SP R^AE S ^IE ^NR V E^TU^SS

Christopher was a strong man known originally as Reprobus (Latin for “destined for damnation”), who swore allegiance to the

^{St. Christopher most powerful forces on Earth: first, to the king of} Canaan, who struck fear into the hearts of his minions;

^{FEAST DAY: JULY 25} then, to a satanic commander, who frightened the king;

^{(died c. 250)} and last, to the spirit of Christ, who caused the commander to cower.

But Reprobus did not know how to serve Christ. When a hermit
advised him to fast, Reprobus said he needed to eat to maintain his
strength. When the hermit told him to pray, Reprobus said he did not
know how. Then the hermit told him to use his strength to transport
people safely across a nearby river that had claimed many lives.
One day, as the river raged, Reprobus struggled to carry a child.
When he was safe on the other side, the boy revealed himself to be
Christ. He renamed Reprobus “Christopher” (Greek for “one who car-
ries Christ”)—and disappeared.
According to an ancient compendium of Roman martyrs, Christo-
pher was shot with arrows and beheaded in present-day Turkey.
Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.

Martha might be the original domestic diva. She kept house while her sister, Mary, and brother, Lazarus, kept company with con-

St. Martha templative types in their home. Being a practical sort,

Martha took a dim view of her siblings’ seemingly idle

FEAST DAY: JULY 29

_{(c. 1st century)} philosophizing and never missed an opportunity to chastise them.

One day, Christ, a frequent guest, scolded Martha for her criticism. He suggested that a blend of work and meditation brought balance to life, and she soon changed her ways.

Later, the family left Palestine and traveled to the south of France. There, according to legend, Martha faced down a dragon and, with a few drops of holy water and a swish of her sash, led it out of town.