Confirmation Name and Patron Saint

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Figment713

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OK, first off, I just need to say that there is NO question in my mind but it was a combinationof the work of St. Thomas More and The Holy Spirit that have gotten me to the point I am…that being less than five weeks from being accepted into the Catholic Church. (And quite a lot of work it has been for the two of them…It’s taken most of my lifetime to get me to this point!)

That said, the priests at our parish seem WAY less than enthused about me (a female) taking Thomas as a confirmation name. This, even when I told them that it seemed somewhat disloyal to me to take other than Thomas More.

So, I have been really praying on this whole issue…looking for someone else to step up and “adopt” me, so to speak.

I know some folks chose saints because they like their names. Unfortunately (or, more truthfully, fortunately) I have always been very satisfied with my name, never wishing to switch it for anything.

I did toy with St. Emma (which, I fear, was totally based on “the name” thing).

The female saint I really do like, however, is St. Sofia…and I think it’s because I am very drawn to the concept of Wisdom giving birth to Faith, Hope and Charity…and then dying when Faith, Hope and Charity die.

Question is, is St. Sofia “recognized” in other than the Eastern Rite Churches? Can I, becoming a Latin Rite/Roman Catholic take Sofia as a confirmation name?

(If not, I fear I really am going to go with St. Dogfan…a Welsh Martyr of the 5th or 6th century. I found out about him when I was looking up all the saints whose saint’s day is on my birthday. I really do feel, however, if the priests had a problem with St. Thomas More, they’re going to go ballistic about St. Dogfan.)
 
Congratulations! It seems to me that if nuns can take the names of male saints as patrons, I don’t see the problem with you taking one for your Confirmation Saint.

I chose St. Therese of Lisieux and always remember her “little way” when I start to feel sorry for myself in my daily routine. I would think that choosing St. Thomas for you would also be a reminder of his ways and how they applied to your conversion.

Did your priest tell you that you could NOT take his name? If it were me, I would choose it unless specifically ordered not to.

God Bless you and best wishes.
Shonmarie
 
I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking a Saint’s name of the opposite sex, after all many religious take a oppposite sex-name as their religious name.
I don’t see anything wrong with taking St Sophia’s name either - she may have a higher profile in the Orthoox Church, but nevertheless she is a saint in the Latin Church; her feast day is 30th September.
Emma was a medieval saint, who founded religious houses and established foundations for the poor. Her feast day is June 27th.

My own confirmation name is Margaret Clitherow - a convert like myself, an ordinary housewife and mother,whose bravery I admire. She was martyred during the persecution Of Catholics in the reign of Elizabeth I.

My best wishes and prayers to you, for this coming Easter and your reception into the Church!

God bless,
Pat
 
It is your choice to take whatever confirmation name you choose, so long as it is not contrary to the faith, regardless of what any progressive-minded priest or other individual may think. :rolleyes:
 
A good female friend of mine took “Thomas More” as a confirmation name so that her name would read K. A. Thomas More P. In some cultures it’s normal (although probably not common) for men to have some form of Mary as a middle name, like author Erich Maria Remarque or St. Jean Marie Vianney.
 
Can one take a confirmation name in honour of three saints, all of whom have the same name?

For Example: John in honour of St. John Bosco, St. john Vianny, St. John the Evangelist?

The confirmation name being only: John.

Thanks!
 
Here is some information on Saint Sophia (3 entries) from the Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints (Revised), by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, Stephen Bunson; 2003.

Sophia (date unknown) Also called Sapientia, a legendary saint, the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity. The origins of the legend are found in the ancient custom of Divine Wisdom (the Pistis Sophia) from whom came faith, hope, and charity. In the Christian legend concerning Sophia, she suffered the deep sadness of losing all three daughters to martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138). Going to their tomb, she knelt in prayer and quietly joined them in the arms of death. Feast day: September 30.

Sophia (d.c. 249) Virgin and martyr. She was put to death at Fermo, Italy, during the harsh persecution of the Church under Emperor Trajanus Decius (r. 2409-251). Feast day: April 30.

Sophia and Irene (d. third century) Martyrs put to death in Egypt, probably in Alexandria. They were beheaded, during one of the persecutions of the early part of the century. Feast day: September 18.

Hope this is helpful.

Fr. Bro.
 
As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with this (and as you can probably tell from my screenname, I’m quite happy you’ve decided to take St. Thomas More for your confirmation name!)

I do know for a fact that when Cardinal Newman was first received into the Church in 1835, he took the confirmation name of Mary, in honor of Our Lady. Surely, if he could take a woman’s name, you can take a man’s name!
 
I have to plead ignorance here, I am going to be accepted into the Church on Holy Saturday and I was never told about taking a saint’s name! I haven’t even looked into it! Is this a requirement? What happens, does it go into Church records or something?
 
Jeanette L:
I have to plead ignorance here, I am going to be accepted into the Church on Holy Saturday and I was never told about taking a saint’s name! I haven’t even looked into it! Is this a requirement? What happens, does it go into Church records or something?
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It’s not a requirement, but a venerable tradition to take a saint’s name, to become familiar with him/her and to ask the saint to be a special intercessor for you. In many parishes they urge you to NOT take a confirmation name, but to use your baptismal name in recognition of the connection between the two sacraments.

I don’t remember if the chosen name is in the record.
 
Jeanette L:
I have to plead ignorance here, I am going to be accepted into the Church on Holy Saturday and I was never told about taking a saint’s name! I haven’t even looked into it! Is this a requirement? What happens, does it go into Church records or something?
Click to expand...
Not a strict requirement but yes at Confirmation we take on a name usually of a saint that we have a close affinity to so that this saint will be our special patron in life. This is the norm.

For the OP:

I think Thomas More is just fine.
 
Can we have two confirmation names? For example, Mary Elizabeth.

I will be confirmed at Easter Vigil. I will definitely use Elizabeth. Mostly, because it was my grandmother’s middle name, also, it means “worshipper of God”, and for St. Elizabeth of Hungry (I’m 1/4 Hungarian). I would also like to use Mary for obvious reasons and it was my great grandmother’s name. I want to pay tribute to my Catholic family roots as possible.
 
Well, if a patron saint is one who you have an afinity for and hope to have a special relationship with, I can’t imagine it would be wrong to choose a saint like Thomas Moore, no matter your gender. I’m sure he would love to help you in your journey!
 
Yes, the confirmation name is normally included on the certificate. Mine from many years ago appears on my confirmation certificate, and they appear on the certificates given in my parish today. The bishop says the name of each confirmand as he administers the sacrament.😃
 
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