Saint Christopher

Christopher was an early Christian martyr, probably put to death in Lycia, in Asia Minor, during the persecution of Emperor Decius in the third century. Very little is known for certain about his life, but devotion to him spread widely in both East and West, and churches were dedicated to him as early as the fifth century.

His popular legend tells of a giant named Reprobus who wanted to serve the most powerful king in the world. A hermit taught him to serve Christ by carrying travelers across a dangerous river. One night he carried a small child who grew heavier and heavier, until the child revealed that he was Christ, who bears the weight of the whole world. From then on he was called Christopher, "Christ-bearer." In 1969 his feast was removed from the universal calendar because of the lack of historical information, but he remains in the Roman Martyrology on July 25 and is still widely loved.

On or near his feast many parishes in Spain, Italy and Latin America hold blessings of cars, trucks and buses, with drivers lining up for holy water. Saint Christopher medals are given to new drivers and travelers, and Havana's full name, San Cristóbal de La Habana, honors him as its patron.