from childhood form the good
habit of blessing yourself correctly, and you will continue to do it
properly all your life.

296 Q. Why do we make the Sign of the Cross?
A. We make the Sign of the Cross to show that we are Christians and to
profess our belief in the chief mysteries of our religion.

The cross is the banner or standard of Christianity, just as the stars
and stripes--the flag of the United States--is our civil standard, and
shows to what nation we belong.

*297 Q. How is the Sign of the Cross a profession of faith in the chief
mysteries of our religion?
A. The Sign of the Cross is a profession of faith in the chief mysteries
of our religion because it expresses the mysteries of the Unity and
Trinity of God and of the Incarnation and death of Our Lord.

*298 Q. How does the Sign of the Cross express the mystery of the Unity
and Trinity of God?
A. The words: "In the name" express the Unity of God; the words that
follow, "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" express
the mystery of the Trinity.

*299 Q. How does the Sign of the Cross express the mystery of the
Incarnation and death of Our Lord?
A. The Sign of the Cross expresses the mystery of the Incarnation by
reminding us that the Son of God, having become man, suffered death on
the Cross.

Besides these chief mysteries, we will find, if we think a little, that
the Sign of the Cross reminds us of many other things. It reminds us of
the sin of our first parents, which made the Cross necessary; it reminds
us of the hatred God bears to sin, when such sufferings were endured to
make satisfaction for it; it reminds us of Christ's love, etc.

300 Q. What other sacramental is in very frequent use?
A. Another sacramental in very frequent use is holy water.

301 Q. What is, holy water?
A. Holy water is water blessed by the priest with solemn prayer to beg
God's blessing on those who use it, and protection from the power of
darkness.

The priest prays that those who use this water may not fall into sin;
may be free from the power of the devil and from bodily diseases, etc.
Therefore when they do use the water they get the benefit of all these
prayers, because the priest says: "If they use it, God grant them all
these things."

302 Q. Are there any other sacramentals besides the Sign of the Cross
and holy water?
A. Besides the Sign of the Cross and holy water there are many other
sacramentals, such as blessed candles, ashes, palms, cru