Here is the medal...

Receiving the medals

I received the medals in the middle of July from Solveig Muus - (*see below). Solveig was instrumental in finding a outsourcing source in Shenzhen China, who manufactured the medals.

On Sunday morning, I had all the medals blessed by a Franciscan Friar.








(*)
Solveig Muus
Silk Road Asian Sourcing
728 West Palm Lane
Phoenix, Arizona
85007 USA
Tel: 602.252.1429
Email: solveig@silkroadasia.com

Why do a lot of soldiers carry St. Christopher medals?

Why do a lot of soldiers carry St. Christopher medals?

People have always had a tendency to collect objects which appear unique and unusual. The further back we venture into our collective history the more likely it is that such objects were assumed to possess special powers to heal, strengthen and protect. Such beliefs persist even today in arguably every culture. A very effective description of what a talisman is and what it imparts to it's bearer: "A talisman is an object that exerts an influence for good fortune to occur to the one who possesses it. It transforms the person who holds it so that he or she can accomplish great deeds. Comparatively, amulets as objects believed to protect and ward off evil or harm. So close are these two purposes that it is not uncommon for the distinction between talismans and amulets to be blurred so that the two terms are used interchangeably.

A talisman or amulet can take many forms, but most common are pendants or charms worn on the body. They can also be made of many different materials and in most instances the material from which they are made contributes to their intended power. If an item is made of wood, the type of wood chosen is of significance, if made of metal, then the type of metal dictates the affect the object will have, likewise if stones are included, then their color is both symbolic and influential. Other examples include common objects which have an unusual malformation (four- leaved clovers), animal parts or carvings of animals, relics of religious icons and heirlooms once owned by ancestors. Ultimately, the power of a meaningful piece of jewelry is determined by the social, spiritual and emotional relevance that an object acquires as dictated by the culture the individual inhabits and the individual's personal experience surrounding the object.

With talismans and war historically, it has not been at all uncommon for warriors to carry talisman objects into battle. When the threat of probable death or other trauma is facing an individual it is human nature to seek protection and a means to bolster the internal will to counter anxiety. In a 2003 Washington Post article it was predicted that more than 50 percent of soldiers take some object of significance with them when they are deployed. These objects take the form of pendants that can be worn securely on the body but can also be religious books, letters, photos or even dog tags that belong to a military relative. Religious affects are nearly universal talismans worn by soldiers as exemplified by carved pendants of Buddha handed out to the military in Thailand, Koranic scripture carried by Muslims and medallions depicting Catholic saints worn by soldiers in Europe and America. During WWI many soldiers carried some form of Psalm 91 (see * below), commonly referred to as the "Soldier's Psalm" on their person, a particular talisman that is still popular amongst military as a form of protection. Also common is for a talisman object to be acquired by a soldier's family and presented to the soldier as a direct connection to kin while away from home.

So, who is St. Christopher?
Saint Christopher - the one-time Catholic patron saint of traveler's, whose name means "Christ carrier" -- is not mentioned in the Bible. While there may have been a 3rd century Greek martyr named Christopher, the story told of him is now generally acknowledged to be a 12th century addendum to the Christian canon. Christopher is typically depicted as a tall, middle-aged, bearded man with a staff who wades across a river carrying the Christ child on his shoulders. As the story goes, the extremely robust Christopher devoted his life to carrying people across an otherwise unfordable stream. One day a little child appeared before him and asked to be carried across. To Christopher's surprise, as he forded the river, the child steadily increased in weight until Christopher found his tiny burden so heavy that it was almost impossible to bear. When he asked the holy babe why he weighed so much, the child replied that he carried the world's sins upon his shoulders. As a reward for his service, Christopher's staff was miraculously transformed into a living tree, and Christopher himself became the Patron Saint of travelers.

Christopher was a widely popular saint, and was especially revered by mariners, ferrymen, and travelers. His feast day was July 25th, except in Greece, where it was celebrated on March 9th. In modern times a major center of his cult was in Italy and among Italian Americans, a fact that did not stop the Vatican from de-canonizing him during a late 20th century purge of the list of saints. Saint Christopher medals and holy cards are more difficult to find now that his status has been downgraded to that of a mere legend, but they are still being manufactured and many Mexican and Italian Catholics still believe that his image is the best amulet to carry in one's wallet, wear on a necklace while on a journey, or hang from the rear view mirror attachment of one's car.

(*) Psalm 91:
1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
(King James version)

We're sending St. Christopher over to Iraq, to protect our solders...

The purpose of this blog is to invite you, our soldier's and their families, to share your St. Christopher experiences.
If you had a St. Christopher experience, that you would like to share, please let us know by posting it in this blog.

No matter what anyone thinks of the policies of this war, the brave men and women on the front lines need our prayers, love, support and compassion! The sacrifices these soldiers and their families make, so we can live free, must not be forgotten! Let our prayers, love, support and compassion be for their families, friends and loved ones.

To ALL our Special Soldiers...we thank all of our military for protecting our freedom and our country. They are brave and all are hero's!! Thanks for all that you do!!

To help protect our soldiers, about 876 St. Christopher medals were mailed July 19th, over to a Captain in Baghdad, for distribution to his Unit, in the Forward Support Company, of the 20th Engineer Battalion. Our thoughts and prayers are going along with these medals, in asking St. Christopher to help protect our soldiers. These medals were just received by the Captain on Sunday July 29.

What's going on? This year has been an interesting year for myself and the Law of Attraction. When I was giving thanks for the many things, that I have received...a thought came into my mind. Why not send St. Christopher over to Iraq, to help protect our soldiers? With lot's of help, I ended up with a box of St. Christopher medals, who were patiently waiting for their trip. Well, I finally shipped them on July 19th.

St. Christopher is going to be very busy in the next few months. If one soldier's life was protected by wearing this medal, we will all be very thankful.