Both notions are way off the mark. St. Christopher is still a saint in good standing. In fact, there is no doubt among hagiographers — the scholars who study saints professionally — that there was an early martyr named Christopher.
The misinformation about St. Christopher began in 1969 when Pope Paul VI authorized a complete revision of the Church’s liturgical calendar. Some popular saints, such as St. Barbara and St. Catherine of Alexandria, were removed from the calendar because Vatican hagiographers believed they were mythical characters. Other saints had their feast days lowered in rank to an optional memorial, letting local churches decide if they will commemorate the saint or not.
Media reports at the time of the shake-up often got the facts wrong, only adding to the confusion. It didn’t help that many bishops and parish priests failed to explain to the people in the pews what was happening. St. Christopher was one of the victims of this mess, so I welcome this opportunity to clear it up.
With approximately 40,000 saints on the books, but only 365 days in a year, every day is the feast of dozens of saints. July 25 is the feast day St. James the Greater, one of Jesus’ Apostles; St. Christopher; and of many other lesser known saints. Since any of the Twelve Apostles outranks a martyr, even a martyr as famous as St. Christopher, the 1969 calendar instructed priests throughout the world to offer Mass on July 25 in honor of St. James. This is the general rule. Parishes and chapels dedicated to St. Christopher, or regions where St. Christopher is especially honored, however, have the option of celebrating his Mass on July 25.
There was a real St. Christopher. The Roman Martyrology, the ancient compendium of Christians who were martyred during the first centuries of the Church, records Christopher’s martyrdom in Lycia, in present-day Turkey, during the persecution of the Emperor Decius (reigned 249-251). So put your doubts to rest and put St. Christopher’s statue back on the dashboard, hang his medal from your key chain and pray to him with confidence before you set out on any journey.
The story of how St. Christopher became the patron of travelers is well-known, but like all good stories it’s worth repeating. Christopher was a tall, powerful man. When he became a Christian, he went to live beside a dangerous river where he put his strength to use carrying travelers safely from one side to the other.
One day, while resting in his hut, he heard a child’s voice crying, “Christopher, come out and carry me across.” Outside Christopher found a little boy. He grabbed his staff, put the child on his shoulder and stepped into the water. But with each step, the waves grew higher, the current grew stronger and the weight of the child increased. Christopher was afraid he would lose his step and that both he and the little boy would drown. At last, exhausted and gasping for breath, he crawled up the bank on the opposite shore.
“Boy,” Christopher said, “who are you?”
The little boy answered, “Today on your shoulder you carried the Creator of the world. I am Christ your king.” Then the Christ Child vanished.
Thomas Craughwell is the author of Saints for Every Occasion (Stampley Enterprises, 2001).
(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)
