You may not realise it but you have probably met St Christopher. Well maybe not in the flesh, but he is the patron saint of travellers. An image of St Christopher is often found swinging from a small chain attached to a car mirror, or from the indicator arm. Some people like to carry an image of Christopher in their pocket, or their suitcase perhaps.
St Christopher lived somewhere between the late third, and early fourth century. According to legend Christopher was a big man. Some say 7 feet tall (although that may be doubtful - these things become exaggerated but it does help you to remember he was a big man). Christopher was a Canaanite who declared he wanted to serve the greatest King of all (meaning Christ). After searching for a while Christopher came across a hermit who suggested he try prayer and fasting. Christopher said that wasn’t for him. So the hermit said; “Then why not help people to cross the river. It is treacherous at times and your size would help others.” So that is what he did.
After helping a number of people cross the river, he famously carried a child not known to him across the waterway. Christopher said the weight was so heavy it felt like he had the world on his shoulders. Then the child revealed himself as the Christ, and declared; “Christopher you did have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have helped carry it for me.” We sometimes see this depicted in art, such as the illustration where the child is carrying an image of the earth. Perhaps we could equally say; carrying the burdens of others? St Christopher is often depicted carrying a child, and sometimes the child has the world on his shoulders. There are variations on the theme.
Back in the day when a lot of people went to church in Australia, our parish had another church named St Christopher's, at Kilburn in South Australia. It was on the corner of Way Street and Brooklyn Terrace. It is gone now, rather sadly of course. But it became unviable to keep the church open and so the site has been redeveloped. This blog page is a dedication to St Christopher’s church, it's people, their faith life, the haze of prayer that rose from that church, and the memories of dear friends and special events associated with the site.
Perhaps we can take some comfort in St Christopher’s encounter with the hermit. Realising a devout life wasn’t for him, Christopher set about on a more practical and charitable path. He helped to keep other people safe, and in a sense he carried the burden of others, and their need. The Christ child said to Christopher; “what you do for these, you do also for me.”
Regardless of our faith preference, may we be kind, and charitable, noticing the needs of others and doing what we can to help address their need. By all means say a prayer to St Christopher - but drive safely as well.
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