Choosing a Confirmation Saint

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15Lk_clu

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So, some background.

I’m a 16 y/o guy currently in RCIA. I was raised Protestant, and as such, the only Saints I was raised learning anything about are those in the New Testament.

I have no idea how to choose a Confirmation Saint.

I’ve spoken with my youth minister about this, and she gave me some resources, but is much too busy unfortunately to sit down and have an in depth conversation about it. I’ve spoken to my fellow HS age candidate about it, and we’ve agreed we’ll need to sit down together once we narrow it down a bit more to help each other decide. I’m meeting with my Sponsor this weekend for a movie, as well as to talk about this whole RCIA thing in general, specifically my Confirmation Saint. I’m trying to schedule a meeting with one of my priests for next weekend, but that whether or not we get to the topic of Confirmation Saints is going to depend on how early we can meet before Mass (as my transportation is supplied by my parents which makes it limited), and how long our conversation on Vocations goes.

Is there any website or even anecdotal advice someone can offer me as I try to narrow it down? I’m a very rational person, it’s what led me to Catholicism in the first place, so usually when faced with a choice I’d make a pro/ con list, come up with a point system, and score the Saints I’m looking at accordingly, then choose whoever comes out first. I tried that, and it didn’t really show me anything. I’m guessing this needs to be a decision I need to make more with my heart than my head, which is hard for me.

If it changes anything, my current thoughts are with St. Joseph (as in husband of Mary), St. Charles Lwanga of Uganda, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Therese de Liseux, St. Francis de Sales, and St. John Chrysostom. You can see in my footer that I’m favoring SS. Joseph and Therese right now, but it’s all pretty up in the air.

Any and all advice is appreciated. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
 
I am going through the same thing as this right now. I picked up a copy of saints for dummies and it was pretty useful In helping me narrow down my choices. (St. Thomas Aquinas, st. Nicholas, or st. Michael)
 
Read up on stories of saints and see if any speak to you. There are a lot of resources online about the saints! If there is something that you love look into the patron saint of that- my sister is a musician, so she chose Saint Cecilia, patroness of musicians.
 
15Lk_clu said:
So, some background.

I’m a 16 y/o guy currently in RCIA. I was raised Protestant, and as such, the only Saints I was raised learning anything about are those in the New Testament.

I have no idea how to choose a Confirmation Saint.

I’ve spoken with my youth minister about this, and she gave me some resources, but is much too busy unfortunately to sit down and have an in depth conversation about it. I’ve spoken to my fellow HS age candidate about it, and we’ve agreed we’ll need to sit down together once we narrow it down a bit more to help each other decide. I’m meeting with my Sponsor this weekend for a movie, as well as to talk about this whole RCIA thing in general, specifically my Confirmation Saint. I’m trying to schedule a meeting with one of my priests for next weekend, but that whether or not we get to the topic of Confirmation Saints is going to depend on how early we can meet before Mass (as my transportation is supplied by my parents which makes it limited), and how long our conversation on Vocations goes.

Is there any website or even anecdotal advice someone can offer me as I try to narrow it down? I’m a very rational person, it’s what led me to Catholicism in the first place, so usually when faced with a choice I’d make a pro/ con list, come up with a point system, and score the Saints I’m looking at accordingly, then choose whoever comes out first. I tried that, and it didn’t really show me anything. I’m guessing this needs to be a decision I need to make more with my heart than my head, which is hard for me.

If it changes anything, my current thoughts are with St. Joseph (as in husband of Mary), St. Charles Lwanga of Uganda, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Therese de Liseux, St. Francis de Sales, and St. John Chrysostom. You can see in my footer that I’m favoring SS. Joseph and Therese right now, but it’s all pretty up in the air.

Any and all advice is appreciated. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
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It’s traditional (although not 100% necessary) to choose a saint of your same gender as your confirmation saint as you will be taking their name as your own. Perhaps that can break the tie between Joseph and Therese.
 
I am also an RCIA graduate. I came to the Church when I was in college after being raised in a nominally Protestant home. So we have a few things in common. 🙂 I can relate to not knowing much about the saints until I was drawn to the Catholic faith. I was absolutely fascinated by them, however. I couldn’t read enough about them. I still can’t!

I was strongly drawn to St Teresa of Avila. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the moment I chose her to be my confirmation saint. I’m not sure if I can even describe it in words. The moment I began to learn about contemplative prayer through her writing and the Carmelite tradition, I was gripped. It was almost a sense of deja vu, the things she was describing (aside from ecstasies :)). And then I realized, I had practiced contemplative prayer as a Protestant and didn’t even know it! Her way of conversing with the Lord hits very close to home for me. I feel we are probably quite alike in temperament and weaknesses, too–the Lord knows I have a tendency to get wrapped up in idle, trivial things if I don’t incline my ear to His voice, just like she did. It’s almost as though she chose me, rather than the other way around. And I thank God for her.

Please keep reading as much as you can about the saints and pray about it. Trust your decision to the Lord. 🙂
 
Don’t worry about gender for the confirmation name.

I was confirmed at 20 after coming from Protestantism, and I chose St. Therese de Liseux.
 
From the Heart, mate. We can over think these things. However, as an exercise to read up on the lives of the Saints, it is excellent. I would look at the virtues you intend to foster in your spirituality and chose a shining example. E.g. I chose St. Anthony of Padua for his love of the poor and his quick mind.
Don’t worry about gender. My mum promised Our Lady that she would name us twins after her if we were born safely. There was no amniocentesis in those days and I was going to get Mary until my wise dad stepped in. Both our second names are Mario, coming as we do from good Irish stock. Things tend to work out for the best.
May God guide you in this and all your studies,
 
Petaro said:
From the Heart, mate. We can over think these things. However, as an exercise to read up on the lives of the Saints, it is excellent. I would look at the virtues you intend to foster in your spirituality and chose a shining example. E.g. I chose St. Anthony of Padua for his love of the poor and his quick mind.
Don’t worry about gender. My mum promised Our Lady that she would name us twins after her if we were born safely. There was no amniocentesis in those days and I was going to get Mary until my wise dad stepped in. Both our second names are Mario, coming as we do from good Irish stock. Things tend to work out for the best.
May God guide you in this and all your studies,
Click to expand...
Thanks! My Sponsor’s Saint is actually St. Anthony as well, so there’s a connection there 🙂

I’m stuck between the fact that when I overthink things (like sola scriptura and apostolic succession) it usually turns out better for me, and the fact that with other things (like people) when I overthink it, I have more trouble. And for some reason even though I know this is a more emotional thing, I keep trying to approach it like it’s some choice which has a clear and objective right answer…

Sometimes I really annoy myself 😛
 
It’s been said that the Saint that is right for you for your confirmation Saint will choose you, so pick from your heart.
 
I think this is really a choice, like the others have said - that you have to make from your heart.

When i was growing up my favorite saint was Joan of Arc. I cant describe how much i loved her when i was a kid, my family even bought me various books on her which i still treasure to this day.

But one day i was going through some really (really) old books in our house. You know that quote “dont judge a book by its cover?” well i decided to take it when i was 13 and really bored, and just grabbed a tatty old green book to read. The first story in it was on the martyrdom of St Tarcisius, and the moment i read it i fell in love with him, and the way he loved Our Lord in the Eucharist so deeply, he died so as not to give Him up. From then on …i cant describe what i feel for him -I love him and i want to be like him and be willing to die like that! He is like a best friend that is always there, that i can always pray to for help.

And whenever i see the Blessed Eucharist in mass, it reminds me of St Tarcisius, of his love for Jesus, and i want to love Jesus just as much! St Joan of Arc is still special to me, and i pray to her too, but i chose St Tarcisius as my confirmation saint because i wanted to love the Eucharist as much as he did, and be willing to die for Jesus in the Eucharist, just like him.

Our confirmation saints can become like our best friends, so choose carefully about who you would like to resemble more.

Some really cool saints you may/may not have heard of - St Miachel the Archangel, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St Joseph of Cupertino (he could fly!), Padre Pio, St. Jean Vianney, st marcellin champagnat and Saint Veronica.
I do hope they make Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati saints- they would be great saints to have for your confirmation 🙂
 
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