Wednesday, May 24, 2017

St. Christopher and travelling



Alright, as you noticed, I have lately been writing blogs after things that already happened.  Like writing about a canonization a whole week late, or Mother’s Day, etc.  Why have I been so late? 

Well, I’ve been out of my home of the United States and have been travelling on the other side of the pond, in beautiful Europe.  What I have been doing will be revealed in later blogs (don’t want to ruin the surprise) but while traveling, I couldn’t help but think of St. Christopher, the famous patron saint of travelers.  

Mostly made of legend, St. Christopher was a very tall, strong man; people called him a giant.  Resolving to serve the strongest and most powerful, he served the king. He found the king was afraid of the devil, and then served the devil.  Then he found the devil was afraid of Jesus, and found someone who introduced him to Christianity.  He then served Jesus, devoting his life’s work by using his strength to carry travelers across a river.  One of these people was a young child.  Christopher carried the child across, and in the middle of the river the child grew heavier, and eventually, Christopher could not carry him.  He struggled to the end of the river, where the child told Christopher that he was Christ, and that he was so heavy because he was carrying the weight of the world.  Christ then told Christopher to put his staff in the ground.  The next day Christopher’s staff became a tree.  This miracle converted many, which angered the king, and so Christopher was killed. 
 
There’s the story, and it is why St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.  St. Christopher, may you help all travelers to cross borders and enter new lands with the strength of Christ.

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