Saint Christopher
Martyr
- Feast Day
- July 25
- Life
- d. 251
- Born
- Canaan (traditional)
According to the Golden Legend and earlier hagiographical traditions, Christopher — whose name means 'Christ-bearer' — was a man of enormous size and strength from the country of the Canaanites who desired to serve only the most powerful king on earth. After serving and abandoning several lesser sovereigns, he was instructed by a hermit to put his strength at the service of travellers needing to cross a dangerous river. There he carried wayfarers across the ford on his shoulders.
One day a small child asked to be carried over. As Christopher waded into the stream, the weight grew greater and greater, until he could scarcely stand. When he reached the far bank he set the child down and said: 'I have carried the whole world.' The child replied: 'You have carried not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ the King, whom you have served by your work.' From that day Christopher took the name and was instructed in the faith.
He preached the Gospel in Lycia and was martyred under the emperor Decius about 251. His cult became one of the most widespread in medieval Christendom; the largest images of him were painted on church walls in the conviction that anyone who looked upon him would be preserved from sudden death that day.
The historical Christopher was removed from the universal Roman Calendar in the 1969 revision because of insufficient documentary evidence about his life, but he was not de-canonised; his feast remains observed at the local level and the devotion to him as patron of travellers, drivers, and motorists is fully approved by the Catholic Church.
Christopher is the patron of travellers in every form — of foot pilgrims, drivers, motorcyclists, ferrymen, sailors, and pilots. The St. Christopher medal worn or hung in vehicles is among the most common Catholic sacramentals in the modern world. His name itself — Christophoros, 'Christ-bearer' — is a continual reminder that every Christian carries Christ into the world.
Patronages
travelers · drivers · motorists · ferrymen · sailors · pilgrims · athletes · against storms · against sudden death
Catholic Churches Named After Saint Christopher
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share Saint Christopher's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- St. Christopher Parish — Bulawayo
- St. Christopher Parish — Bangar, LA UNION
- St. Christopher — Whitefish, ON
- St Christopher's, Airport West — Airport West, VIC
- St Christopher, Tutbury — Tutbury, ENG
- St. Christopher — Brimfield, MA
- St. Christophers Roman Catholic Church — Town of Cortlandt, NY
- St. Christopher — Indianapolis, IN
- St. Christopher Church — Jamestown, TN
- St. Christopher-Holy Spirit Catholic community — Eden, WY
- St. Christopher — Marana, AZ
- St. Christophers Catholic Church — Chester, MD
- St. Christopher Parish - St. Joseph — Mayville, MI
- St. Christopher Catholic Church — North Las Vegas, NV
- St. Christopher by the Sea Church — Unalaska, AK
- St. Christopher-St. Faustina Parish — Prospect, PA
- St. Christopher's Church — West Covina, CA
- St. Christopher Catholic Parish — Philadelphia, PA
- St. Christopher's Church — Nisswa, MN
- St. Christopher Catholic Church — Radcliff, KY
Sources