A few weeks ago, I wrote about the beauty of a short Catholic prayer, The Glory Be. Today, let’s reflect on an even shorter prayer. Can you think of what it is? You’ve probably “performed” it several times already today: The Sign of The Cross. Because it’s called a sign, and because of the active gestures that accompany it, we may have never stopped to think of it as a prayer. Yet, it is – in fact, it’s (at least partially) a special kind of prayer called a statement of belief, or creed, prayer.
I surmise that more than any other kind, a creed prayer just may be the one that falls most tenderly upon our Lord’s ears. Allow this analogy: If a beloved child approaches to speak to you, would you deep-down rather hear a complaint, a request, a (not quite adequate) praise, an (incomplete) apology, or a sincere acknowledgement of the child’s belief in you and in your relationship? 