St. Christopher, who in ancient times was called St. Christophorus, was born in the land of Canaan, and was named Reprobus, that is Reprobate, for he was a barbarous heathen. In stature and strength he was a giant. Thinking no one his equal in bodily vigor, he resolved to go forth in search of the mightiest master ever and, having found him, to serve as one of his greatest subjects.

In his wanderings, Reprobus met with a king who was praised as the bravest man on earth. Pleased with the king’s greatness, Reprobus offered his services which were readily accepted. The king was proud of his giant and kept him near his person.

One day a minstrel visited the king's castle. Among the different ballads he sang before the court, one of them mentioned the dark power of satan. At the mention of the devil’s name, the king made the Sign of the Cross over himself. Reprobus noticed this and, not knowing anything of Christ or his Faith, asked the king why he did such a thing. The king answered, "When I make this sign, Satan has no power over me." At this reply, Reprobus began to wonder. He thought this man was the bravest in the world.

"So you fear the power of satan?," Reprobus asked. The king grew nervous, for the giant’s tone showed where his thoughts were going. But Reprobus’ resolve was firm. He would only serve the mightiest and the greatest. And if this great king feared the devil…

"Then he is mightier than you," Reprobus told the king, "and I shall seek and serve him."

Setting out then to find satan, the giant came into a wilderness. One dark night, he met a band of wild men riding through the forest. When Reprobus understood that it was satan and his escort, he bravely accosted satan, saying how he wished to serve him. The devil, with proud satisfaction, accepted. But this servitude also, was not to last for the dedicated giant.

One day, in his travels with the devil, they came upon a wayside crucifix along the road for people to stop and pray at. At the mere sight of the holy sign, though, satan immediately took to his heels. When Reprobus demanded an explanation for such cowardly behavior, satan replied:

"That is the image of my greatest Enemy, Who conquered me on the cross. From Him I always flee."

Hearing this, Reprobus knew that this dark lord was not the most powerful master. So, to satan’s humiliation and dismay, Reprobus left his service and went in search of Christ.

In his wanderings, he one day came to a hut hidden in the forest. At its door sat a venerable old man. Reprobus spoke to him, and in the course of their conversation the old man told him that he was a hermit and had left the world to serve Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth.

"You serve Christ?" cried Reprobus with happy surprise. "Christ is whom I seek! For He is the strongest and the mightiest of all. Tell me where I can find Him"

Delighted, the hermit began instructing the giant about God and the Redeemer, and concluded by saying: "He who would serve Christ must offer himself entirely to Him, and do and suffer everything for His sake. His reward for this will be immense and will last forever." Of course Reprobus was more than willing, and in fact was eager, to put his incredible skills to use.

He asked the hermit to allow him to stay and if the holy man would continue to instruct him. The hermit consented. When Reprobus was finished learning all that he needed to know, the hermit baptized him. After his baptism, a great change of grace came over the giant. No longer proud of his great size and strength, he became meek and humble, and asked the hermit to assign to him some task by which he might serve God, his master.

"I cannot pray nor fast." The giant admitted humbly. His physical needs required much to sustain his strength. "Therefore, I must serve God in some other way."

Touched with an inspiration, the good hermit led him to a broad and deep river nearby, over which there was no bridge. As Reprobus gazed at the strong and swift moving waters, he heard the holy man say to him, "Build a hut here for yourself. And when wanderers wish to cross the river, carry them over for the love of Christ.''

The newly baptized Catholic followed the old man’s advice and went to work making his home by the river. From that day on, no matter what time it was, whenever he was called upon, Reprobus faithfully performed the task assigned to him. For a long time, he served God in this way - never seeking any reward for himself, but doing it all for the love of his Master.

One night, Reprobus heard a boy outside his hut asking to be carried across the river. Obediently, the giant quickly rose from his restful sleep. Placing the little child on his stout shoulder, Reprobus took his staff, and walked into the mighty river. To his surprise, as he was about halfway across the river, the waters suddenly began to rise higher and higher. Struggling to steady himself against the current, the poor giant was anxiously finding that the young stranger he carried was feeling heavier and heavier.

"O child," he cried out at last, "how heavy you are! It seems I bear the weight of the whole world on my shoulder."

And the child replied, "Indeed you do. You bear not only the world, but the Creator of Heaven and earth. I am Jesus Christ, your King and Lord, and henceforth you shall be called Christophorus or Christopher, that is, Christ-bearer. When you reach the opposite shore, plant your staff in the ground. And, as a token of My strength and power, tomorrow it shall bear leaves and blossoms."

Then, the child disappeared.

On reaching the other shore, Christopher stuck his staff into the ground, and it budded forth just as Jesus said. Filled with joy, Christopher knelt at the miraculous sight. He had finally seen the Master he had so longed to serve! With fervent prayers, Christopher promised the Lord to serve Him evermore.

As before, he was faithful to his word. From thence forth, the giant became a zealous preacher of the Gospel, converting many to the Faith. On one of his missionary journeys he came to Lycia. There, God blessed his zeal with a miraculous conversion of eighteen thousand heathens who all requested baptism after hearing his first preaching.

When the Emperor Decius heard of this, he sent a company of four hundred soldiers to capture Christopher. To these the giant preached so convincingly, that they all asked for baptism. Decius became so angry at this that he had Christopher cast into prison. Once he had the Saint safely caught, Decius first treated him with great kindness. He carefully surrounded him with every luxury to tempt him to sin. But it was in vain.

He then ordered that Christopher was to be tortured in the most cruel manners possible until he denied his Faith.

So the Saint was scourged and placed on plates of hot iron. Then boiling oil was poured over him and a fire was lighted under him. When all these torments did not accomplish their purpose, the soldiers were ordered to shoot Christopher with arrows. But this, too, failed to destroy the Catholic’s love and faith in the Child he he was privileged to have carried.

In the end, the faithful servant of Jesus was beheaded on July 25, 254 - sending the great giant of a Saint home to the Master he had served so well!