“Whatever happened to Saint Christopher?” “Is he still a Saint?” “I heard that he was de-Sainted?” Any discussion of Saint Christopher will necessarily bring up the whole process of the way Saints are named, and how that process has changed greatly in recent years. Why is this? Simply because the status of Saint Christopher's sainthood has indeed changed of late due to the fact that there is real question as to whether or not he really existed. Saint Christopher is much more a person of legend, than reality, but this fact does not change the way he can remain a model for our lives as we strive to become more Christ-like each and ever day. Throughout the history of the Church, many Saints were named by popular acclamation. Stories circulated about the miracles performed by “So-and-so”, and as the popularity of a particular person grew, so did the legends surrounding them. Legends are not to be understood as fictions, however, but as the real and necessary amalgamation of qualities in a person's life and behavior to which others could look up. Based oftentimes in real need, in the case of dire situations, for example, or with dreaded diseases, for another, whole personalities developed to extend hope to others. These personalities became as real as the person sitting next to you, and their example as true a model of life as anyone can imagine. From 1969 onward, the process of “making Saints” changed, so that while popular acclamation still plays a part in a person's canonization, the Church plays an even larger role in her investigation of the circumstances surrounding a persons life and death. This process now begins with an investigation into the person's real life, and asks similar questions to: Where were they born? What was their family history? How did they come to the faith? How did their lives on earth impact others? In addition to this investigation of reality, the Church seeks proof of at least three miracles that take place through the person's intercession, a further indication that the role of the Church in this who process is to recognize what God has already blessed. With this change in process, the Church took another look at all the saints that had already been named in order to determine the legitimacy of their remaining recognized as Saints. There were some who were cast aside since their lives held no basis in reality, nor did the qualities of their legend were not at all what the Church seeks for sanctity. Others were found not to have really lived, but the legends that surrounded their “lives” were of the very essence of saintly living. For these it did not truly matter if the “person” spoken of was “real” or not, but rather the way of their “life” could be followed on our own path toward holiness. Saint Christopher belongs to the latter of these two groups of legendary saints, based in legend perhaps, but yet remaining a model of life lived in Christ. His very name translates to “Lover of Christ”, and in this way alone can describe so many who have gone before us. Legend holds that Christopher was a man of profound generosity who never refused to help those in need. This assistance was offered freely, without plan of being repaid, and his goodness and generosity was renowned. Christopher was prepared to wade across a raging river one day, and as he approached the water's edge, a child asked if Christopher would carry him. Without hesitation, he lifted the child to his shoulder and proceeded to the other side. The child was Christ, and the act of kindness that day gives us the ability to call upon Saint Christopher whenever we travel away from home. The Lover of Christ carries the Lord in his heart, and will ensure safety to all who seek it. Whether Christopher existed in reality or not matters not one bit. His way of living can be held by every man, woman or child as something to emulate for themselves. All that has changed for us in the Church is the fact that July 25th is no longer designated as his feast day in the universal Church calendar, nor is his name mentioned in the Roman Canon. The celebration of his “life” is left to the discretion of a particular church, diocese or community. Christopher will always remain an important part of our life as parishes, for legend or not, his way of life is something for us all to imitate: Give freely; carry Christ; offer hope and safety to all. May we all strive to be a “lover of Christ”, and transform our world in the process.

© 2005 Peter J. Andrews