St Christopher Medal

The medal of Saint Christopher is one of the most widely carried protective talismans in the Catholic world, a small disc bearing the image of a giant man carrying the Christ child across a river that has served as a travel companion for millions of Europeans across centuries. Christopher — whose name means 'Christ-bearer' — is the patron saint of travellers, and his image has adorned dashboards, hung from rear-view mirrors, and been pinned to the jackets of soldiers, sailors, and pilgrims for over a millennium.

The legend of Christopher describes a giant pagan who sought to serve the most powerful king in the world. Eventually he was directed to a hermit who told him that the most powerful king was Christ, and that Christopher could serve him by carrying travellers across a dangerous river. One day a small child asked to be carried across, but grew heavier with every step until Christopher feared he would drown. On the far bank, the child revealed himself as Jesus Christ, explaining that Christopher had borne the weight of the entire world.

Christopher's relationship with the institutional Church is complicated — Pope Paul VI removed him from the General Roman Calendar in 1969, not because he was demoted but because his historical existence couldn't be confirmed. This has done nothing to diminish popular devotion: Christopher medals remain among the bestselling religious jewellery items in Europe, worn by people who may not practice formal religion but who appreciate the tangible wish for protection that the small disc encodes.