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Re:- Crossing hands like St. Andrew's Cross Steven Wednesday, June 8, 2005

Question:

I am writing with reference to the question by David, concerning this gesture which he has seen depicted in statues.

I have always understood that this was way of expressing the Sign of the Cross, effectively in a continues manner. I believe that it was once common for Monks to sleep in this posture (along with wearing their habits and using their coffins as beds) in order to invoke divine protection were they to die in the night - a very real fear in medieval monasteries when the threats of raiders or the plague were commonplace.

I have also spoken with some friends, a little older than myself, who attended Catholic boarding schools in pre-conciliar days, who tell me thay were encouraged to sleep like this.

I have also seen statues depicted in this posture, particularly when kneeling (or occasioally supine on tombs). The alternative (perhaps more common) variant on a tomb, particularly that of a medieval knight or bishop, is lying with the hands folded in prayer, and the legs crossed to represent the Sign of the Cross (I have seen a lot of these in English cathedrals).

Pax Christi,

Steven.

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Steven,

Thanks for the comments, I had not known about this custom.

Mr. Slavek
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