St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, and St. Christopher medals have been carried by seafarers and other travelers for centuries. He is one of the Fourteen Helpers, saints who are believed to come to the aid of their followers in times of trouble, and he was called upon for protection against the Black Death when it swept through Europe. St. Christopher's story is one of conversion, piety, miracles and martyrdom, and while it is not without its share of controversy, no one can deny that he remains one of the most popular Christian figures in the world.

The legend of St. Christopher says that he was born under the name Reprebus. He was the son of a heathen ruler, probably a king of Canaan or Arabia, so the child was dedicated to the gods Apollo and Machmet. Reprebus grew up to be a man of great size and strength, and in time decided that he would find and serve the greatest leader in the world. At first he enlisted in the service of a mighty king, but one day the name of Satan was mentioned in the king's presence and the monarch's face contorted with fear. Seeing this, Reprebus knew that Satan was mightier than the king, and decided to seek him out and follow him. This he did, but one day he saw Satan pass a cross beside the road, and the look of terror on Satan's face told Reprebus that the cross was the mightiest leader of all.

Reprebus found a hermit who instructed him in the faith and baptised him. The hermit told Reprebus that he would have to fast and pray to achieve piety, but Reprebus being a large man with a great appetite, asked if there was another way. The hermit said that if he would help travelers to cross a treacherous river, thus saving them from mortal danger, this act of service would help him achieve piety. He agreed and started carrying travelers across the river.

One day a small child asked him for help in crossing the water. As they crossed over, the child became heavier and heavier, until the man was barely able to make it across. When they reached the other side, the child revealed himself to be Christ and said that the weight was from all the sins of the world. To prove this, the child told the man to place his staff upright in the ground. He did this, and the next day it had become a green tree bearing fruit.

Because of this miracle, Reprebus gained the name Christopher, "Christ-carrier." As St. Christopher's strength carried the travelers across the river in ancient times, St. Christopher medals now protect them on their journeys, keeping them from disease and mishap until they return safely home.

If you know someone who is going on a journey, give them a St. Christopher medal. If you are going somewhere yourself, get one and carry it with you until you return home.

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*Very important: Plan ahead so that you will have enough time to find the perfect picture and ample time to wait for delivery.

Step 1: Choose an item that would make the perfect gift.

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Step 2: Locate a high quality photo that your recipient is sure to love. If you don't have one, simply search the Internet by typing: public domain images or check wikipedia creative commons for public domain images. Public domain images are legal to use and does not infringe upon any ones copyright.

Step 3: Purchase your item and send in your design requirements.

Step 4: Wait for your item to be delivered. That's it!

Think outside the box and give that special person in your life something that no one else has. Because when it's created by you, from the heart, chances are it'll be a one of a kind item!

Many people think that custom personalized gifts aren't cheap, but they can be, if you know where to look. Look no further, visit the link below to get started.