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vmalott
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Oh, I hope someone here can help me find the answer to my question:
Why do some athletes wear St. Christopher medals? I've seen various "athletic" St. Christopher medals for sale in catalogs and always assumed he was a patron for athletes.
However, my son has been doing research for his Confirmation and he recently discovered that the patron for athletes is St. Sebastian. Nonetheless, he has chosen Christopher as his patron saint.
So, we're both wondering what the connection is between St. Christopher and sports/athletes.
Thanks,
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Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
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cvbmom
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Maybe his strength?
I've always heard St. Sebastian as the patron saint of athletes, the St. Christopher is new to me.
God bless,
Christine
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JennGM
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I have found that there can be several patrons for an occupation, such as hunters has St. Eustace and St. Hubert.
It doesn't seem to be an "official" patronage, probably because St. Christopher's status is not really "officially" historical.
The first I had heard of this was when a friend of mine who played football at Notre Dame. He showed me his medals he received when he made good plays and such, and they were of St. Christopher.
And I can't find it, but I thought I read a rendition of St. Christopher's story that he was a gladiator or something. The size and his strength are reminiscent of Hercules, and it would be so logical to ask St. Christopher to watch over.
In the Middle Ages it was thought if he was invoked he would save them from sudden death. With that idea in mind, I can see how so many occupations would take this saint as patron.
I would dwell on the fact that as an athlete, we have to be a Christ-bearer at all times. We shouldn't hide our Faith, we have to be fair, competitive, good sports, etc. Doing that makes Christ shine through us. So St. Christopher seems perfect to me!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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As mentioned there can be multiple patronages, so different saints could be associated. In the case of St. Christopher I think his use is more one of general protection than athletes specifically. St. Christopher's prayers are invoked for protection. Most famously of course, he is the patron of travelers - for protection. He is also patron of protection -
against bad dreams
against epilepsy
against floods
against hailstorms
against lightning
against pestilence
against storms
against sudden death
Since there are some inherent risks of injury in athletics, I have always assumed he is being invoked as a protector from injury. The sports medals I see have that saying, "St. Christopher, Protect Me."
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vmalott
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Thanks to all of you!  I'll pass along the info to DS. He has a saint report due in class on Sunday, so the information will be helpful.
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Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
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Angie Mc
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On a side note, Valerie, we adopted a dog this past May from a shelter. His name is Sebastian, so we thought he would fit right in  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
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JennGM
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I received a most fabulous book on saints for Christmas, Saints and Their Symbols: Recognizing Saints in Art and in Popular Images by Fernando Lanzi and Gioia Lanzi. I've had this book on my wishlist for years, and dh finally bought it for me.
It's a goldmine...but related to your St. Christopher question, this paragraph jumped out at me:
Quote:
| St. Christopher is a holy martyr and a Helper. Because he carried Christ, he is patron of all who serve in transport and all travelers, including civil and military aviators: motorists and drivers, and therefore motor mechanics as well; boatmen, ferrymen, railway workers, tramway employees, porters, stevedores, stretcher-bearers, postal workers and couriers, as well as pilgrims, voyagers, and sportsmen; and, because of his flowering staff, patron also of gardeners and fish farmers, as well as fruit growers and fruit vendors. Due to his great height and to the great weight he carried, he is patron of athletes. Because of his isolate life he lived as a ferryman, he is patron of hermits. He also protects those whose work exposes them to the danger of sudden death, such as harquebusiers and alpinists, whose staff resembles that of the ferryman. He is invoked against sudden death, plague, hurricanes, and hail; against diseases of the teeth, whitlow, and diseases of the eyes (this last because of the blindness that struck oneof the archers). One who invokes him may find hidden treasure; as a ferryman he is also invoked against floods. |
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Topic: St. Christopher and athletes
