Patron Saint

[mhuff1]

I went through confirmation when I was in high school and did not particularly pay close attention on how to choose a patron saint and why. Therefore I chose one who’s name I just liked.

My question is: can you change your patron saint?

Thanks!

 

[jmcrae]

I went through confirmation when I was in high school and did not particularly pay close attention on how to choose a patron saint and why. Therefore I chose one who’s name I just liked.

My question is: can you change your patron saint?

Thanks!

No. But you can pray with any Saint you want, and of course all of them are there to give us good examples of how to live. You are not “stuck with” only your own Patron Saint.

 

[mhuff1]

Thank you for the quick response!!

 

[06convert]

Who is your patron saint? What do you know about him/her? Likely there is much more that is “cool” about your patron saint than just his/her name.

 

[mhuff1]

St. Patrick…
I don’t know much about him at all…but I plan on learning now!

 

[Spiritu]

Saint Patrick is my patron saint too! :shamrock2:

Like you, I chose my patron saint before knowing much about him (I went to a Saint Patrick’s School, so I suppose that influenced me) but when I started reading about him a couple of years ago, I was really pleased in retrospect that he was my patron. Two of the letters he wrote survive: we can see from them that he was a humble man, especially about the quality of his Latin (he was captured at the age of sixteen and made a slave, so he never got to finish his education), but one whose passion and dedication to the conversion of all to Christ is clear.

I’d recommend a dictionary of saints as a first step, to get a brief overview of his life. If you’d like to learn more, the book “Saint Patrick of Ireland: a Biography” by Philip Freeman is a good resource: it’s an interesting read, and includes translated copies of both Patrick’s letters. (From memory, he also stays with the facts of Saint Patrick’s life: there are a lot of myths and legends floating around, too!)

I hope you’ll be happy with your choice: he’s a very human and likeable saint, who lived a challenging life dedicated to the glory of God. Patrick’s a great patron to have!

 

[mhuff1]

Saint Patrick is my patron saint too! :shamrock2:

Like you, I chose my patron saint before knowing much about him (I went to a Saint Patrick’s School, so I suppose that influenced me) but when I started reading about him a couple of years ago, I was really pleased in retrospect that he was my patron. Two of the letters he wrote survive: we can see from them that he was a humble man, especially about the quality of his Latin (he was captured at the age of sixteen and made a slave, so he never got to finish his education), but one whose passion and dedication to the conversion of all to Christ is clear.

I’d recommend a dictionary of saints as a first step, to get a brief overview of his life. If you’d like to learn more, the book “Saint Patrick of Ireland: a Biography” by Philip Freeman is a good resource: it’s an interesting read, and includes translated copies of both Patrick’s letters. (From memory, he also stays with the facts of Saint Patrick’s life: there are a lot of myths and legends floating around, too!)

I hope you’ll be happy with your choice: he’s a very human and likeable saint, who lived a challenging life dedicated to the glory of God. Patrick’s a great patron to have!

Thanks for the great info and the book recommendation! That’s on my list of books to get next because I would love to know more about the saint that I chose!

 

[mhuff1]

Okay, I think I’ve confused myself. I’ve been lost for too long and am trying to re-learn my faith that I grew up with. (I guess you would consider me a cradle Catholic? I’m still trying to get used to all the terms here…)

Looking back, the name Patrick was chosen during my confirmation. Now I think I may have chosen it as my “confirmation name” not my patron saint. Unless both are one in the same?

I guess my questions are:

1. Is choosing your confirmation name the same thing as choosing a patron saint?
2. When do you choose your patron saint?

 

[jmcrae]

Okay, I think I’ve confused myself. I’ve been lost for too long and am trying to re-learn my faith that I grew up with. (I guess you would consider me a cradle Catholic? I’m still trying to get used to all the terms here…)

Looking back, the name Patrick was chosen during my confirmation. Now I think I may have chosen it as my “confirmation name” not my patron saint. Unless both are one in the same?

I guess my questions are:

1. Is choosing your confirmation name the same thing as choosing a patron saint?

Yes, they are the same thing. You receive the name of your Patron Saint as a middle name when you are Confirmed. This is how that Saint becomes your Patron Saint.

1. When do you choose your patron saint?

While you are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The names have to be in to the Church office at least a week before the ceremony, so that the secretary can record the names in the parish register.

It is the Bishop who names you your name, during the ceremony itself - he says, “Be sealed, [name] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and thus, that Saint is joined with you as your Patron Saint in the very same moment that you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[mhuff1]

Thanks jmcrae!!!

 

[promethius]

Thanks for the great info and the book recommendation! That’s on my list of books to get next because I would love to know more about the saint that I chose!

I would just add that nothing with the sacraments is ever entirely accidental. You may have chosen a name you just “thought sounded cool”, but in reality God may have been pushing you to learn more about a saint that has much to offer you in the way of example on how to live a life of holiness. Best wishes in your research

 

[mhuff1]

I would just add that nothing with the sacraments is ever entirely accidental. You may have chosen a name you just “thought sounded cool”, but in reality God may have been pushing you to learn more about a saint that has much to offer you in the way of example on how to live a life of holiness. Best wishes in your research

That’s a wonderful way to look at it! Thanks for pointing that out.

I just got finished ordering my book on St. Patrick. I did get a dictionary of saints and did read the little blurb about him, but that wasn’t enough for me. I can’t wait to get this book in and start reading up on him!

 

[didymus]

I went through confirmation when I was in high school and did not particularly pay close attention on how to choose a patron saint and why. Therefore I chose one who’s name I just liked.

My question is: can you change your patron saint?

Thanks!

Is your confirmation name your patron saint? No one ever told us that. I took James, my father’s name (and two apostles’ besides).

The Church certainly has a lot of rites and customs, but I’ve never heard of one for formally choosing or changing a patron saint. You may seek the patronage/protection of different saints at different times in your life.

 

[Spiritu]

I hope you enjoy your reading, Maria!

Have you thought about addressing Saint Patrick in prayer, once you’ve spoken first to God? That’s another good way to form a rapport with your patron saint: an informal way of greeting him, introducing yourself to him, and asking him to pray for you and your intentions (which he has doubtless already been doing since you were Confirmed).

I tend to have difficulty with more formal prayers like novenas - forgetting days, and suchlike - but it was through casually speaking to him that I came to think of Saint Patrick as more than a figure from a history book, so I thought I’d suggest it as an idea.

 

[mhuff1]

I hope you enjoy your reading, Maria!

Have you thought about addressing Saint Patrick in prayer, once you’ve spoken first to God? That’s another good way to form a rapport with your patron saint: an informal way of greeting him, introducing yourself to him, and asking him to pray for you and your intentions (which he has doubtless already been doing since you were Confirmed).

I tend to have difficulty with more formal prayers like novenas - forgetting days, and suchlike - but it was through casually speaking to him that I came to think of Saint Patrick as more than a figure from a history book, so I thought I’d suggest it as an idea.

Good morning Spiritu! Yes, thank you for that suggested reading! I can’t wait to get it and start reading!

To answer your question, ever since this post I’ve started to try address St. Patrick during my prayers in the mornings…
Since I’m just getting back into the practice of praying again, I normally just start out with “St. Patrick, please hear my prayers…” then continue on.
I guess I didn’t think about just “talking” to him.
I wish I had built a rapport with him a long time ago…but it’s good to be back home than not at all, right?

Thank you for all your suggestions. They have been very helpful!

 

[Karen1960]

I went through confirmation when I was in high school and did not particularly pay close attention on how to choose a patron saint and why. Therefore I chose one who’s name I just liked.

My question is: can you change your patron saint?

Thanks!

I do not believe one can change their Confirmation name, but you can choose to pray to any Saint you wish.

Mine is St. Catherine Laboure.