Saint Christopher Carries Christ

Before he was known as Christopher, he was a giant named Reprobis, a man of immense strength who vowed to serve only the most powerful king in existence. He first served a great monarch, but left when he saw the king tremble at the mention of the Devil. He then sought the Devil, but abandoned him upon seeing the Prince of Darkness flee from a roadside cross. Seeking the one more powerful than the Devil, a hermit instructed him that the best way to serve the King of Kings was through humble labor. Reprobis took up residence by a dangerous, swollen river, using his great strength to carry travelers across the treacherous currents. One stormy night, a small child asked for passage. As Reprobis waded into the water with the boy on his shoulders, the child’s weight grew heavier with every step, nearly crushing the giant beneath the waves. When they finally reached the far shore, Reprobis cried out, 'Child, you weighed as if I bore the whole world!' The child replied, 'You have not only borne the whole world, but Him who created it.' The boy revealed himself as Christ, and as a sign, He told the giant to plant his staff, which immediately blossomed into a fruitful palm tree. From that day on, the giant was known as Christopher, the Christ-bearer.