St. Christopher

  Posted on August 24, 2024  by admin  No comments

Born: at Canaan as Offero

Died: martyred c.251 Name Meaning Christ-bearer

Patronage: against bad dreams, epileptics; against epilepsy, against floods, against hailstorms, against lightning, against pestilence, against storms, against sudden death, against toothache, Air Forces, archers, automobile drivers, automobilists, motorists, bachelors, boatmen, bookbinders, bus drivers, cab drivers, taxi drivers, cabbie, civil aeronautics, fruit dealers, fullers, gardeners, holy death, lorry drivers, truck drivers, truckers, mariners, sailors, watermen, market carriers, mountain climbers, porters, relief from pestilence, transportation, transportation workers, travellers, travellers in the mountains, Saint Christopher’s Island, Saint Kitts, 13 cities.

Also known as Christobal, Christoval, Cristobal, Kester, Kitt, Kitts, Offero

Additional Memorial 25 July (Roman calendar), 9 March (Greek calendar), 9 May (some Eastern calendars), 16 November (Cuba), 10 July (some areas of Spain)

Third century martyr in the persecutions of Decius. Little else is known for sure. His fame derives from the pious legend of him being a “Christ-bearer” (= Christopher). He was a powerfully built man who wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places to cross. He gave Offero instruction in the truth of God. Offero took the hermit’s place, but instead of guiding travellers, he carried them safely across the stream. One day he carried a small child across the stream; the child’s weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight of the world on himself. He then baptised Offero with water from the stream. Christopher’s service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to travel and travellers, people who carry things, etc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.