[St. Patrick's, or Swift's Hospital, for the reception of lunatics and idiots, situated near Dr. Steevens's Hospital, adjoining to James Street, Dublin. It was opened in 1757. For some account of it see Scott's "Memoir of Dean Swift," Works, vol. i. pp. 438. 527.]
Replies.
ST. CHRISTOPHER.
(Vol. v., p. 295.)
Some years ago I remember meeting with the following explanation of the beautiful legend of St. Christopher, and unfortunately forgot to take a Note of it. It recurred to my mind on lately reading Mr. Talbot's work on English etymologies, the writer of which appears to take a similar view of the allegorical meaning.
Part of the legend is founded on the meaning of the Greek Χριστοφερων, coupled with a circumstance in the original legend, which is of German origin, and is an allegorizing of our blessed Lord's bearing the sins of the world, and offering himself up on the altar of the cross. In a Latin document of A.D. 1423, the name is abbreviated into X'poferus; in an English one of the same date it is spelt Christopfore; and in French, Christopfre. Christopfer signifies Christ's sacrifice: that is, the sacrifice of the cross continually offered up in the sacrament of the altar, or the mass, the messopfer, so named from the German opfer, a sacrifice; Welsh offeiriad, a priest; offrwm, a sacrifice; offeren, the mass; Irish, oifrionn, or aifrionn.
The perfection of our blessed Lord's humanity, His resistance of evil, and mighty strength displayed in bearing the sins of the universe, are shadowed out in the great stature and vast strength of the giant Christopher. According to the legend, when he had succeeded in reaching the shore, and had set down his burden, he said: "Chylde, thou hast put me in grete peryll, thou wayest alle most as I had had the world upon me; I might bere no greater burden;" and the child answered, "Christopher, marvel thou nothing, for thou hast not only borne all the world upon thee, but its sins likewise."
Mr. Talbot says, the name Christopher, Christoffer, may have been given to children born on Good Friday, the day of the Great Sacrifice, as those born on Christmas, Easter, and All Saints were named Pascal, Noel, Toussaint.
JARLTZBERG.
"REHETOUR" AND "MOKE," TWO OBSCURE WORDS USED BY WYCKLYFFE, A.D. 1384.
(Vol. i., pp. 155. 278.)
I. REHETOUR.