Baptismal name expressing a virtue?

[SecretaryMonday]

CCC 2156 says, … In Baptism, the Lord’s name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church. This can be the name of a saint, that is, of a disciple who has lived a life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord. The patron saint provides a model of charity; we are assured of his intercession. The “baptismal name” can also express a Christian mystery or Christian virtue…

I have heard about choosing a saint’s name for Baptism and/or Confirmation, but I have never heard of what it means to be named after a Christian virtue. If a saint’s name provides a model for us and assures us of their intercession, what does a virtue’s name do? Does it just mean we should practice that virtue, or that somehow that virtue will be especially granted to us?

(A question on the side: I really wanted to take a saint’s name at Confirmation, and I found one who resonated with my heart. The name was supposed to be printed on a nametag at the ceremony. but the RCIA director did not print out a tag; I assumed that this was okay because the priest had the name in his notes, but he didn’t. I was Confirmed under my legal name. I was told “It’s okay, you can’t change your Confirmation name but can still have a devotion to this saint!” but I feel like I lost my only opportunity to tie myself to a patron saint and be “assured of his intercession.” Is this really as discouraging as it feels like?)

 

[aemcpa]

Most of these are girls’ names - Grace, Hope, Faith, Charity, Chastity, etc. Yes, the idea is that by God’s grace the child will have that virtue as a particular model for their lives, that the child will be especially strong in that particular virtue.

It is correct that you were confirmed under a particular name and nothing can change that. However, the confirmation name is only a matter of private devotion to begin with; it is not recorded anywhere in any sacramental register and it is not a required element of the Sacrament. If you feel that strongly about having your name changed, you can add your intended confirmation name to your legal name.

 

[Falco]

Faith, Hope, Charity, Patience, Prudence, Joy, Felicity, Grace, to name a few.

 

[SecretaryMonday]

Faith, Hope, Charity, Patience, Prudence, Joy, Felicity, Grace, to name a few.

Yes, I am a “Joy”…I think this is kind of funny because I have a Melancholic personality that is easily depressed.

(I vacillate, though; I can be joyful too.)

 

[Elizium23]

It is not an official part of the rite that a person takes a Confirmation saint/name. However, some parishes record it in their register and note it on their certificates. If it has been entered in the record wrongly by your parish, I would complain loudly and persistently that it be corrected post haste. You have a right to correct this as it is a legal record governed by Church law.

If it is not in the register or on the certificate then there is essentially no problem. Spiritually, you know who you took as a patron and that is all that matters. You are in my prayers.