Choosing a Patron Saint

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Noske

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I’m considering joining the Catholic church. I haven’t gone through the RCIA program yet, but I’ve heard all this stuff about confimation names, saints, and whatnot.

I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but I don’t know which saint I should pick. As I’m apparently not supposed to discuss it on the forums, I’ll just say that through lucid dreaming, research and what-have-you, I believe that one of the saints watching over me happens to be Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Now that shouldn’t be a problem just to pick him and be done with it, but for months on end, I’ve had this strange fascination with Joan of Arc. In fact, it was her that inspired me to try and be a better person, and learn about Catholicism anyway.

I don’t know what started it, as I’ve always liked Joan - I just never thought much about her in the past. But lately I can NOT stop thinking about her. It’s gotten to the point where I find myself getting quite angry when people speak ill of her, because I know that she was a good person. Even beyond the religious aspect. And insulting her is like insulting me, because I find that I have a lot of similarities with her.

I’ve even had a dream with her in it taking my hand and holding onto it quite strongly. It wasn’t quite as lucid as the dreams containing what I believe is Saint Gabriel, but it was as if I wasn’t ready to let her go from my life for whatever reason. Despite the fact that I feel quite comfortable and loved when near him in these other dreams, I don’t feel that same connection with him as I do with Joan.

So basically I’m having a hard time deciding who I should pick. I’m leaning towards Joan despite the fact that I feel like this other figure has been guiding me. I don’t even know why I’m stressing over it, because I normally don’t. I just feel almost like I’m abandoning Gabriel. But I know that if I was to choose him over Joan, I’d feel even worse.

So I ask any of you. Which do you believe I should go with when I finally make that step into the church?

Oh, and feel free to post your own little stories about how you chose your saint. Or even any encounters you’ve had that led you to believe that they were there watching over you.

I love stories like that.
 
I vote for Joan, because she is also my confirmation saint. at that stage of my life I was looking for strong woman role models, and she fits the bill admirably.

you already have a patron in your baptismal name saint, but are free to choose another patron saint for confirmation, but it is not required. best bet is to read up and research your saints.

since Joan was guided by the archangels, especially Michael, I don’t think Gabriel would feel slighted in the least, and you would still be embracing him if you chose Joan.
 
Yeah, I haven’t been baptized yet, or any of that stuff. So I have no clue. I’m fairly confident that I’ll end up going for Joan though. I feel as if I have a stronger connection with her for whatever the reason. Even if I do think that I speak with Gabriel Possenti more.
 
I think Joan of Arc would be a fine choice. Obviously you feel some connection with her and some attraction to the life and example she lived and provided. But before you decide read more on the life of Joan of Arc and St. Gabriel. Maybe you’ll see something there that will lead you elsewhere.

No matter you choose just know that you have a wonderful example and great holy person to model your life and spirituality after.

ChadS
 
Truth be told, I don’t think there’s terribly much more that I CAN read about Joan of Arc. I’ve been researching her for months. I’ve read so much about her that I found out that apparently she didn’t have much body hair. 🤷

Sadly there isn’t as much information on Saint Gabriel. I know some of the basics about him, but I think I will end up going for Joan.
 
At least you are taking your time with this decision and you are taking it seriously - when I was Confirmed at age 12 most in my class, including myself, just picked names that we happened to like… yes they were saints names, but we didn’t choose them so as their holy lives could be models for ours… I chose the name Matthew, but (great as St Matthew is) I wish now I had chosen a saint whose life-story really appealed to me, rather than because I liked the name Matthew! I don’t call upon St Matthew very often, but I frequently ask for the intercession of Benedict, Pio, Francis and Anthony. I know Anthony never lets me down when I lose something!!

There is no shortage of inspirational female saints - you have mentioned Joan, who is a great model. There are many others- St Therese of Lisieux springs to mind- she led such a pious life and was a wise person even though her life was cut short through illness.

It may be a good idea to choose a saint who has written about their journey of faith - it might be easier to use them as a role model if you can actually read about how they lived their faith or dealt with struggles. Although it would seem strange for a male to take a female saint’s name and vice versa, this is also a possibility, since it is the model for good Christian living that you are looking for. There was a time in Ireland when nearly every boy in the class would take the name Mary - many people would giggle at that these days, but if you feel especially close to a particular saint, then go for it!
 
Yeah, I feel like I share a lot of similarities with Joan. I’m a complete tomboy, so I’m always wearing men’s clothes, I’m bossing a bunch of guys around, people think I’m strange and eccentric, and I love to help people. When I see people turn away from donating just a few coins into one of the coellction bins for the Guide Dog Association, or just not want to help the homeless, it hurts inside. It’s not a pleasant feeling at all.

I think that’s another reason why I want to join the church. It will be easy to find like-minded people who want to do something to make a difference.

I was thinking of it today, and I ended up getting this add request on Myspace from Campaign For Care, who make and give out blankets to the homeless.

I thought that was an excellent idea. I could start a group of people to make blankets, gloves, socks, beanies, and even some home made soup for the homeless. There isn’t many homeless people around my town, so I was thinking we could end up going to the city and distributing it up there, which is a nice idea.

Speaking of which, I’m going to update my Live Journal with ideas such as this. If you have any simple ideas for helping those around you that are less fortunate, please feel free to post them here.

Not only will I benefit from your suggestions, but others may take them on board to help those around them as well.
 
“Asked if she knew she was in God’s grace, she answered: 'If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.”
 
I think that St. Joan of Arc is a great patron saint. Don’t forget the Prophets from the Old Testament as well, they are excellent choices for Saints.
 
CBS said:
Do you get to choose? I thought that they picked one for you? 🤷
Click to expand...
No of course not, you pick someone you can relate to. I might add to examples that most people normally forget.
  • Your Guardian Angel
  • The Prophets
I feel that people have a tendency to forget them however I am currently thinking about St. Job for my patron Saint.
 
holdencaulfield said:
No of course not, you pick someone you can relate to. I might add to examples that most people normally forget.
  • Your Guardian Angel
  • The Prophets
I feel that people have a tendency to forget them however I am currently thinking about St. Job for my patron Saint.
Click to expand...
Nice. I better start looking into them before next Easter then. 😃
 
I like the idea of picking an OT saint as your patron that one poster mentioned. Since you are so attracted to Joan of Arc, you might be interested in Deborah. She was the only female Judge of Israel, and many scholars speculate that she was also a powerful warrior. Whatever she was, she was certainly a very formidable woman, as the leader of Israel’s army (name escapes me) was too afraid to go into battle without Deborah at his side, even though she prophesied his victory. For his lack of faith, Deborah told him that God would hand his enemies over to a woman. The leader of Israel’s enemies escaped sometime during the battle, where he fell asleep in the tent of a woman named Jael. She drove a spike through his head as he slept, giving Israel the victory.

For the better version of the story, read Judges. 😃
 
Noske,
I, too, have heard some opposing biographies of St. Joan. It’s amazing how for centuries pretty much only a certain bio was accepted when now - as we get further away from St. Joan’s century - the bios change and become negative.

If you feel comfortable with the name, keep in mind not only the person but what the name’s translation means. The meaning of the name, Joan, is “God’s gracious gift”. Perhaps, you might want to get a book of Catholic names with their meanings. I did when choosing my confirmation name. Also, books such as “Lives of the Saints” could help you with names and bios. Both will come in handy.

Of course, choosing a name such as:
“Mary”, “Maria”, “Marion”, “Assunta”, “Carmel/Carmela” or a number of other Marian names would be choosing the greatest patroness of all - the Blessed Mother. “MaryAnne” being a combination of two great mothers.

Good luck in your search and
May God and Our Lady bless you as you enter your spiritual life in the Catholic Faith.
 
Of course you would have to ask your priest who they would let you have as a Old Testament saint, because I assume some would be not allowed if they were a bad person. However we don’t really even know if half the Saints are in Heaven so that would be fine. I know that many people choose Enoch I believe because like Elijah he never died. Judith may also be a good women Saint from the Old Testament.
 
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