Sign of the Cross in the Nineteenth Century, alone explains the rapid success which it has obtained. The first French edition was sold in a few months, Three translations of it have been made into different European languages — one in Rome, one in Turin, and one in Germany. Catholic papers have vied with one another in recommending its perusal, and many letters have been sent to us, bearing the congratulations of the most respectable men of France and foreign countries : Soli Deo honor et gloria^ to God alone be honor and glory.

All agree to show the fitness of our humble work, and to enhance the greatness of the pontifical grace which is the eternal result of it. Let us quote only a few lines, begging those who wrote them to receive the expressions of our sincere gratitude.

i 6 Preface to the Second Edition,

The learned Neapolitan review, Scienza e Fede, concludes its long analysis by saying, "What profit," will our society, immersed in materialism, exclaim, "what profit can humanity draw from this new work of Mgr. Gaume? Will it give help to the poor laboring classes, whom the revolution has deprived of work ? Will it enroll volunteers for Poland? Will it exterminate the brig-andaee which is desolating Italy ? . . . It will do more than all this. It will give the bread of faith to those in want of it. It will enroll the Christians of the nineteenth century under the standard of the Cross, in the furious war which they have to sustain against the infernal brigand; under this divine standard, which has saved the world, and which alone can again preserve it. . . Whatever the future mav be, it will teach them how to be noble victors or noble victims; in hoc vifice."

Overjoyed at seeing an indulgence attached to the Sign of the Cross, the venerable Dean of the Catholic Chair writes: "An indulgence granted to the Sign of the Cross

at your request! What will so many

persons, whom I do not wish to name, say? The Holy Father has repaid with usury the pains you have taken in order to stop the

Preface to the Second Edition, 17 paganism which invades us. By you and through you the whole Church receives the signal favor of an indulgence, extensive as the universe and durable as ages, which shall fall at every hour, at every second, as a refreshing dew upon the souls in purgatory !

"How many blessings will those souls call down upon you ! And if, at the time of your death, you be called on to pay them a short visit, what a reception will there await you!"

Let us pass to other testimonies, and come to those which have emanated from Rome. The Commission charged with the care of the regionary schools has thought it necessary to address the following circular to those who direct them.

"Among many books, useless and dangerous, particularly for youth, there are not wanting some that are useful, and well calculated to spread in the souls of youth the beautiful maxims of our august religion, and the love of its holy practices.

"One of those works is, unquestionably, that lately published by Tiberine, entitled The Sign of the Cross in the Nineteenth Century, which has been highly eulogized by many Catholic journals.

"The undersigned, while strongly recommending teachers not to permit in their schools any work not approved by the Commission, equally recommends them to cause the aforesaid work to be bought and read by their pupils. They may also use it as a premium at the annual Distributions which they are accustomed to have in their respective schools.

"Rome, from the Office of the Secretary of the Commission.

L. Pierano, Deputy!'

LETTER OF HIS EMINENCE, CARDINAL ALTIERI,

PREFECT OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF THE INDEX, TO MGR. GAUME, PROTHONOTARY APOSTOLIC.

"Rome, August 1th, 1863.

"Most Illustrious Lord :

"By the publication of your admirable work, The Sign of the Cross, you have rendered a new and signal service to the cause of the Church of Jesus Christ. In effect, vou have made known to the faithful in the most attractive manner, all that is clearly contained, all that is taught, all that is operated in a most sublime manner of what is holy, divine, and consequently, sovereignly useful to souls in

Preface to the Second hdition, 19

this sacred formula, as ancient as the Church herself.

"The august Chief of this same Church, the Vicar of Christ, the Sovereign Pontiff, could not but receive most joyfully, a work so precious and useful to Christian people. Therefore, not only did he express his great satisfaction when I gave into his sacred hands the copy you hastened to offer him by my means, but he has, moreover, been pleased to grant, with kindness, the desire you expressed of seeing the practice of the Sien of the Cross enriched with an indulgence, thereby to incite them to make use of it for the defence of their souls, without any human respect, and as frequently as possible,

"In the following Brief, you will see how bountiful the Holy Father has shown himself by the concession of such a grace, and how much it will cause its value to be appreciated. It is highly important that this new favor of the supreme dispenser of heavenly treasures, granted for" the advantage of the Church militant, be universally known, at the same time that your excellent book shall be more widely spread and better appreciated. In the Italian translation made of it by the incomparable Angel qf Aquila, will be found the Brief, and

It ought to be inserted in the new editions which certainly cannot fail to succeed each other. In this manner shall be filled the void which you have signalized in the Racolta delle Indulgenze.

"Thus, your Excellency shall receive the worthy recompense, and certainly, that most desired by your heart, in seeing the treasures of Redemption opened for the good of souls still living on earth, or already descended into purgatory, by the effects of the work you have composed with a view to draw the attention of every one to the first sign of the worship which all should render to the principal instrument of our Redemption.

" Receive the expression of the sincere and high esteem with which

"J am, Most illustrious Lord,

"Your affectionate Servant,

"L. Cardinal Altieri."

BRIEF OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX., POPE.

FOR ETERNAL REMEMBRANCE.

Being fully certain that the salutary mystery of the redemption and the divine virtue are contained in the Sign of the Cross of our

Preface to the Second Edition. 21

Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful of the primitive Church made the most frequent use of this sign, as we learn from the most ancient and notable monuments. It was even by this sign that they began all their actions.

"At all our steps, all our motions, our incomings and outgoings, lighting the lamps, sitting down to table, taking a seat; whatever we do, or whithersoever we go, we mark our foreheads with the Sign of the Cross," says Tertullian.

"Considering these things, we have judged proper to reawaken the piety of the faithful tow r ards the salutary sign of our Redemption, by opening the heavenly treasures, in order that, imitating the beautiful example of the early Christians, they may not blush at making frequently, openly, and publicly the Sign of the Cross, which is the standard of the Christian militia.

"Therefore, confiding in the mercy of the Almighty God, and in the authority of His blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, we grant, in the accustomed manner of the Church, to all and every one of the faithful of both sexes, every time that, at least, contrite in heart, and adding the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, they make the sign of the cross, fifty days indulgence for the penances which would have been imposed or that they should do for any reason whatever; we moreover grant mercifully in the Lord, that these indulgences may be applied, in the way of suffrage, to the souls who have departed this life in the grace of God. Notwithstanding- all things to the contrary, these presents shall be in perpetuity.

"It is also our will that the same credit be given to any written or printed copy of these presents, signed by a public notary, having the seal of an ecclesiastical dignitary, as would be given to these presents themselves, if they were shown or exhibited.

" Also, that a copy of these letters be taken to the Office of the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Holy Relics, under pain of nullity, conformably to the decree of the said Congregation, dated January 19th, 1756, approved by our predecessor of holy memory, Pope Benedict XIV, the 28th of the same month and the same year.

"Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the ring of the Fisherman, the 28th of July, 1863, the eighteenth of our Pontificate.

N. Cardinal Paracciaxi Clarelli:"

Preface to the Second Edition. 23

"These present apostolic letters, in the form of a Brief, dated July 28th, 1863, were presented at the Office of the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences on the 4th of August of the same year, conformably to the decree of the same Sacred Congregation, under date of the 14th of April, 1856.

" In testimony of which, given in Rome at the same Office, the day and year as mentioned above.

PIUS. PP IX.

Preface to the Second Edition.

In quorum fidem datum Romae ex eadem secretaria die et anno up supra.

A. Archiepiscopus Prinzivalli,

Substitutes*