St. Christopher: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers
Feast day: July 25 (commemorated in the Roman Martyrology; not on the General Roman Calendar)
Patron of: Travelers, drivers, and those who carry others.
About St. Christopher
St. Christopher was an early Christian martyr, probably in Asia Minor in the third century, whose veneration is very ancient, although the details of his life are known only through later legends. A church in his honor was dedicated in Bithynia as early as the fifth century, and he became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
The best-loved legend describes Christopher as a man of great size and strength who wanted to serve the greatest king in the world. Told by a hermit that he could serve Christ by carrying travelers across a dangerous river, he took up the task. One night a small child asked to be carried over. As they crossed, the child grew so heavy that Christopher could barely reach the far bank, and the child revealed Himself as Christ, who carries the weight of the whole world. His name means "Christ-bearer." Although his feast was removed from the universal calendar in 1969 because of the lack of historical detail, he remains in the Roman Martyrology, and many travelers still carry his medal.
Prayers to St. Christopher on Daily Catholic Prayers
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