Millions of Catholics the world over are familiar with the legend of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. Although, Saint Christopher was not specifically named in biblical stories, references to him from as far back as the third century exist. That said, most scholars believe the legend of Saint Christopher first emerged during the 1100s. Christopher was a river guardian who had the capacity to cross a stream that no one else could. He spent his life ferrying people across this difficult river. One day, he waded across the river with a small child on his back. Although Christopher had carried many children before, this child got heavier and heavier as he forded the stream. Christopher asked the child why he was so heavy, and, according to legend, the child responded that he was weighed down by the sins of the world. Saint Christopher's gift of protection to the young Christ child earned him a reputation as a caretaker of travelers. Today, millions of people, particularly Italian Catholics and Latin American Catholics, invest in St Christopher medals as tokens of good travel luck. Incarnations of St Christopher medals abound. His image has been carved into precious gold and silver medals. Common metals and even plastics have been used to depict him, as well. Towards the end of the 20th century, the church de-canonized Christopher. As a result, interest in Saint Christopher medals waned somewhat. That said, rare and highly valued instances of these medals can be found in numerous collections the world over and through online auctions. |
