Personal Patron saint? Can I get one even if a name is not derived from a saint's name?

[joeantony]

Hello All,
I have a question. I am teaching cathechism classes for the post confirmation pupils in my parish. I was talking about the patron saints and I wanted the kids to know that they can develop a personal relationship with the saints who are associated with their names. But in India, you know , it is not necessary that all catholic’s are named after a saint. I was lucky though.

Now incase if a person do not have a patron saint, can he/she get one? How? Is there any way someone can submit oneself to devotion of one saint ( for the personal intimnacy and develeopment). Or they can just select their favourite saint? Does catholic church have any official ceremony to grant them one?

Hope I asked many questions. Hoping to get some info here.
Joe

 

[Rawb]

Your name doesn’t necessarily reflect your patron saint. By that reasoning my patron saint should be St. Robert Bellarmine, but I hardly ever ask for his help. On the other hand I pray with St. Joseph and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati often, almost every day. If someone asks me my patron, I say Blessed Pier Giorgio.

Why? He was a young man, near my age, who was devoutly Catholic. He enjoyed the outdoors, had great friendships, smoked cigars, and worked constantly, it seems like every minute of the day, for God’s work and Will. These are all things I have, do, or aspire to. He really provides an example, and I can connect with him. Now, he’s not a saint just yet, so I pray for his canonization often, and still find inspiration from his life.

Patrons are like friends. They don’t have to be someone you’re named after or share an occupation with. They’re someone you’re close to, who inspires you, and who can pray for an encourage you.

 

[kristie_m]

Hope not, or I’ll have to change my name to Anthony! I agree with the previous poster…it’s really a matter of who you feel connected with. For instance, many musicians consider St. Cecilia their patron, those in prison might call St. Dismas their patron saint.

 

[Lycorth]

This is an area in the Church where the faithful can pick and choose according to their feelings; there isn’t a ceremony for choosing or praying to X saint, even if you share the same name as one. I wasn’t even named for a saint so much as named for my father’s father.

For example, the saints to whom I feel the most devotion are the Blessed Mother, Saint Benedict of Nursia, and Saint Pius X. I admire the qualities of each, the personal stories of each I find the most engaging and inspiring, and their are special devotions of each that I find personally very edifying and appealing. So to those three I feel the strongest devotion; I might soon add Saint Francis of Assisi to that list, as I find him admirable.

For me, the criteria is: do I find Saint X admirable and inspiring enough that I often think on examples of that saint’s life to apply to my own? Do I find special devotions associated with that saint (for example, the rosary or the Pardon Crucifix) particularly appealing, enough to participate in on a daily basis? Would I easily recommend that saint to someone else as a role model? Those sorts of considerations help me determine whether I simply admire Saint X objectively or if I find Saint X admirable enough to the point of imitation.

 

[joeantony]

Hi All,

Thanks for all your posts. It brings more clarity now , in fact i am very clear now on this. I just can go and ask my pupils to find their patron saints. Its going to be interesting to know whom all they gonna take as role models.
Your replies helped me too. Especially St Cecilia, patron saints for Musicians. I have to seek her help for my Piano lessons.

Thanks for all
Joe

 

[Alexander_Smith]

If parents only named their kids after saints, we’d never add names to the list.

 

[kmuestwin]

When I was confirmed, I chose St. John of God because he always listened to the Holy Spirit and tirelessly worked for what God wanted him to do.

St. John of God is the patron of firefighters, alcoholics, and book sellers.

I was close to choosing St. Michael because he is the patron of grocers and I work in a grocery store.

I probably pray to the Blessed Mother and St. Michael the most. I guess they are the saints I spend the most time with throughout my day.

 

[sulkow82]

If parents only named their kids after saints, we’d never add names to the list.

I hear what you are saying. The loophole that I was once told is that someone does have to be named after a saint. However, that name can be either their first or middle name. If it is the middle name, and then the person gets canonized under their first name, a new name has been added to the list.

I, however, have never seen any canon law requiring this. So, I’m assuming it is a small “t” tradition. Then, the curiosity for me would then be who and when was the last saint to be canonized that actually added a name to the list.

 

[Biedrik]

I, however, have never seen any canon law requiring this. So, I’m assuming it is a small “t” tradition. Then, the curiosity for me would then be who and when was the last saint to be canonized that actually added a name to the list.

Blessed Kateri Tekawitha is the only one that comes to mind for me.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello All,
I have a question. I am teaching cathechism classes for the post confirmation pupils in my parish. I was talking about the patron saints and I wanted the kids to know that they can develop a personal relationship with the saints who are associated with their names. But in India, you know , it is not necessary that all catholic’s are named after a saint. I was lucky though.

Now incase if a person do not have a patron saint, can he/she get one? How? Is there any way someone can submit oneself to devotion of one saint ( for the personal intimnacy and develeopment). Or they can just select their favourite saint? Does catholic church have any official ceremony to grant them one?

Hope I asked many questions. Hoping to get some info here.
Joe

yes of course, that is the reason for ancient custom of choosing an new saint name at confirmation, if one’s given name had a secular or pagan origin. Encourage them to read about saints and select one. When they are confirmed the new name can be mentioned during the ceremony and even on the certificate, and there is usually a place in the sacramental record to note it, but it does not legally change their given name, so none of their civil documents change. They can go by whatever name they choose after that, but in any case will want to foster devotion to that new saint.