Saint Christopher

St. Christopher

Mexico City

Mobile Pic c. 2010

My family was very religious while I was growing up, however, I wasn’t born into Catholicism. I do know it’s a huge part of my cultural history on both sides of my bloodline; Mexican & Salvadorian. I also know that my maternal grandmother’s family were devoted Catholics and she was the first of her 6 siblings to convert to another protestant faith.

I wasn’t taught the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism in depth. Grandma just emphasized that Catholics are borderline idolaters and they have extra books in their Bible. As time passed and began to question my family’s religion, I came to disagree with many of the aspects of my grandmother’s religious choice of sect. Althuogh, I did like the idea of eliminating the "middle man" and focus on a personal relationship with God as opposed to the Catholic route.  

It took a long time for me to become interested in Catholicism for my own cultural curiosity. My knowledge of the people that have obtained sainthood is still terribly limited. I attended mass for the first time at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome when I was 21. I didn’t bother to see the shroud of the Virgen de Guadalupe in Mexico City until I was 28.

Just before my first trip to Mexico City, one of my friends brought up the subject of St. Christopher and explained that she wears her St. Christopher pendant whenever she goes on a big trip. I recalled the story of St. Christopher but I had to research it again to refresh my memory.

 I felt ignorant for not knowing something that is so “101” among Catholics. Setting all embarrassment aside, I really liked this story. I don’t want to get into a discussion whether there is any historical record of Christopher’s existence. I’m not an atheist, but I’m also not comfortable praying to a saint when I can just ask the boss himself. But that’s beside the point. I was quite charmed with this story and I really love the idea of a protective representative of travelers.

Having been a nervous passenger on over 40 planes, thoughts like “why didn’t anyone ever tell me” ran through my head. The important thing is that now I know. I wasn’t able to find a St. Christopher pendant during my stay in Mexico City, but I think I’ll buy one here in the States, which is home base anyway. I don’t intend to wear the pendant as a good luck charm. I do feel as if I’ve been watched over through many situations in my travels. But as I get older and the feeling of youthful invincibility fades, I can find comfort in a story about the kindness of strangers no matter where your journey takes you.