A Christian Devotional Gesture
Tracing a cross across the body — from forehead to chest and across both shoulders — while invoking the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one of the oldest and most widespread gestures in Christian devotion, used across many denominations to mark the beginning or end of prayer.
A Short Accompanying Prayer
In the version used within Santo Daime, the gesture is paired with a short prayer asking for deliverance from one's enemies, recited in the name of the Trinity. This combination of physical gesture and spoken words reflects the broader Catholic devotional inheritance that Santo Daime carries forward from its founder.
Its Place in the Works
Within Santo Daime, the Sign of the Cross typically frames other recitations, marking their beginning and their end, in keeping with its traditional Catholic role as a gesture of consecration and blessing.