Offero was right joyful at these words and answered, “This service may I well do.”

So he hastened to the river and upon its banks he built himself a little hut of reeds.  He bare a great pole in his hand to sustain him in the water and many weary wayfarers did he help to cross the turbulent stream.  So he lived a long time, bearing over all manner of people without ceasing, and still he saw nothing of the Christ.

Now it happened one night that a storm was raging and the river was very high.  Tired with his labors, Offero had just flung himself down on his rude bed to sleep when he heard the voice of a child which called him and said, “Offero, Offero, come out and bear me over.”

Offero arose and went out from his cabin, but in the darkness he could see no one.  And when he was again in the house, he heard the same voice and he ran out again and found no one.  A third time he heard the call and going out once more into the storm, there upon the river bank he found a fair young child who besought him in pleading tones, “Wilt thou not carry me over the river this night, Offero?”

The strong man gently lifted the child on his shoulders, took his staff and stepped into the stream.  And the water of the river arose and swelled more and more and the child was heavy as lead.  And alway as he went farther, higher and higher swelled the waters and the child more and more waxed heavy, insomuch that he feared that they would both be drowned.  Already his strength was nearly gone, but he thought of his Master whom he had not yet seen, and staying his footsteps with his palm staff struggled with all his might to reach the opposite shore.  As at last he climbed the steep bank, suddenly the storm ceased and the waters calmed.

He set the child down upon the shore, saying, “Child, thou hast put me in great peril.  Had I carried the whole world on my shoulders, the weight had not been greater.  I might bear no greater burden.”

“Offero,” answered the child, “Marvel not, but rejoice; for thou hast borne not only all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne him that created and made all the world upon thy shoulders.  I am Christ the king whom thou servest in this work.  And for a token, that thou mayst know what I say to be the truth, set thy staff in the earth by thy house and thou shalt see in the morning that it shall bear flowers and fruit.”  With these words the child vanished from Offero’s sight.

But Offero did even as he was bidden and set his staff in the earth and when he arose on the morrow, he found it like a palm-tree bearing flowers and leaves and clusters of dates.  Then he knew that it was indeed Christ whom he had borne through the waters and he rejoiced that he had found his Master.  From that day he served Christ faithfully and was no more called Offero, but Christopher, the Christ bearer.

ST. CHRISTOPHER OF THE GAEL