St. Christopher,
Martyr
by Father Francis Xavier Weninger,
1876
The Roman Martyrology,
today, honors also St. Christopher, who received the crown of martyrdom
about the middle of the third century. He was born and educated in idolatry,
but no sooner had he embraced Christianity, than he zealously strove to
convert others to the true faith, and labored especially for this end in the
district of Lycia. When, on this account, he was arraigned before the
heathen judges, he fearlessly confessed Christ. Making him prisoner, they
sent two wicked heathen women to him, who by tempting him to evil deeds,
should open the way for him to forsake Christianity. But the Saint not only
induced them by his exhortations to change their conduct, but also converted
them to the Christian faith; which so enraged the judge, that he ordered the
Saint to be tormented most cruelly.
Perceiving, however, that the
Saint remained constant under all kinds of martyrdom, and by his example
converted a great many heathens, the tyrant at length ordered him to be
beheaded. This Saint is generally represented as of a gigantic stature, with
a budding staff in his hand, carrying Christ, in the form of a lovely child,
across a river. The cause of this is, that St. Christopher possessed a very
tall figure, and one day, while expounding the truth of the Gospel to the
heathens, he fixed a withered stick into the ground, which, to testify to
the truth of his teachings, immediately began to bud. It is also told of him
that his desire to assist his neighbor induced him to make his dwelling for
some time by a river, and to carry travelers across to the opposite shore,
as there was no bridge. While employed in these deeds of kindness, Christ
Himself appeared one day to him, in the form of a lovely child, desiring to
be carried over the river. The Saint took Him upon his shoulder, and carried
him to the opposite shore, where the Savior, making Himself known, filled
the heart of His faithful servant with inexpressible joy.
There have been in the last few centuries, some who, wickedly desiring to
tarnish the glory of the Saints, dared to assert that St. Christopher never
existed. Several learned men, however, have, by their powerful arguments,
silenced this erroneous statement. It is an established fact, that this holy
Martyr was already honored by the whole Christian world, more than a
thousand years before Luther. There are several convents and churches which
were founded in his honor. It must here also be remarked that the Catholic
Church by no means approves of the superstition practiced by some
weak-minded persons; as, for instance, to say the so-called Prayer of St.
Christopher, in order to find hidden treasures or to receive money from the
Saint. It is known that, in our time, some who practised this superstition
were punished by a just judgment of the Almighty in a terrible manner, by a
sudden death.
PRACTICAL
CONSIDERATIONS.
The heathen tyrant endeavored to incite St.
Christopher to the vice of unchastity, through two wicked women, because he
thought that this would be the best way to lead him from Christianity. The
same means were tried by other tyrants, with others of the faithful.
Christopher, however, who desired to remain true to his faith, was not to be
seduced. Heed it well. Unchastity is the way which leads to the loss of the
true faith, hence to hell. Those who become addicted to this terrible vice,
begin slowly to doubt several points of faith, until they have persuaded
themselves that the sin they commit is not so great as is preached from the
pulpit, but only a human weakness which God could not and would not punish
with hell. Whoever reasons in this manner, has ceased to be a Catholic, as
he does not believe everything God teaches us by His holy Church. The true
faith of the heart is already lost, although apparently he may still belong
to the Church of Christ. Without faith, heaven is lost, but hell remains.
"He that believes not shall be condemned," says Christ. (John, hi.; Mark,
xvi.) Ponder well these words, and if you are free from this vice, give
thanks to the Almighty, and, following the example of Christopher, let
nothing seduce you. But if you are a slave to it, tear yourself away from
it, if you will truly deserve the name of Catholic, and escape everlasting
fire. " No man is more ready to despise God, more audacious in criminal
deeds, more hardened in sin, more inflexible to repentance, and nearer to
hell, than he who lives an unchaste life," writes St. Thomas of Villanova.
The
Legend of St. Christopher
In ancient
tradition concerning St. Christophorus relates: He was born in the land of
Canaan, and was named Reprobus, that is Reprobate, for he was a barbarous
heathen. In stature and strength he was a giant. Thinking no one his like in
bodily vigor, he resolved to go forth in search of the mightiest master and
serve him. In his wanderings, he met with a king who was praised as the most
valorous man on earth. To him he offered his services and was accepted. The
king was proud of his giant and kept him near his person. One day a minstrel
visited the king's castle, and among the ballads he sung before the court
was one on the power of Satan. At the mention of this name the king blessed
himself, making the sign of the cross. Reprobus, wondering, asked him why he
did that. The king replied: "When I make this sign, Satan has no power over
me." Reprobus rejoined: "So thou fearest the power of Satan? Then he is
mightier than thou, and I shall seek and serve him."
Setting forth to seek Satan, he came into a wilderness. One dark night he
met a band of wild fellows riding through the forest. It was Satan and his
escort. Reprobus bravely accosted him, saying he wished to serve him. He was
accepted. But soon he was convinced that his new master was not the
mightiest on earth. For one day, whilst approaching a crucifix by the
wayside, Satan quickly took to flight, and Reprobus asked him for the
reason. Satan replied: "That is the image of my greatest enemy, who
conquered me on the cross. From him I always flee." When Reprobus heard
this, he left the devil, and went in search of Christ.
In his wanderings, he one day came to a hut hidden in the forest. At its
door sat a venerable old man. Reprobus addressed him, and in the course of
the conversation that ensued the old man told him that he was a hermit, and
had left the world to serve Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth. "Thou art
my man," cried Reprobus; "Christ is He whom I seek, for He is the strongest
and the mightiest. Tell me where I can find Him." The hermit then began
instructing the giant about God and the Redeemer, and concluded by saying:
"He who would serve Christ must offer himself entirely to Him, and do and
suffer everything for His sake. His reward for this will be immense and will
last forever." Reprobus now asked the hermit to allow him to remain, and to
continue to instruct him. The hermit consented. When Reprobus was fully
instructed, he baptized him. After his baptism, a great change came over the
giant. No longer proud of his great size and strength, he became meek and
humble, and asked the hermit to assign to him some task by which he might
serve God, his master. "For," said he, "I can not pray and fast; therefore I
must serve God in some other way." The hermit led him to a broad and swift
river nearby, and said: "Here build thyself a hut, and when wanderers wish
to cross the river, carry them over for the love of Christ." For there was
no bridge across the river.
Henceforth, day and night, whenever he was called, Reprobus faithfully
performed the task assigned to him. One night he heard a child calling to be
carried across the river. Quickly he rose, placed the child on his stout
shoulder, took his staff and walked into the mighty current. Arrived in
midstream, the water rose higher and higher, and the child became heavier
and heavier. "O child," he cried, "how heavy thou art! It seems I bear the
weight of the world on my shoulder." And the child replied, "Right thou art.
Thou bearest not only the world, but the Creator of heaven and earth. I am
Jesus Christ, thy King and Lord, and henceforth thou shalt be called
Christophorus, that is, Christ-bearer. Arrived on yonder shore, plant thy
staff in the ground, and in token of my power and might tomorrow it shall
bear leaves and blossoms."
And the child disappeared. On reaching the other shore, Christophorus stuck
his staff into the ground, and behold, it budded forth leaves and blossoms.
Then, kneeling, he promised the Lord to serve Him ever faithfully. He kept
his promise, and thenceforth became a zealous preacher of the Gospel,
converting many to the Faith. On his missionary peregrinations he came also
to Lycia, where, after his first sermon, eighteen thousand heathens
requested baptism. When Emperor Decius heard of this, he sent a company of
four hundred soldiers to capture Christophorus. To these he preached so
convincingly, that they all asked for baptism. Decius became enraged thereat
and had him cast into prison. There he first treated him with great
kindness, and surrounded him with every luxury to tempt him to sin, but in
vain. Then he ordered him to be tortured in the most cruel manner, until he
should deny the Faith. He was scourged, placed on plates of hot iron,
boiling oil was poured over and fire was lighted under him. When all these
torments did not accomplish their purpose, the soldiers were ordered to
shoot him with arrows. This, too, having no effect, he was beheaded, on July
25th, 254. Two great saints refer to the wonderful achievements of St.
Christophorus. St. Ambrose mentions that this saint converted forty-eight
thousand souls to Christ. St. Vincent Ferrer declares, that when the plague
devastated Valencia, its destructive course was stayed through the
intercession of St. Christophorus.
Lesson:
The legend of St. Christophorus conveys
a wholesome truth. We ought all to be Christbearers, by preserving in our
hearts faith, hope, and charity, and by receiving Our Lord worthily in holy
communion. He alone is worthy of our service. In the service that we owe to
men, we ought to serve God by doing His will. We cannot divide our heart,
for Our Lord Himself says, "No man can serve two masters" (Matt. vi. 24). If
you serve the world, it deceives you, for it cannot give you what it
promises. If you serve sin, Satan is your master. He, too, deceives his
servants, and leads them to perdition. Christ on the cross conquered these
two tyrants, and with His help you can also vanquish them. Therefore, give
yourself to Him with all your heart, and you shall find peace in this world,
and eternal bliss in the next. St. Augustine learned this truth by sad
experience, and therefore exclaims: "Thou hast created us for Thee, O Lord,
and our heart is restless till it rests in Thee."
