I need help picking a confirmation name

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Hi! Today in RCIA I was told that I need to pick a confirmation name. I’m 20, raised Christian, and both of my parents were late in life converts (neither were raised religious at all). Also, there hasn’t been a practicing Catholic in my family in nearly 100 years. Needless to say, all of this is still sort of new to me. I really don’t know where to even start, and it seems like there are so many saints to choose from. Thanks for your help!
 
Good websites on saints are catholic.org/saints and saints.sqpn.com
  1. Do you have any hobbies or interests? Musicians, gardeners, embroiderers, many types of hobbies and interests have patron saints.
  2. What is your occupation/what do you want as your future occupation? Again, many occupations have patron saints.
  3. What kind of stories are you inspired by? Some find inspiration in martyrs, some in priests, some in religious. Personally I have a great devotion to many virgin-martyrs. Read the stories of a few saints and just see what you are drawn to.
A few saints I admire as a possible starting point:
St Ambrose of Milan
St Francis of Assisi
St Moses the Black
St Paul the Apostle
St Peter
Bl Miguel Pro
St Benedict
 
Well, if I had to pick one right now it would be Michael. He is the defender of our Catholic Church, and we sure need him right now.
 
If not St Michael,
perhaps St John.

Jesus called St John ‘the beloved disciple’.
St John was one of His three most trusted friends of the twelve disciples. He, with James and Peter, was chosen to be with Jesus for the transfiguration,
and also to pray with him in the Garden of Olives before His arrest.
John was the only one of the twelve apostles who stood by Jesus as He hung dying on the cross.
It was to John that Jesus entrusted His Mother’s future, and John who housed and cared for her for the remainder of her life.
It was John who wrote most profoundly of love in his gospel.
 
What about Liberius? Or Constantine?

What about Columcille or Aetheldreda? All, very lovely saint names. John, George, Francis, Mary, Augustine, Patrick, Gemma, Gabriel, Pius, Felix, Paul, Anselm, Onias, and Joseph as well!
 
Thank you all! Would I be able to choose Michael even though its my middle name?
 
smp501 said:
Thank you all! Would I be able to choose Michael even though its my middle name?
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Yes. A confirmation name isn’t essential to the Sacrament. You can choose any name you want as long as it’s a Catholic one. (I have a fried who used her first name for her Confirmation name).
 
You could also read a book of the lives of the saints and see if any of the stories resonate with you. I’m seeing lots of great suggestions, but they all seem to be male. On the off chance you are female, I’ll leave a few of my favorite female saints. If you are male, feel free to disregard the names, but their stories are well worth checking out.😉

St. Cecilia (patroness of Music, and my own confirmation saint)
St. Joan of Arc
St. Teresa of the little flower
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Cathrine of Sienna
St. Rose of Lima
 
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Ladygem:
I’m definitely male, but thanks anyway! 👍
 
smp501 said:
Thank you all! Would I be able to choose Michael even though its my middle name?
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Your patronal names, the name you were baptized with, is the ideal place to start looking. If your name is Stephen Michael, I would start looking at the Saint Stephens and Saint Michaels to see if one resonates with you.
 
=smp501;8981223]Hi! Today in RCIA I was told that I need to pick a confirmation name. I’m 20, raised Christian, and both of my parents were late in life converts (neither were raised religious at all). Also, there hasn’t been a practicing Catholic in my family in nearly 100 years. Needless to say, all of this is still sort of new to me. I really don’t know where to even start, and it seems like there are so many saints to choose from. Thanks for your help!
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Go to www.newadvent.org

Then look up saints

Then find one that you have an intereset in or something in common with. It’s a Funa dn Educational endeavor; and quite paineless process.

Please let us know what you choose and why:)

God Bless you; and welcome home!

Pat
 
smp501 said:
Thank you all! Would I be able to choose Michael even though its my middle name?
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Irishmom2 said:
Yes, you would. That is perfectly fine.
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To add:
You can’t really pick the wrong saint. I chose St. Therese of Lisieux for confimation but If I were to pick today I would probably chose St Maximillian Kolbe. Should you discover another saint and want to ask for their intercesson it’s not like your patron saint is going to get mad at you because you want to hang out with (talk to) another saint. I still see signs that St. Therese is interceding for me even though I have leaned more toward St Max more recently.

Your confimation saint will always be your special patron or patroness but you can have as many “saint friends” as you want.
 
Bruised_Reed said:
TShould you discover another saint and want to ask for their intercesson it’s not like your patron saint is going to get mad at you because you want to hang out with (talk to) another saint…
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Hmm. I dunno about that. 😃
 
Look at some recent Saints. They won’t be as busy. 😉

Saint Pio aka Padre Pio is a fascinating character.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe is a great example, though I wouldn’t care to emulate him too closely.
Blessed Miguel Pro would be a good choice if you have any Mexican ancestry… or if you dislike Freemasons…
 
Or be unique and find a saint that isn’t so well used/known in the Roman Catholic church and opt for one of those.
What are your hobbies and interests? Is one of the saint a patron saint of that if you have a main hobby? Or choose a weakness in your sin and see if there is a saint to that sin to help you overcome that weakness?
 
I just found out today that I will be confirmed in the Catholic church and accepted into full communion on October 28th! I am a former Lutheran, and I’ll be confirmed this year on “Reformation Sunday” as it is celebrated in the Catholic church.

I really would like to choose Ignatius as my confirmation name. Ignatius of Loyola represents to me, someone who transitioned from a secular world to a passionate follow of Jesus and his church. He was also instrumental in reclaiming protestants to the Catholic church during the post reformation days - and the Jesuit schools did so as well.

I have never heard of anyone with this confirmation name - most of the people I have met have Michael, Mary, Paul, etc. Is this too weird for me to pick?
 
richardferris said:
I just found out today that I will be confirmed in the Catholic church and accepted into full communion on October 28th! I am a former Lutheran, and I’ll be confirmed this year on “Reformation Sunday” as it is celebrated in the Catholic church.

I really would like to choose Ignatius as my confirmation name. Ignatius of Loyola represents to me, someone who transitioned from a secular world to a passionate follow of Jesus and his church. He was also instrumental in reclaiming protestants to the Catholic church during the post reformation days - and the Jesuit schools did so as well.

I have never heard of anyone with this confirmation name - most of the people I have met have Michael, Mary, Paul, etc. Is this too weird for me to pick?
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I’d say pick it. It’s a personal name, not a legal name. Don’t worry if it is seen as ‘odd’. The saint is special to you and has relevance to your life. If you feel he is the saint best suited to you, then choose him 🙂

Have you heard of Ignatius Press? ignatius.com/ They are a Catholic book publisher and sell some of their books on the Catholic Answers shop. I have a bible published by Ignatius Press.
 
I like John de Baptiste de la Salle, who is the patron saint of teachers, which I am in the process of becoming. I also train martial arts and like St. Michael the archangel because he is a warrior and defender of the faith.

The problem is my given name is John Michael … lol

Any other suggestions?
 
I had trouble with this as well. I’ve always loved Saint Francis. I narrowed my search down by looking at saints that actually kept company with Jesus in life. But even then I was still torn between Martha and Magdalene. I’ve also always been a fan of Saint Jude. Those four were major players for my consideration. I was leaning pretty hard towards Jude but was a little disappointed on the small amount of information that can be found on him. It would be cool to have a patron saint I could have a few full books on around my home.

In the end, I went with Jude. He is the patron saint of lost causes. Not only have I always been a sucker for the underdog and lost causes myself but I also figured whoever ended up being my name saint would have their work cut out for them. If any saint can help me to become a better person, the one of lost causes can. 👍
 
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