Christopher

Saint Christopher

Also known as
Cristobal
Kester
Kitts
Offero
memorial
25 July
Profile
Chris was a third century martyr in the persecutions of Decius. Little else is known for sure.

The BIGGEST misconception in the Church today is that the average Catholic really doesn’t understand what the "Immaculate Conception" is but the second biggest misconception is people think the church "Took Away" Christopher's Sainthood. Or they think he is no longer a saint. Some morons even use this as an excuse for their not participating in the Church anymore, "I can't believe anything they say after what they did to Christopher." Like using Chris on the visor of your car is a dogma of Faith....

In actuality the Church can't "Take Away" ANYONE'S Sainthood. What happened was this: The Church has a calendar where every day has a feast of some kind for universal (worldwide) devotion. Everyone all over the world must celebrate certain particular feast on certain particular days. In an effort to make Roman Catholicism less fun, in 1962 the church removed Christopher, and many others, from that universal calendar, because there is little factual evidence to support the centuries of oral tradition and legends that surround this great guy. He is still a saint and is available to assist you in your devotions, but the entire Church is no longer required to celebrate this feast. He remains on local church calendars and of course in our hearts and on our car dashboards and is still encouraged for personal devotions. So everyone, live it up!

He may really be a composite of as many as 4 different martyrs all of whom bore Christ as witness....does this really make a difference? He was martyred very early on in the history of the church, as such many fantastic stories grew up to enhance his personality in an effort to help educate catechumens and children in items of faith using Chris as an example.

His fame derives from the pious legend of him being a "Christ-bearer" which is what his name literally means. His birth name was Offero, he was a powerfully built man who wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. Being a big, tough fella, this meant engaging folks in feats of strength and rasslin’. In one story he wanted to find and defeat the greatest man on earth to prove himself greater. He eventually found the devil who he defeated in a wrestling match, when the devil revealed to him that Jesus was greater than the devil, Offero set out to defeat Jesus. He came upon a hermit who lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places to cross. The hermit promised Offero he would help him find Jesus. He gave Offero instruction in the truth of the greatness of God. Moved to serve rather than fight, Offero took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travelers, 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; he was so heavy because he bore the weight of the world on himself. He then baptized Offero with water from the stream. Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to travel and travelers, people who carry things, etc. So it is perfectly ok to keep him in your car next to that plastic Jesus. And as everyone knows, he is indeed, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.




Born
at Canaan as Offero
Died
martyred c.251 who knows how....





Patronage
against epilepsy
against floods
against lightning
against pestilence
against rising gas prices
archers
automobile drivers
automobilists
bachelors
boatmen
bookbinders
bus drivers
cab drivers
epileptics
fruit dealers
fullers
gardeners
hailstorms
holy death
lightning
lorry drivers
mariners
market carriers
motorists
pestilence
porters
sailors
storms
sudden death
taxi drivers
toothache
transportation
transportation workers
travelers
truck drivers
truckers
watermen


Representation
branch
giant
torrent
tree
man with Christ on his shoulders