choosing a confirmation name

CatholicGurl · Jul 5, 2006

I will start my confirmation classes this fall and I can't wait! The idea of being confirmed has gotten me interested in learning more about my faith so I can make a good "adult" decision. One thing I've done is to start reading about the lives of various saints. The problem is that there are so may cool saints that it's hard to choose. So, what confirmation name did you choose and why? What was it about that person that made you want to take their name? Can I take Mary Magdelene as a confirmation name?

Thanks!

FullyMT · Jul 5, 2006

My Confirmation Saint was and is St. Joseph of Arimathea. The key is to stay in good contact with the Saint, learn about them, how are you similar, different? What is it about them that draws you to him/her?
To be quite honest, I chose St. Joseph because he was mentioned in Monty Python's Holy Grail...I did actually say that in the paper I wrote on why I chose him. However, after having had 3 years to ponder it...I am glad that I did. He was supposedly the "keeper" of the Holy Grail from the Last Supper...we talk about vocation every now and then
You can be Mary Magdalene...but fyi, when you receive Confirmation, the bishop will probably just say "Mary"

CatholicGurl · Jul 8, 2006

Thanks for your reply to my post.

I would still like to hear from others though.

poppinskw · Jul 8, 2006

I chose Mary as my confirmation name. I am a convert and it took me a while to learn about Mary as being my spiritual mother. As a Protestant I always saw her as a sister in Christ, but not as a spiritual mother...so there was a lot to learn for me.

Also the visitation is on the 31st May which is also my birthday.

Blessings on this most happy time for you.

Les

Counter-Reformer · Jul 8, 2006

St. Athanasius, St. Ireneus of Lyons, St. Polycarp are all Early Church Fathers who had defend the Church from ancient heresies such as Gnosticism and Arianism.

vrunca · Jul 8, 2006

My Confirmation name was kind of chosen for me, in a way....

You back in the day when I was Confirmed, Sister Andrew (our confirmation teacher) said that our chosen Saints names must be of the same gender that we are. I being the rebel that I was said yeah, ok....well I choose St. Francis...because of his love for animals and peaceful ways. I studied him and wrote a long paper on him....which I failed on, because he was a male Saint. Sister Andrew told me that I would choose a female Saints name, or she would choose one for me....well, I could have followed in St. Francis peaceful ways....but I chose not to and when it came time to be Confirmed, she asked me who I chose and I didn't answer her, I said she would just have to wait and see....so when Cardinal Deardon....yes, we had the Cardinal!! asked me the name I chose, I started to say Francis and Sister Andrew jumped in and said she chose Mary!!! And that is my story....I was quite angry, until I really thought about it and I realized that I had the name of Jesus' mom for my Confirmation name!!

And, Sister Andrew and I never really got along very well...we were both very hard headed, but at my graduation, she was in tears to see me leave! We kept in touch and I loved her very much until she died a few years after my graduation....she was actually a great person! And...times have changed and most parishes will allow you to choose either a female or male saints name, as long as you truly want to use them as an example of how to live your life on earth!

God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers!!

Kusanagi · Jul 8, 2006

I have not been confirmed yet, but I am kind of showing a strong afinity towards St. Joseph because of his patronage against doubt (I am oftenly doubting myself and the future), workers and working people (I am planning to go into the field of Industrial/Organizational Psychology) as well as someone to look up to since I plan myself to marry in the future and become a good father to my children.

ce58 · Jul 8, 2006

vrunca said:
My Confirmation name was kind of chosen for me, in a way....

You back in the day when I was Confirmed, Sister Andrew (our confirmation teacher) said that our chosen Saints names must be of the same gender that we are. I being the rebel that I was said yeah, ok....well I choose St. Francis...because of his love for animals and peaceful ways. I studied him and wrote a long paper on him....which I failed on, because he was a male Saint. Sister Andrew told me that I would choose a female Saints name, or she would choose one for me....well, I could have followed in St. Francis peaceful ways....but I chose not to and when it came time to be Confirmed, she asked me who I chose and I didn't answer her, I said she would just have to wait and see....so when Cardinal Deardon....yes, we had the Cardinal!! asked me the name I chose, I started to say Francis and Sister Andrew jumped in and said she chose Mary!!! And that is my story....I was quite angry, until I really thought about it and I realized that I had the name of Jesus' mom for my Confirmation name!!

And, Sister Andrew and I never really got along very well...we were both very hard headed, but at my graduation, she was in tears to see me leave! We kept in touch and I loved her very much until she died a few years after my graduation....she was actually a great person! And...times have changed and most parishes will allow you to choose either a female or male saints name, as long as you truly want to use them as an example of how to live your life on earth!

God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers!!

Yep. My bro picked St. Cecilia. He loves music and as she's the patron saint of music, felt it fitting. Our parish had no problem with him picking a her for his Confirmation name, as it was what he wanted.

I would tell you about mine, but I haven't picked one yet, as at my parish one isn't confirmed until the spring of their 11th grade year. (i'm going into 10th). Just be sure to know about your Saint. My YM told me she picked one but never researched it, and she wishes she had, so she'd at least know what they're the patron saint of.

Davidnic · Jul 8, 2006

I chose Gabriel. It is an Italian family name and I was trumpet player

I've always love the annunciation and wanted to take Gabriel for that reason too.

I would have chosen Joseph (I have a great personal love for Joseph. I do a large Italian St. Josephs day every year.) But that was my middle name already so David Joseph Joseph didn't make sense

Kusanagi · Jul 8, 2006

ce58 said:
I would tell you about mine, but I haven't picked one yet, as at my parish one isn't confirmed until the spring of their 11th grade year. (i'm going into 10th).

Dang I feel realy old now since I was never confirmed when I was younger and still yet to go into some Catechism class for adults whom never recived first communion nor confirmation .

Catholic Wife · Jul 9, 2006

My priest helped me choose my confirmation saint. After my first confession, he suggested St Catherine of Sweden because of her patronage.

JewelInHisCrown · Jul 9, 2006

CatholicGurl said:
I will start my confirmation classes this fall and I can't wait! The idea of being confirmed has gotten me interested in learning more about my faith so I can make a good "adult" decision. One thing I've done is to start reading about the lives of various saints. The problem is that there are so may cool saints that it's hard to choose. So, what confirmation name did you choose and why? What was it about that person that made you want to take their name? Can I take Mary Magdelene as a confirmation name?

Thanks!

May I throw in a suggestion to you and offer you Saint Therese Liseux - "the little flower". She was a wonderful saint. Plus Therese is a beautiful name.

If you choose Mary M...it would be just the name Mary, but when people ask you, you could say named after Mary Magdelene. People will probably assume it is after the Blessed Mother.

Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong - look at it that way

JewelInHisCrown · Jul 9, 2006

vrunca said:
You back in the day when I was Confirmed, Sister Andrew (our confirmation teacher) said that our chosen Saints names must be of the same gender that we are.

I find it ironic that a Sister Andrew would force you all to take a gender specific name.

I had a Sister Andrew as Vice Principal in my high school too!

Febe · Jul 9, 2006

CatholicGurl said:
I will start my confirmation classes this fall and I can't wait! The idea of being confirmed has gotten me interested in learning more about my faith so I can make a good "adult" decision. One thing I've done is to start reading about the lives of various saints. The problem is that there are so may cool saints that it's hard to choose. So, what confirmation name did you choose and why? What was it about that person that made you want to take their name? Can I take Mary Magdelene as a confirmation name?

Thanks!

You can certinly take Mary Magdalene!
Before my convertion, I was an ordained deacon - diaconos - in the Swedish church, and therefore I took "Febe", the Swedish form of "Phoebe" as my confirmation name. Rom. 16:1-2.

horsecrazy988 · Jul 9, 2006

my confirmation name is madeline...honestly i picked it cuz i liked the name...so im not a good person to ask about how to choose a name!

anyways i was confirmed last march and i was soooo nervous!

well good luck with picking your confirmation name!

Look Homeward Anglican · Jul 9, 2006

I chose a confirmation saint/name in 1989, but it was never recorded with my sacrament information at my parish! I now have no idea what it was. I remember at the time discussing it with the sister who taught RCIA, and playing around with lots of names. I eventually settled on Saint Michael the Archangel, because over the years I developed a certain habit of calling on him -- but I will always wonder what that original saint's name was that I chose.

TomUK · Jul 9, 2006

CatholicGurl said:
I will start my confirmation classes this fall and I can't wait! The idea of being confirmed has gotten me interested in learning more about my faith so I can make a good "adult" decision. One thing I've done is to start reading about the lives of various saints. The problem is that there are so may cool saints that it's hard to choose. So, what confirmation name did you choose and why? What was it about that person that made you want to take their name? Can I take Mary Magdelene as a confirmation name?

Thanks!

Are you any further forward yet in your decision? Don't envy you at all i must say!

CatholicGurl · Jul 9, 2006

TomUK said:
Are you any further forward yet in your decision? Don't envy you at all i must say!

No. After reading through the books about the various saints, I'm even more undecided. I still like Mary Magdalene because she was the first to see the risen Lord and she was at the foot of the cross. That's what I admire most about her!

Febe · Jul 9, 2006

CatholicGurl said:
No. After reading through the books about the various saints, I'm even more undecided. I still like Mary Magdalene because she was the first to see the risen Lord and she was at the foot of the cross. That's what I admire most about her!

Good enough reason to take that name, I´ld say!

TomUK · Jul 9, 2006

Remember that this isn't a decision that you should make alone - it is something between you and God. Reading is excellent but don't forget also to pray and ask God to help you discern the name he wants you to have.

choosing a confirmation name

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STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS

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