ST. CHRISTOPHER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 12

ST. CHRISTOPHER

• ♦ Saint of Motorists Motorists tbo world over carry plaques and maceots representing St. Christopher to guard them against the dangers of the road, but few know the import of the emblem. According to ancient Greek mythology, Christopher was represented as a man with a dog’s head who performed wonderful miracles in the cause of religion. Arrows aimed at him hung in the air and, at his command, turned round and smote his enemies. The western legend is the one which concerns motorists, and here we find a giant called Reprohatus, who decides to seek service with the greatest King in the world. Alter long travel he joins the court of Pharaoh, the mighty King of the Jews. But ho finds that Pharaoh, is afraid of Satan, so he swears allegiance to the Devil and serves him faithfully. Ono day he sees that Satan is afraid to look upon the Cross, so he leaves tho Devil and seeks Christ that ho may serve him. After he has travelled for years ho meets a hermit who informs him that ho caunot see Christ, but can serve him by praying and fasting. As lleprobatus has not the power to do either, the hermit tells him to prove his faith by setting himself a difficult task. So Reprobatus built himself a hut on tbo banks of a deep river and spent his life transporting travellers over tho water. No night was too stormy and uu traveller Loo heavy for Reprobatus. Ono dark night lie heard a child crying and, setting him on his shoulder, he commenced to carry him across. The farther he went tho heavier the child became, until Reprobatus was nearly weighed down with his burden. On safely reaching the other bank, said Reprobatus “Ho! Child. You aro as heavy as all the world,” to which tho child replied, “Well said, for I am the World, 1 created the World, I redeemed the World and I carry the sins of the World.” Then Reprobatus knew that he had carried Christ over the water. Three days later he died and was taken to Heaven, where be was christened Saint Christo-Phorus, the Christ carrier. Legend lias it that, in Heaven, St. Christopher looks alter the interests of all wayfarers both on land and on sea.. So it cornea to pass that St. Christopher is tbo patriot gaint of motorists. In the middle ages great statue., ami plaques of the saint were reded at, cross roads, in churches and on the walls of cities. It was believed that all who looked upon him were irr. from danger for tbo rest of the day. An allegory is contained iu the simple story. Holies are to be seen in many parts of tbo world. At St. Peter’s in Rome the shoulder on which Christ was curried is preserved, while at St. Christopher’s in Milan visitors are shown a jaw bone. The huge tooth of St. Christopher is on view at Dinnnt.