Can anyone explain Confirmation names?

[son_of_angels]

I am going to be confirmed this year, and I was wondering if anyone could explain the notion of a confirmation name. Is it one of your names, or a patron saint which you choose?

[zabbazooey]

A patron saint.

Mine is Joan, from Joan of Arc, I felt that she really embodied how I feel and everything. Just pick one that is right for you!

[little_angel202]

mine is St. theres of the child Jesus i visited her house when i was younger and since then had an atachement to her the bishop reminded me when i was being confirmed that she always rembered that God was with her and that i should also do the same thing

[Dreamweaver]

Mine's Francis, as in St. Francis de Sales. His feast day is my birthday. In addition, he was instrumental in converting French protestants to Catholicism, and I'm a convert myself. I guess I also have St. Francis Xavier on my side too. He's a cool guy also, travelin' around to Japan and such.

It doesn't matter if your patron saint is from the opposite sex.

[cappie]

The receiving of a name at Confirmation has a number of different sources in the history of the Church. But the biggest one comes from the idea of a name being associated with a change of life. When Jesus told Simon that his new name was now Peter (Matthew 16:18), it was because his role was changing and he was going to be asked to take on a role of leadership. When Saul had his great conversion, the risen Lord gave him the name Paul (Acts 13:9). And there are a number of others that we see this happen to as well because there is a power in a name. If we look back at the Old Testament, to name someone was to have ownership of them, which is why when Moses asked God in the burning bush who was sending him to Pharaoh, God didn’t give him his name, He gave him his title, “I am who am” (Exodus 3:14). So to take on a new name at confirmation also carries with it the idea that you are asking for the Lord to change you. To take ownership of you like He’s never done before and to live your faith more fully and with more life than you ever could’ve imagined.

The name of the saint also should have some significance to you, that particular saint is an example of the type of holiness you would like. Some people take St. Francis because they want to be kind to animals, or some people take St. Joseph because they want to be as holy as he was, or some people take St. Monica because she had such patience with her children, and the list could go on. The idea is to pick somebody who says something about you. And when you stand before the Bishop the day of your Confirmation and you tell him your name, say it with a pride and with a conviction and with knowledge that the Holy Spirit is going to change you forever.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='son_of_angels' date='Sep 8 2005, 01:54 PM']I am going to be confirmed this year, and I was wondering if anyone could explain the notion of a confirmation name.  Is it one of your names, or a patron saint which you choose?
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Since Fr. Greg already got the explanation, I'll just answer what's relevant to me.

I chose St. Raphael the Archangel, patron of lovers, financial need, travelers, etc.

I choose him because then with my two other brothers, we would be the three archangels mentioned in Scripture...yeah...not a good reason...

But it's been providential, as I've needed St. Raphael's intercession in all three of those areas...

[ofpheritup]

Mine is Clare. I took it for "all the wrong reasons."

I was pressured in to it. I was told it would make my Grandfather happy and don't you want to make your Grandfather happy?

Yeah, I loved my Grandfather. It made him happy. So whatever, I took it.

TODAY I AM GRATEFUL I DID. I love it. Grandpa knew more about me than I did.

[son_of_angels]

So when you're confirmed, you're confirmed as your confirmation name?

[missionseeker]

Yes. The bishop says ___________ be sealed w/the spirit. (I may have gotten that woring wrong but that's the gist of it)

Mine is Brigid of Ireland

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

the easiest thing to do is to go on a place like catholic.org on the saints page, and look up the patron saints list.

But also, become acquianted with some saints first. Maybe some of the popular ones. I chose St. Augustine of Hippo as my confirmation name, because i felt connected to him.

We both lead earthly lives of wine women and song. We both had persistant mothers who prayed endlessly for us. We both had a knack for intellectual endeavors. We were both drawn into God through philosophy. We both have some of the same weaknesses and strengths.

People often times say i am remeniscent of St. Francis of Assisi. I can understand, but most people are not familiar with St. Augustine. of course St. Augustine is not that popular a devotional Saint, except for with priests maybe.

SHALOM

[ThyHolyLove]

Mine was St. Maria Goretti because I read her story and just fell in love. In short she fought off her rapist and incured multiple stab wounds that killed her. AND she was only 12 when this happened. As she was being attacked she scream "No Alessandro it is a sin, you will go to Hell!"

She had one of the fastest cannonizations in the Church and her mom got to witness her cannonization..how cool is that!

[son_of_angels]

I think I will choose St. Aelred of Rivaulx.

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='ThyHolyLove' date='Sep 8 2005, 11:34 PM']She had one of the fastest cannonizations in the Church and  her mom got to witness her cannonization..how cool is that!
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VERY.

Even more cool was that Alessandro was sitting beside her mother during the canonization.

I need to learn to forgive.

[CatholicBoy]

My confirmation name is "Michael" as in St. Michael...That hardcore Archangel that whooped Lucifer's butt.

I'm a cradle Catholic. When I originally took St. Michael's name as my own confirmation name and patron Saint, at the time I was young and had my own reasons for choosing him. However, as I got older, I rebelled against my Catholic upbringing and practiced paganism, the occult, wicca, etc.

But Christ gave me a serious wake up call and I walked away from all that and found my way back to the mother church. I've been faithful ever since. So now, as an adult, St. Michael as a patron saint has taken on an entire new meaning in my life as a Catholic. Now he represents my inspiration for enlightening those who may be following that same, dark path I took when I was involved in the occult. He inspires me to take the devil on and expose his lies through new age and neo-pagan religions that are attracting so many people into it's fold and away from Christ.

[zwergel88]

My confirmation name is the same as my regular name.

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='zwergel88' date='Sep 10 2005, 11:28 AM']My confirmation name is the same as my regular name.
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? ? ? ? ?

[zwergel88]

[quote name='ofpheritup' date='Sep 10 2005, 11:39 AM']? ? ? ? ?
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Anna

[Asher]

I chose St. John the apostle as mine.

[AlterDominicus]

I chose St. Therese The Little Flower. *Sighs dreamily* or rather will be choosing it, since I will be getting Baptized and Confirmed Easter Vigil 06'!

I have Sister Mary Emily to thank for that, she came up with it. Also, "Little Amanda" There is a story behind that. Ahhhhh, she is so wonderful.

Edited September 10, 2005 by AlterDominicus

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='zwergel88' date='Sep 10 2005, 11:42 AM']Anna
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Beautiful.

I'm thinking (give me a minute)
St. Ann in some ways is similar to St. Joseph they are
"silent saints" we don't know alot about them.

But what beautiful witnesses they were to following God's will.