Hey Deacon!
Is St. Christopher, the Christ-Bearer, still considered a saint?
A couple of weeks ago a friend of mind was having a ‘spirited’ discussion with a friend regarding the ‘saintliness’ of St. Christopher. His friend argued that St. Christopher is no longer considered a Catholic saint due to the lack of credible information surrounding his life. The timing of the question was quite good as St. Christopher’s feast day is on July 25, the same as St. James the Apostle. Now the rest of the story…
St. Christopher is one of the most beloved figures in Catholic devotion. A martyr of the third century, almost nothing certain is known historically about his life yet the Church has never stopped honoring him. A church built in the early 450s in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey) provides early testimony to his veneration, as does ecclesiastical evidence from the 500s and 600s.
The Name: His very name says everything. From the Greek Christos (Christ) and pherein (to bear), Christopher literally means Christ-bearer - a name that perfectly captures his legendary mission and his call to every Christian who venerates him.
The Legend: Christopher was a man of extraordinary size and strength who resolved to serve only the greatest master. He served a mighty king, then the devil himself but found both lacking in true courage. A hermit eventually pointed him toward Christ, instructed him in the faith, and baptized him.
Seeking to serve, Christopher stationed himself at a dangerous river crossing and carried travelers safely to the other side. One day, a small child asked to be carried across. With each step, the child grew unbearably heavy, as though Christopher bore the weight of the entire world. The child revealed Himself as Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer, and the crossing became a moment of divine encounter.
His witness led to many conversions, which enraged the local pagan king. Christopher was imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded a martyr's death. Even in death, his blood miraculously cured the king's blindness, prompting his conversion.
Patronage: St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, motorists, sailors, pilgrims, and all who journey far from home. He is counted among the Fourteen Holy Helpers (a topic for a future article). His image was traditionally placed at church entrances, bridges, and city gates, a guardian for those setting out into the unknown.
Was He "De-Canonized"? No. After Vatican II, a commission reviewed the liturgical calendar and removed feast days of a number of saints whose historical record was more legendary than provable. But this was never a de-canonization. The Church cannot "un-saint" someone. Christopher remains a saint. His feast on July 25 may still be celebrated by parishes and by the faithful with enduring devotion to him.
The Deeper Truth: Christopher's story is more than a pious legend; it is a mirror held up to every baptized Christian. The raging river, the unbearable weight, the hidden presence of God in what seemed like an ordinary act of service, all of it speaks to the Christian life. Every soul is called to be a Christophorus: a bearer of Christ into the world.
He didn't know he was carrying Jesus. Neither do we, most of the time.
Christopher carried a stranger across a dangerous river and discovered it was Jesus. Where in your daily life might Christ be disguised as the heaviest burden you're being asked to carry?