St.
Christopher, the name means 'bearer of Christ'. One of his legends
tells that he was a giant Canaanite and wanted to serve the greatest king.
Thus he began to serve Satan, until he found out that the sight of crucifix
made his lord to flight. He decided then to serve Christ by helping travellers
to cross a dangerous river. Once a child asked for assistance, and while
crossing Christopher felt that the child was getting heavier and heavier.
It took all his skill and might to reach another bank and save the child,
who revealed thereafter that he was Christ himself. Later Christopher preached
the Gospel in Lycia, was imprisoned by Decius, suffered martyrdom and then
beheaded. He is the saint patron of travellers.
See: Giovanni Bellini. St.
Christopher. St. Christopher,
St. Jerome, and St. Louis.
Hieronymus Bosch St.
Christopher Carrying the Christ Child.
Lucas Cranach the Elder. St.
Christopher.
Lorenzo Lotto Wings
of a triptych: St. Sebastian (left); St. Christopher (right).
Andrea Mantegna. Martyrdom
of St. Christopher and the Transport of his Body. (Lives of St. James and
St. Christopher).
Jusepe de Ribera. St.
Christopher.
Konrad Witz St.
Christophorus.
Recommended reading:
The
Legend of Saint Christopher by Margaret Hodges, Richard Jesse
Watson (Illustrator). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2002.
Christopher:
The Holy Giant by Tomie De Paola. Holiday House, 1994.