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Michelle_Arnold
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As I mentioned, many areas still allow the custom of choosing a patron saint’s name as a confirmation name. If you were allowed (indeed, “told”) to pick a confirmation name, that was perfectly fine. The practice of confirmation names is a custom (i.e., not sacred Tradition), meaning that it can be changed according to time and place. The trend now is to encourage people to use their baptismal names rather than pick a new confirmation name, but either custom is acceptable. If the Vatican makes a decision on the matter, then the Vatican’s ruling would be the one to follow.Question: Any apologist, or anyone who would know…I was baptized Catholic, however, not raised in the faith, whatsoever, I converted I guess better said, reverted and received confirmation and communion as an adult in 2002. We were allowed, actually, told that we needed to pick our patron saint/confirmation name. I don’t know if I understood this correctly or not, but that is something that is discouraged. And if so, what does that mean for my classmates and me who were confirmed together, and even moreso my relationship to my patron saint.
In any event, your relationship with your patron saint is a private devotion. Anyone can ask a particular saint to become his patron at any time (it’s simply been a custom for parents to do so for their children at baptism and for confirmandi to do so for themselves at confirmation); that relationship is not regulated by the Church. No need to worry; your relationship and your classmates’ relationships with your patron saints are secure.
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