Talks on the Sacramentals, by Msgr Arthur Tonne - St Christopher,

"The steps of man are guided by the Lord." Proverbs, 20:24.

You would hardly expect a salty sea captain, especially a non- Catholic skipper, to gush over a saint. Yet, the master of the giant liner, Queen Mary, gave St. Christopher the lion's share of credit for docking the huge steamship at New York in October of 1938, without the help of tugs.

With no tug available, because of a strike, Commodore Robert Irving, master of the Queen Mary, brought the mammoth ship to dock in a thrilling display of what the newspapers called "judgment, seamanship and nerve."

Non-Catholic Irving explains it:

"The weather conditions were ideal. It was high water and there was no wind. Even then I did not feel so certain about it, when I was swinging the Queen Mary toward the pier from the middle of the river. Then I took out my little gold medal of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, which I always carry in my pocket on a small chain. I looked at his kindly face and asked:

'Shall I do it?'

"And it seemed the saint smiled at me and replied:

'Carry on, old man, and you'll do it.'

"And I did."

New York papers praised the prowess of the daring captain, but he himself gave the credit to St. Christopher, a little statue of whom he has in his cabin, whose medal he carries with him always.

This is just one of so many notable instances of heavenly help obtained through the influence of this third-century saint, that we cannot question his power to help those who travel. According to tradition Christopher longed to serve "the greatest prince that was in the world." His search led him to an old hermit who assured the big-bodied and big-souled youth that the greatest prince was Jesus Christ, and that an ideal service would be to carry people over a dangerous river that had taken the lives of many.

Among those he carried across was Jesus Himself, who appeared to our saint in the form of a little child, a Child who became heavier and heavier as He was carried through the waves. When the stalwart saint told the little One how terribly heavy He was, Jesus answered:

"Christopher, marvel not; for thou has not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne Him who created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders. I am Jesus Christ, the King whom thou servest in this work."

In these legendary words of Christ we see the reason for devotion to St. Christopher as the Patron of Travelers the heavenly protector of those who must journey from place to place. This story explains why he is pictured carrying a Child on his shoulders. All the assistance which the saints secure for us is merely part of their service of the Sovereign of heaven and earth.

Just as the wonders which St. Anthony performed on earth, continue from heaven, so the work of this faithful ferryman continue from heaven.

He is the special helper of those who ride in automobiles. With millions more cars on the highways, with millions more drivers, and millions more chances of crippling and killing crashes, we need some sort of celestial safety director to keep us from harm. With the mounting toll of accident and death on our highways, heaven has to take a hand.

We recommend St. Christopher for the role. In his own right this third-century martyr has no power to help us, but as a special friend of God he receives from the Almighty the duty and privilege of guiding motorists. He who served Christ on this earth by transporting travelers across a turbulent torrent, continues to serve Christ by protecting those who place their trust in Christ and this Christ-bearer.

But do not indulge the too-common presumption that once we have pinned or sewed a medal or badge of St. Christopher in our car, or about our necks, or on our watch chain, we can flaunt the rules of safety and defy the dictates of motoring reason. Someone has said: "As soon as you speed more than sixty miles an hour, St. Christopher gets out of the car."

He will not be responsible for needless speeding. Neither will he be concerned about reckless drivers and road hogs. Sitting beside you in your car, St. Christopher tells you:

"Observe the traffic rules. Watch the 'Stop' and 'Slow' signs. Be careful on curves. Watch what you are doing. Know the rules of the road and keep them. As for the rest, I'll keep you from harm."

Do accidents ever happen to those who carry a St. Christopher medal? They do. At the same time we know positively of many miraculous escapes from injury and death, escapes which can be explained only by some supernatural protection. World War Two witnessed many such marvelous examples of his protection, given not only to Catholics, but to Protestants and Jews also.

To those of you who travel, especially by car, I recommend devotion to this helper on the highway. Place his medal in a secure place where you can see it--in your machine, about your neck, on your key or watch chain. Give him a thought and a prayer as you start on your journey. Pray his protection. Heed his directions.

Let me give you a snatch from the prayer for blessing an automobile.

"O God . . . hear our prayers, and bless this car with Thy right hand; bid Thy angels stand by it, to save and protect from every danger all those who travel in it."

If you travel much you will do well to honor St. Christopher. His medal is a sacramental. On that medal is Christ being carried on St. Christopher's shoulders. Show love and devotion to Christ and this sturdy saint will be concerned about you. Amen.