St. Christopher (250)

Martyr, Patron of Travelers

This saint does not have to wait until his feast-day for any special veneration: he is continuously in the minds of men, for he is the patron of travelers.

Yet the scholars have nothing but doubts about the ' facts of his life. He died a martyr, probably in Lycia, in the persecution ordered by the Emperor Decius in 250. The rest is legend and speculation.

Christopher had no official biographer; but stories about him containing elements of folk-tale, allegory and word-play upon his name have persisted. His legend appears to have been formulated first in the east in the sixth century and to have reached the west some three centuries later. In succeeding years, pious story-tellers have added to the story, or altered its setting. To some, Christopher was a peasant (one tradition says that before his conversion he had the head of a dog), whilst to others he was a prince who, through the intercession of our Lady, was born to a heathen king. Some have set the scene in Syria, some in Canaan and some in Arabia. His name, before his conversion, is given as Offerus, Offro, Adokimus, Reprobus or Reprebus.

The essence of his legend, though, has the beauty of simplicity: Christopher, a man of great strength but of a sensitive nature, vows to serve the greatest king in the world. Thus begin the travels of this gentle giant in search of truth which are commemorated in many a journey today.

First, Christopher serves the greatest king of the region, but he soon finds that there is one whom he fears: the Devil. So Christopher seeks out Satan, and serves him, until he finds that there is one of whom even Satan stands in awe: Jesus Christ. Christopher's search for Christ is long and hard; eventually he encounters a hermit -- some say it was St Babylas of Antioch -who converts him, and tells him that he can serve Christ best by doing well the earthly task for which he is best fitted. So Christopher becomes a ferryman, carrying on his broad shoulders any traveller who wished to cross a nearby river.

One night of storm and driving rain, Christopher carries over the river a small child who insists on making the journey at that moment. With each step he takes, Christopher's burden becomes heavier; half-way over he feels certain that his strength will fail, and that he and his passenger will sink to the depths of the river. When at last he reaches the opposite bank, the child tells him that he has carried on his shoulders all the sins of the world, and asks him to plant his great walking-staff in the ground. At once a wonderful tree springs up miraculously. Then Christopher recognises the Christ-Child, and sees face to face the King whom he has vowed to serve.

Some legends say that, having borne Christ, he should now bear his name, and so henceforth Offero becomes Christ-Offero. As the Golden Legend puts it: 'And afterwards he was named Christopher, which is as much as to say bearing Christ.'

After such an experience it is not surprising that, in spite of all dangers, Christopher should preach Christ to all who came his way, with such conviction and zeal that the earthly agonies of martyrdom were as nothing to him. It is not surprising either that, despite lack of hard facts, such an inspiring story should remain and grow in the minds of men; that in the middle ages his picture was to be found at the entrance of churches or at the gates of cities, prompted by the belief that those who gazed upon his image should not that day be a prey to sudden death: and that today, no matter where men may travel, St Christopher should go with them.

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