Sharing the Blessing Of Lent - 2) St. Christopher

St. Christopher is one of the heroes of Christian Faith. He is listed as a martyr. Not much of his life is known to us except the stories that are carried on from one generation to another. St. Christopher is believed to be named as Reprobus and later came to known as Christopher. He was a cannanite and was exceptionally tall and strong. He was termed as the giant in some references.

He wanted to serve the biggest master and went on to serve the king and he was astonished to find the King fear for the devil. So he thought the devil is the biggest and went in search of him. As he was still wandering in his search, he saw a bunch of thieves whose leader called himself the devil. So he went and served him for a while. This ‘devil’ actually feared for a Christian monk and this surprised St. Christopher. So he left the gang and joined the Christian faith.

He learnt all the teachings of Christ and wanted to serve him. The monk used to observe fasts and rituals and serve the Lord which St. Christopher found very difficult to follow. So the monk had another idea. They had a forest which had a very big river flowing through. It was difficult for the elderly and the weak to cross without help. The monk advised the saint to help people in distress to help cross.

He obliged and was doing the work faithfully for quite some time when one day a child asked his help to cross the river. He accepted and carried the child on his shoulder. As they were half way, the child grew more and more heavy and the saint couldn’t easily cross the river. With much difficulty, finally they crossed the river. On enquiry about this strange predicament, the child replied that he was the Lord Jesus and the heaviness was due to the fact the entire world’s weight which rested on him. The child then vanished.

It was after this incident, that St. Christopher’s world completely changed. He grew even more faithful and he wanted to travel places to spread the word of God. Travel was by foot those days and the meek and weak couldn’t achieve it. So the Word of God couldn’t reach many people. So he took this responsibility and since he was strong and heavy, he travelled easily against all the odds and ends.

These travel brought him to Roman Emperor Decius, in 251 AD where he was compelled to offer sacrifice to the king. The Saint refused and then he was tempted with food and woman. He didn’t budge and finally he was beheaded.

Feast Day is on July 25.

He is Patron of bachelors, transportation, traveling, and storms.

St. Christopher’s Prayer

Dear Saint Christopher,
protect me today
in all my travels
along the road’s way.
Give your warning sign
if danger is near
so that I may stop
while the path is clear.
Be at my window
and direct me through
when the vision blurs
From out of the blue.
Carry me safely
to my destined place,
like you carried Christ
in your close embrace.

Amen.