4 LITURGY LESSON: SIGN OF THE CROSS & GREETING
(Given:
"Dominus Vobiscum,"----- come on you old-timers, what's the response? Let's
try again, "Dominus Vobiscum." "Et cum spiritu tuo."
Now for you young folks, what I said in Latin was The Lord be with you," and the people responded, "And with your spirit." Many times during the old liturgy the priest would say "Dominus vobiscum," and the altar boy would respond, "Et cum spiritu tuo." As a part of the Mass it is older than the Sign of the Cross.4
In the renewal of the Liturgy, the first time it is used was just a moment ago when the priest led us in the Sign of the Cross and then said, "The Lord be with you."
The late Cardinal Bernadin said something interesting about the Sign of the Cross.
The sign of the cross should be made with reverence and attention. By this simple gesture we identify ourselves as Christians. This sign marked us even before baptism and will mark us even after death.5
The Cardinal might have added that the sign of the cross is unique to Catholics. The only other Christians who make this sign are the Orthodox, who make it differently. As we begin the celebration of Mass, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we consciously make that gesture, or do we just take it for granted?
The same can be asked about the Greeting. It is the first of our dialogue with our priest as we celebrate together. After the Greeting, the Liturgical text says, "... the priest or other suitable minister may very briefly introduce the Mass of the day."6
4 Johnson, p. 13.
5 Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, Guide for the Assembly, #29.
6 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #29.