St. Christopher, Martyr and Holy Helper (+254)
GIVING A GREAT WITNESS
St. Christopher was born to a heathen king of Canaan, through the prayers of his wife to the Blessed Virgin. His birth name was Reprobus (in some accounts it is Offerus, Offro or Adokimus). His name, meaning 'reprobate,' aptly described him as he was a barbarous heathen dedicated at birth to Apollo. In stature and strength he was considered a 'giant' (perhaps much like Goliath of old). Hagiographies also record he had a 'fearsome face.' Now on account of his tremendous strength, he was filled with hubris. He did not believe anyone was his match in force and he gave himself the task of finding the mightiest master whom he could serve.
SEARCHING FOR THE GREATEST MASTER
In his many wanderings, Reprobus met a king of Arabia who was praised as the most valorous man on earth. Reporbus offered his services. The king promptly accepted him, knowing such an addition to his personal guard would strike great terror into all his foes. The king was so proud of his giant that he kept him near his person, the better to inspire fear when subjects and conquered vassals sought his audience. One day a minstrel visited the king's court. Among his various ballads, the minstrel sang of the power of Satan. At the mention of the demon, the king blessed himself, making the Sign of the Cross. Reprobus wondered what this ritual meant and asked the king for an explanation. The monarch replied, "When I make this holy sign, Satan has no power over me." Reprobus countered, "So, thou fearest the power of this Satan?" "But of course," exclaimed the startled king, "who does not?" Reprobus was ashamed for his king and disappointed in him. For his part, He feared no one and realized this king was not the strongest possible master. So Reprobus left the king saying, "I will only serve the greatest. By thine own admission he is stronger then thee. Therefore I shall seek and serve him."
FALLING IN LEAGUE WITH THE DEVIL
Setting forth to seek the devil, Reprobus came into a vast, horrid, and lifeless wilderness. One dark night, he met a band of wild vandals rampaging through the wasteland. It was the devil with his vicious entourage. Reprobus bravely accosted their leader saying he wished to serve him. Naturally, the devil accepted him. Yet it was not long before Reprobus was convinced that his new master was also not the mightiest on earth. One day, while approaching a hill surmounted by a crucifix, the devil chartered a much longer course for their march. As was his custom, Reprobus asked why they were taking such a circuitous route. Satan attempted to be evasive and duplicitous, but Reprobus was adamant in his inquiry. At length the devil explained, "On top of that hill is the image of my greatest Enemy, who conquered me upon a cross. From Him I must always flee." Upon hearing this, Reprobus laughed at the devil and chastised him, "Here I thought you were so terrible and strong for even the great lords and kings of the earth fear thee; but now I come to learn that thou art nothing but a coward." With that, Reprobus took his leave of the malevolent army and went in search of Christ.
CHRISTIAN TRAINING
Reprobus wandered far and long, but could not find Christ. In his wanderings, he finally came upon a simple hut hidden far away from civilization. At its door sat a venerable old man. In the course of their conversation, Reprobus learned that he was a hermit who had abandoned the world in order to serve Christ, the Lord of Heaven and earth. "Thou art my man," cried Reprobus; "Christ is He whom I seek, for He is the strongest and the mightiest. I pray thee, tell me where I can find Him that I may serve Him?" The hermit then accepted the giant as a catechumenate and began to instruct him in the Christian faith. He concluded the lesson by emphatically declaring, "He who would serve Christ must offer Himself entirely to Him, and do and suffer everything for His sake. His reward for this will be immense and will last forever." Reprobus remained under his tutelage, growing in virtue, mortification and the renunciation of self.
After his baptism, a great change came over the giant. He was no longer proud of his great size and strength. He became meek and humble. He asked the hermit to assign to him some task by which he might serve Christ, his Master. He explained, "I can not pray and fast as thee, so I must serve my Lord some other way." The hermit led him to a swift flowing river nearby without a bridge and which had claimed the lives of many travelers. He said, "Here build thyself a hut, and when wanderers wish to cross the river, carry them over for the love of Christ. And do not worry, in time, you will also grow in a spirit of prayer and fasting." The hermit assured him that this service would greatly please Christ. Henceforth, day and night, whenever he was called, Reprobus faithfully performed the task assigned to him. With his great size and strength, he could ford the river safely even in a raging tempest.
BEARING THE CHRIST CHILD
One night, Reprobus heard a child calling to be carried across the river. He promptly arose, placed the child on his stout shoulder, took his staff in hand, and waded into the mighty current. As he arrived at midstream, the river rose in greater fury, the wind whipped about him with growing violence, and to his amazement, the small child grew heavier and heavier. Before long he could hardly take another step, weighed down by what he felt to be a ton of gold. His strength was ebbing and he knew he was in danger of falling into the river and losing his life. Yet what concerned him more than his own survival was that he would fail Christ by failing in his duty and not having safely carried this small child across. With a mighty gasp he exclaimed, "O child, how heavy thou art! It seems I bear the weight of the world upon my shoulder." The Child replied, "Right thou art. Thou bearest not only the world, but the Creator of Heaven and earth. I am Jesus Christ, thy King and Lord, and henceforth thou shalt be called Christophorus, that is, Christ-bearer. Arrived on yonder shore, plant thy staff in the ground, and in token of my power and might tomorrow it shall bear leaves and blossoms." And then the Child disappeared. The wind subsided, the river grew calm, and Christopher easily returned to his hut, full of amazement. He obeyed the Child. Then he knelt and adored and thanked God. Weary from his ordeal, he fell asleep.
The next morning, behold!, his staff had budded forth leaves and blossoms. Kneeling, Christopher promised to serve the Lord ever faithfully. He kept his promise and thenceforth he became a zealous preacher of the Gospel, converting many to the Faith. On his missionary journeys, he came to Lycia. After his first sermon, thousands of heathens requested baptism. When Emperor Decius heard of this, he sent a company of four hundred soldiers to capture Christopher. To these he preached so convincingly, that they all lay down their arms and requested baptism!
GIVING A GREAT WITNESS
Decius became enraged and had him brought before him. He threatened to cast him into prison, but Christopher was unmoved. Decius then tried to stroke his pride by praising him as the strongest man alive and asking him to serve him, the mightiest emperor. But Christopher would no longer be fooled. Next he treated him with great kindness, and surrounded him with every luxury, but in vain. Decius then decided to lead him into sin. He shut him in a prison and then sent him two most beautiful women with orders to seduce him. Armed with the Sign of the Cross, Christopher was immune to their advances. Instead, he preached to them; and before long they were weeping with great contrition over their sins. They vowed to abandon their licentious manners and requested baptism. Decius was outraged. He had both these women tortured, but they held fast to the True Faith and were subsequently martyred. At last, Decius became convinced there was no way he could turn Christopher back to paganism.
MARTYRDOM
Thus, the emperor ordered Christopher to be tortured in the most cruel manner, unless he would be willing to deny the Faith. The mighty giant was tied and scourged till his torn flesh littered the ground. Then he was placed on plates of hot iron, which terribly seared his open wounds. Boiling oil was next poured on him and fire was lighted under him. The anguish he suffered was excruciating and many of the spectators could no longer bear to view the madness. Yet Christopher somehow managed to survive all these torments. The emperor then had soldiers shoot him with arrows. Still he did not die. At last, he was beheaded on 25 July 254.
VENERATION
Two great saints refer to the wonderful achievements of St. Christophorus. St. Ambrose mentioned that this saint converted forty-eight thousand souls to Christ. St. Vincent Ferrer declares that when the plague devastated Valencia, its destructive course was stayed through the intercession of St. Christophorus. St. Justine's Church in Rab, Croatia, holds his greatest relic in a golden reliquariy: his skull. According to the church's tradition, a bishop showed his relics from the city wall in 1358 AD in order to end a siege of the city by a Muslim army.
St. Christopher is revered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Throughout Christendom, both in East and West, he was one of the most popular saints. In particular, he takes care of travelers, but is also invoked against lighting and pestilence. On account of his strength, athleticism, and charge, he is a patron for archers, soldiers, sailors, firemen, boatmen, mariners, motorists and travelers. Small medals of him are often worn by travelers or placed in their vehicles by Catholics.
Sadly, after 1970, although his devotion was universally widespread, his feast was suppressed in the new liturgical calendar. Many began to falsely claim that St. Christopher had never existed and was only a fable. Consequently devotion to him has plummeted. As Catholics who wish to recover and restore our glorious traditions, we ought to strive to grow in our devotion to St. Christopher, full of confidence that he is indeed a great heavenly intercessor on our behalf.