Whether it is a holiday by car, a weekend by train or four weeks on foot on the Camino de Santiago: many people take St Christopher with them on their travels. As a medal in the car, as a pendant on a rucksack or as a medal on a chain. This guide looks at how you can have St Christopher accompany you on journeys and pilgrim routes, which customs exist and which companion suits which purpose.
Who Christopher was, which legend made him famous and which prayer suits him, we explain in detail in the Saints’ Lexicon: St Christopher: feast day, legend and prayer.
Why St Christopher and travel belong together
The name Christopher means “Christ-bearer”. The legend tells of a giant of a man who carried people across a dangerous river and one night carried over a child who grew heavier and heavier: Christ himself. Since the Middle Ages, travellers have therefore called on him when they are on the road. In the past they were ferrymen and pilgrims; today they are above all drivers.
His feast day is 24 July (25 July in some calendars). Around this day many parishes invite people to a blessing of vehicles.
St Christopher on the Camino de Santiago
The actual patron saint of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago is the apostle James, to whose tomb in Santiago de Compostela the routes lead. Even so, Christopher accompanies many pilgrims: as a sign that you are not alone on the way and are carried, even when the stage grows long.
On the trail every gram counts. A small pendant on a rucksack or a medal on a chain weighs next to nothing and is still visible every day. Some pilgrims also tuck a small medal into a breast pocket or into their pilgrim passport.
Which St Christopher companion suits which journey?
- By car: the classic St Christopher car medal with antique finish with a magnet sits on the dashboard or in the centre console. It is blessed.
- On foot and with a rucksack: a St Christopher olive wood keyring can be fixed to a rucksack or a bunch of keys and is also blessed.
- Always with you: you wear the St Christopher stainless steel medal with chain directly on your body, on the plane or the train too.
- For two intentions: the keyring with St Christopher and guardian angel is embossed on both sides.
You will find all the variants in the St Christopher collection. If you are looking for a St Christopher for someone who has just passed their driving test, our guide A driving test gift with a blessing will help.
A travel blessing to take with you
Before a longer drive or a pilgrim stage, a short prayer does you good. You can say it alone or together with everyone travelling with you:
Good God, we set out on our way. Keep us safe on all roads and paths. St Christopher, you carried Christ: pray for us, that we may travel attentively and arrive safely. Amen.
A simple prayer in our own words, to pray along.
Blessing of vehicles and St Christopher’s Sunday
In many parishes there is a blessing of vehicles around 24 July, often on what is called St Christopher’s Sunday. Cars, motorcycles, bicycles and sometimes tractors or rescue vehicles are blessed after the service. You can often bring your medal or pendant along too. You can find out when and where this takes place in your parish newsletter or on your parish website.
Blessed: what that means for us
Many, but not all, of our St Christopher items are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A business-card-sized certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then enclosed. Whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. We explain more in the article Blessing of objects: what a blessed cross means.
What matters to us: a medal is a sign of faith and a companion, not a technical safeguard. It is a reminder to drive attentively and to arrive with gratitude.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast day of St Christopher?
On 24 July (25 July in some calendars). Around this day many parishes offer blessings of vehicles.
Is St Christopher the patron saint of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago?
The patron saint of the Camino is the apostle James. St Christopher is generally regarded as the patron saint of travellers and therefore accompanies many pilgrims as an additional sign.
Where do I fix a St Christopher medal in the car?
In a place where it does not get in the way or obstruct your view, such as the dashboard or the centre console. Medals with a magnet hold on metal; otherwise an adhesive strip helps, if one is included.
Can I give a St Christopher medal as a gift?
Yes. It is a popular gift for passing the driving test, for a first car, before a big journey or for people who travel a lot for work.
Written by Denis & Belinda. We run LUNEXUS and are happy to answer your questions personally on +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English) or at hallo@lunexus.world.
0 comments