Today I want to tell you the story of a kind man named Saint Christopher. He lived a long time ago but is still remembered for helping people on their travels.
Let’s pretend to hop in our time machine and learn about this friendly fellow.
Who Was St.Christopher?
Once upon a time, there was a very big and strong man named Reprobus. He wanted to serve the most powerful king he could find.
First Reprobus served an earthly king. But one day he saw the devil was afraid of Jesus, so he started serving Jesus instead. After getting baptized, his name changed to Christopher, which means “Christ-bearer”.
Christopher the Helper
Christopher used his strength to carry people across a deep, dangerous river. He hoisted travelers on his shoulders and kept them safe through the waters. What a helpful gentleman.
One stormy night, a child asked Christopher to carry him across. As they crossed the raging river, the child felt heavier and heavier, almost too heavy for big Christopher.
When they finally reached the other side, the child revealed he was actually Christ. Jesus said “You carried Christ across on your shoulders. Your service pleases me, so from now on you will be called Christopher’.”
Saint Christopher, Friend to Travelers
The story spread of how Christopher carried the Lord. Since he helped people get to where they needed to go, Christopher became known as the patron saint of travelers.
When people headed out on trips, they would pray to Christopher for protection along the way. They knew he would watch over them through life’s journey.
Even though the stories may not all be fact, Saint Christopher reminds us to help others as best we can, just like he helped travelers cross the river.
Fun Facts About Saint Christopher
Here are some nifty tidbits about good old Saint Christopher:
- He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, saints with special protective abilities.
- St. Christopher lived around 250 AD but we don’t know the exact dates.
- He was super popular in medieval Europe and beyond.
- Many countries claimed him as their traveler’s patron saint.
- He was so beloved that people already considered him a saint before he was ever officially declared one.
Christopher Gets Demoted
In 1969, the Vatican decided Saint Christopher was probably just a legend. So they removed his feast day from the calendar. But many still really loved him. Parents kept naming babies Christopher. And travelers still put his medals on their bags.
Honoring His Legacy
So how can we keep Saint Christopher’s giving spirit alive today?
- Help fellow travelers whenever we can, like he helped people cross the river.
- Do service work to make journeys easier for folks in need.
- Say prayers for safe travels when friends go on trips.
- Share his story to inspire kindness in others.
The Tale Lives On
Though we don’t know all the facts, the tale of Saint Christopher teaches us good lessons – help carry others through hard times and serve God along life’s journey. Thanks, Christopher for being a friend.
So friends, next time you go on a trip, remember the friendly man who carried travelers. And be a friend to others, just like our pal Saint Christopher.
