Why do we say "And with your spirit" instead of "And also with you"?

The English translation of the Mass was revised in 2011 to bring the response closer to the Latin (et cum spiritu tuo) and to the original Pauline greetings. The phrase acknowledges the Holy Spirit given to the priest at ordination, who acts through him in the liturgy.

Is the Sign of the Cross only for Catholics?

No — most ancient Christian traditions (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran) make the Sign of the Cross. Visitors are welcome to make it or to remain still; the gesture is not strictly required of guests at Mass.

Sign of the Cross and Greeting — The Catholic Mass Explained

Sign of the Cross and Greeting

The Mass begins with the Sign of the Cross and the priest's greeting to the assembly — gathering everyone into the prayer of the whole Church.

What is happening here

Every Catholic Mass begins the same way: the priest, with the assembly, makes the Sign of the Cross — "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." It is the simplest and oldest of Christian gestures, and it is doing serious work. By tracing the cross on our own bodies, we are placing what we are about to do under the sign of Christ's death and resurrection. By naming the Persons of the Trinity, we are making explicit whose company we have entered.

The greeting that follows — most often "The Lord be with you," with the assembly responding "And with your spirit" — is not a casual hello. It is an ancient liturgical formula that appears in the Old Testament (the angel's greeting to Gideon, Boaz's greeting to his harvesters) and is used by Paul throughout his letters. The "with your spirit" response is a reference to the Holy Spirit who has been given to the priest in ordination. The dialogue is the Church recognizing, at the start of the Mass, that the Lord is present here in a particular way through his ordained minister.

For Catholics, this opening is the threshold of the liturgy. Everything that follows — the readings, the homily, the offering, the Eucharist — happens inside the space that this Sign of the Cross and greeting open up.

Frequently asked questions

Why do we say "And with your spirit" instead of "And also with you"?: The English translation of the Mass was revised in 2011 to bring the response closer to the Latin (et cum spiritu tuo) and to the original Pauline greetings. The phrase acknowledges the Holy Spirit given to the priest at ordination, who acts through him in the liturgy.
Is the Sign of the Cross only for Catholics?: No — most ancient Christian traditions (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran) make the Sign of the Cross. Visitors are welcome to make it or to remain still; the gesture is not strictly required of guests at Mass.