Saint Christopher, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers of the Catholic Church, patron of travelers of all sorts, has also long been invoked in protection against pestilence. As we now patiently await the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and begin planning for travels, journeys, and pilgrimages once more, it is good to pause and reflect on his story.

Tradition holds that Christopher, a Caananite man of formidable appearance and immense stature (seven and a half feet tall), was a servant of the King of Caanan who decided to serve the greatest king of all. Upon discovering that his king feared Satan, he sought Satan, but when he discovered that Satan feared Christ, he took the advice of a hermit and served Christ by offering passage across a dangerous river. Due to his immense size and strength, Christopher easily performed this task until one day, a boy who saught his assistance in the crossing nearly drowned him. After completing the crossing with the boy with great difficulty, Christopher commented to him that it was as if the whole world was on his back, to which the boy responded: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." Christ then disappeared, and Christopher went on to become a great evangelist of the faith, converting many in the region of Lycia in Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey, and comforting those preparing to become martyrs of the faith. Promised earthly riches if he would enter into the service of the local lord, Christopher refused, even converting two women that were sent to seduce him. Christopher himself was martyred, and quickly became one of the most beloved saints of Christianity. His name in Greek means Christ-bearer, in memory of his simple but total service to Christ the King. His feast day in the Catholic Church is celebrated on July 25th.

Like Christopher, we must often undertake a journey to discover ourselves and our purpose. A pilgrimage differs from a holiday in that we accept to focus on discovery of ourselves, our faith, and how to live that faith, rather than focusing on our pleasure through leisure travel and how to just make ourselves more pleasurably comfortable. It can be a challenging, often daunting experience, but one that is also deeply rewarding with extraordinary benefits for growth in our spiritual life.

For many of us over the past two years, our planned travels and journeys have had to wait; including our planned pilgrimages. Many have discovered that pilgrimages can also take place at home, through the assistance of reading the Bible, the lives of the saints, and spending time in silence, contemplation, and prayer. Now, perhaps we can also greater appreciate the importance of physical movement, of taking journeys, and of companionship with others.

A pilgrimage may require planning and preparation, but as with Saint Christopher, a simple man, we can find a wellspring of faith through the act of simply putting one foot in front of the other and taking a journey of faith.

May these coming months find you in greater faith, and if you are so called, may you find your path to pilgrimage, be it to Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Ireland, the Holy Land, or elsewhere. And may Saint Christopher protect you and guide you on your journey.

A Prayer to Saint Christopher

O Glorious St. Christopher

you have inherited a beautiful name, Christ-bearer,

as a result of the 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 of us that travel

both near and far and petition Jesus

to be with us always.

Amen.

Journey to the Holy Land!

Good Shepherd Travel includes Jerusalem, Nazareth and the Galilee, Bethlehem Jericho, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea as part of our comprehensive pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Other popular pilgrimage tours to locations such as Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, and Ireland are also available. For more information on how to begin preparing for a pilgrimage in late 2022 and 2023, contact Good Shepherd Travel owner and manager, Tony AbuAita at Tony@goodshepherdtravel.com.