Today, we remember St. Martin of Tours, a pagan soldier who became a soldier of Christ. Here is one of his sayings: "With the sign of the Cross, I shall more certainly break through the ranks of the enemy than if armed with shield and sword."

 It reflects the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. "Let us, therefore, not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon thy forehead, that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act."

On the cross Jesus overcame the power of Satan. Thus, in preparation for our baptism we were signed with the cross on our foreheads. Then, when we were baptized, water was poured upon us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, we were sealed with the oil of chrism as a cross was made on our foreheads. As St. Cyril said, the devil flees the sign of his defeat. Therefore, we should regularly sign ourselves with the cross, proclaiming our faith in the Trinity and the power of Jesus' death. The cross is not an ornament but a weapon.