“…And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations.”

— Mark 13:10

Christopher Columbus used to be a hero. Today, he is politically incorrect and unjustly blamed for many of the bad things done in the wake of his historic voyage.

His name, Christopher, means “Christ-bearer.” Pherein, the second part of his name, means “to bear”—the one who bears Christ. Interestingly, the pilot of the Niña, one of the three ships made famous by Columbus, drew a map of the known world. At the top of the map is a drawing of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World, and the features of St. Christopher are unmistakably the features of Christopher Columbus, who, his son tells us, was a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes. His hair turned white at the age of thirty. He was a gentle man who hated swearing and blasphemy and tried to live a godly life.

The word “Columbus,” coming from the Italian colon, means “a member.” Christopher Columbus liked to say he was a member of the body of Christ and would carry Christ to the New World. He himself said, “I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy and they have covered me completely…No one should fear to undertake any task in the Name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.” Opening the New World for the rest of the earth to come and begin to Christianize was no small task.

Lord of the Universe, we thank You for the bravery and great daring of Christopher Columbus. We ask for Your grace to do what You call us to, whether great or small…

LORD, GIVE ME STRENGTH FOR TODAY
TO SAIL UNKNOWN SEAS.