| Saint Christopher
Patron Saint of Travelers, Service Men and Women, Against Floods & Storms "Before
the 1969 reform of the Roman calendar, St. Christopher was listed as a martyr
who died under Decius. Nothing else is known about him. There are several legends
about him including the one in which he was crossing a river when a child asked
to be carried across. When St. Christopher put the child on his shoulders he found
the child was unbelievably heavy. The child, according to the legend, was Christ
carrying the weight of the whole world. This was what made St. Christopher patron
saint of travelers and is invoked against storms, plagues, and other dangers. In
1969, the Church took a long look at all the saints on its calendar to see if
there was historical evidence that that saint existed and lived a life of holiness.
In taking that long look, the Church discovered that there was little proof that
many "saints", including some very popular ones, ever lived. St. Christopher
was one of the names that was determined to have a basis mostly in legend. Therefore
St. Christopher (and others) were dropped from the universal calendar. However,
St. Christopher's cult was not suppressed but it is confined to local calendars
(those for a diocese, country, or so forth). His name St. Christopher, means Christ-bearer." Prayer
to St. Christopher
"Dear Saint, you have inherited a beautiful name,
Christ-bearer, as a result of a wonderful legend that while carrying people across
a raging stream you also carried the Child Jesus. Teach us to be true Christ-bearers
to those who do not know him. Protect all drivers who often transport those who
bear Christ within them. Amen." Prayer for
Travelers
"O Almighty and merciful God, who hast commissioned Thy
angels to guide and protect us, command them to be our assiduous companions from
our setting out until our return; to clothe us with their invisible protection;
to keep from us all danger of collision, of fire, of explosion, of fall and bruises,
and finally, having preserved us from all evil, and especially from sin, to guide
us to our heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." Motorist's
Prayer
"Grant me O LORD a steady hand and watchful eye, That no one
shall be hurt as I pass by. Thou gavest life; I pray no act of mine may take away
or mar that gift of Thine.Shelter those, dear LORD, who bear me company, from
the evils of fire and all calamity. Teach me to use my car for others' need; Nor
miss through love of undue speed the beauty of the world; That thus I may with
joy and courtesy go on my way. St. Christopher, holy patron of travelers, Protect
me and lead me safely to my destiny. Amen." |
24mm
long 
