Car-Blessing Day

July 25 is the feast of St. Christopher, patron of travelers, whose popularity steadily increases among U. S. Catholics. To dozens of churches motor cars, taxicabs and trucks proceeded last week for sprinkling and blessing. Into the churches passed drivers to invoke burly St. Christopher's help with prayer: "O God, who didst provide for the children of Israel to pass dry of foot through the midst of the waters, and didst open for the three Magi a road to Thee by means of a Star, grant unto us, we beseech Thee, a journey prosperous and free from harm; that accompanied by Thy Holy Angel, we may arrive safely at our present destination and come at last to the port of eternal salvation, through Christ Our Lord, Amen."

Many petitioners belong to the Confraternity of St. Christopher, have a medal inscribed: "Gaze upon St. Christopher, then go your way reassured." The medal carries an image of St. Christopher crossing a turbulent river with the Christ Child on his shoulder. In the background, as on a river bank, is an old-fashioned touring car with a long wheelbase, rakish fenders. Motorists tack the medal on the dashboards of their cars or above the windshield. Others carry the medal as a pocket piece.

One of .the most noteworthy of last week's celebrations occurred at Baldwin, L. I., where St. Christopher's Church and shrine waylay picnicking New Yorkers and make it convenient for them to attend to their spiritual duties. For blocks around vehicles, including a fire engine, nosed in for blessing. But traffic jams developed so the priests blessed every half-hour. After the last mass suppliants fol lowed the pastor, Rev. John Joseph Mahon, and another priest outdoors for the blessing of a special new shrine for motorists. The shrine is a chromium-plated Cadillac radiator frame set in a rock garden. A chromium-plated cross surmounts the radiator-cap and a St. Christo pher medal supplants the Cadillac insignia. A bulletin board replaces the radiator grid.

Father Mahon hopes soon to get a large statue of St. Christopher carrying the Christ Child. He will mount the image back of the radiator which, commented he last week, looks rather empty stuck up as it is.

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