Whats the deal with St. Christopher?

[holdencaulfield]

I have two questions for people on this thread:

1. In 1969 St. Christopher was removed from the Saint’s Calender. He was not de-canonized, however it was said that there was no evidence that he actually ever existed. Does anyone believe that he does exist.
2. Assuming that St. Christopher doesn’t exist does anyone still ask him to pray for them? Does anyone think that it is ok to pray to him?

 

[LilyM]

Well, the naming of a Saint at the time of St Christopher was by popular acclamation and not by Papal decree and therefore was not, at that time, an infallible act necessarily. I doubt, though, that God would allow Christians to be deceived for so long in such a matter. My inclination is that he does exist.

He is patron saint of travellers. He is the patron saint of my nephew/godson, who was named after him. As well as the patron of travellers and I travel a fair bit. So yes, I sometimes pray to him.

I think it’s fine. I doubt that God would be offended by it even if St Christopher wasn’t a real person.

 

[Genesis315]

It’s not his existence that was in question, but not much verifiable was known about him. So, instead, they put saints we know more about on the universal calendar. I figure, even if he didn’t exist, there’s probably some anonymous saint up there who gets all the “St. Christopher” mail forwarded to him

 

[freudmacher]

I wear a chain with a St. Christopher medal. Everytime I travel on a plane, or a long road trip, I do ask for his protection…I should all the time, everytime I am traveling, even across the street, but I am not that good…

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

I have a St Christopher medal clipped to the visors in each of our cars.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I wear a chain with a St. Christopher medal. Everytime I travel on a plane, or a long road trip, I do ask for his protection…I should all the time, everytime I am traveling, even across the street, but I am not that good…

Yes I wear one all the time as well.

Well, the naming of a Saint at the time of St Christopher was by popular acclamation and not by Papal decree and therefore was not, at that time, an infallible act necessarily. I doubt, though, that God would allow Christians to be deceived for so long in such a matter. My inclination is that he does exist.

He is patron saint of travellers. He is the patron saint of my nephew/godson, who was named after him. As well as the patron of travellers and I travel a fair bit. So yes, I sometimes pray to him.

I think it’s fine. I doubt that God would be offended by it even if St Christopher wasn’t a real person.

That’s my opinion as well. Even if he doesn’t exist God will know that we are simply praying for protection when traveling.

 

[holdencaulfield]

Here’s a biography on St. Christopher.