Christ-bearer.
Arrived on yonder shore, plant thy staff in the ground, and in token of
my power and might tomorrow it shall bear leaves and blossoms."

And the child disappeared. On reaching the other shore, Christophorus
stuck his staff into the ground, and behold, it budded forth leaves and
blossoms. Then, kneeling, he promised the Lord to serve Him ever
faithfully. He kept his promise, and thenceforth became a zealous
preacher of the Gospel, converting many to the Faith. On his missionary
peregrinations he came also to Lycia, where, after his first sermon,
eighteen thousand heathens requested baptism. When Emperor Decius heard
of this, he sent a company of four hundred soldiers to capture
Christophorus. To these he preached so convincingly, that they all asked
for baptism. Decius became enraged thereat and had him cast into prison.
There he first treated him with great kindness, and surrounded him with
every luxury to tempt him to sin, but in vain. Then he ordered him to be
tortured in the most cruel manner, until he should deny the Faith. He
was scourged, placed on plates of hot iron, boiling oil was poured over
and fire was lighted under him. When all these torments did not
accomplish their purpose, the soldiers were ordered to shoot him with
arrows. This, too, having no effect, he was beheaded, on July 25, 254.

Two great saints refer to the wonderful achievements of St.
Christophorus. St. Ambrose mentions that this saint converted
forty-eight thousand souls to Christ. St. Vincent Ferrer declares,
that when the plague devastated Valencia, its destructive course
was stayed through the intercession of St. Christophorus.

LESSON

THE legend of St. Christophorus conveys a wholesome truth. We ought all
to be Christ-bearers, by preserving in our hearts faith, hope, and
charity, and by receiving Our Lord worthily in holy communion. He alone
is worthy of our service. In the service that we owe to men, we ought to
serve God by doing His will. We can not divide our heart, for Our Lord
Himself says, "No man can serve two masters" (_Matt_. vi. 24). If you
serve the world, it deceives you, for it can not give you what it
promises. If you serve sin, Satan is your master. He, too, deceives his
servants, and leads them to perdition. Christ on the cross conquered
these two tyrants, and with His help you can also vanquish them.
Therefore, give yourself to Him with all your heart, and you shall find
peace in this world, and eter