Saint-Christopher
Christopher is the one who holds (greek "phorein") the Christ (Kristos)
According to the legendary account of his life, Christopher was a Canaanite 5 cubits (7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall and with a fearsome face. While serving the king of Canaan, he took it into his head to go and serve "the greatest king there was". He met a hermit who instructed him in the Christian faith. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where they were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised that this service would be pleasing to Christ.
After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed as heavy as lead, so much that Christopher could scarcely carry him and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." The child then vanished.
He watches over travellers and can be invoked for protecting every journey (material or spiritual)
Copyright Abraham 2009
Listen to Louis Lachance's Méditations angéliques. We gratefuly thank him!
