Silliness (Choosing a confirmation saint)

[Epistemes]

There’s nothing dire about this thread, so no need to panic

but for the past couple of days I have been wondering who I might choose to be my confirmation saint when I’m eventually (God willing) confirmed this coming Spring. There’s no doubt I want to be a theologian, and so I’m thinking of choosing a saint associated with theology. Now, St. Augustine is the official patron saint of theologians, and I also find his conversion to Christianity (and life before Christianity) remarkably similar to mine, plus his birthdate is only two days before mine! We share a lot of similarities!

The weird thing is, though, is that I don’t get a lot of his theology. He tends to be highly Platonist, at times, and I never could fully appreciate Plato…

In fact, I find myself to be more of a Thomist, when it comes to theology. In fact, I easily regard the Summa among my favorite books ever written! But, unfortunately, St. Thomas and I don’t share the similarities which I, apparently, share with St. Augustine…even though I can appreciate St. Thomas’s thought more readily. This makes me a bit nervous, honestly, to perhaps choose St. Augustine as my patron saint but admit that I can’t appreciate his work as fully as I do the Summa. But I can’t see myself choosing St. Thomas as my patron saint when his life holds no parallels to my own.

I also feel a bit intimidated to choose either of these saints since they are truly foundational for the life of the entire Church. Augustine is not just considered a Doctor of the Church, but is regarded by many as THE Doctor of the Church. And when I consider how important St. Thomas’s Summa is to the Church, to seminarians, etc., it makes me wonder if I could ever measure up to so worthy a patron.

I, of course, have many other saints whom I pray to for intercession, such as Sts. Philomena, Jude, Lucy of Syracuse, Bonaventure, Peter, Paul, and, of course, Mary…but considering my academic endeavours, I am drawn to these two: either Augustine or Thomas. I have prayed much in the past few days as to whom the Father best think would suit me as my patron and intercessor, and my heart keeps coming back to Augustine…but my mind keeps coming back to the Summa.

It’s true that choosing a confirmation saint does not mean agreeing or living a life as suggested by their literary works, but by their works of faith. This is why my heart feels drawn to Augustine, and similarly to St. Paul, because we all seem to have entered the Church from similar vantage points…and have pursued the Church and theology with the same amount of passion. But, in choosing St. Augustine as my patron saint, I would like to feel as if I could understand and appreciate his thought just as much as I do St. Thomas’. I am wondering if I shouldn’t embark on an epic conquest of reading much of Augustine’s output in order to better acquaint myself with the man, or if I should just set such trivialities aside and concentrate on the pursuit of theology regardless…

But, when praying to St. Augustine, and asking for intercession, I do feel a little nervous, wondering if Augustine might not feel a little spurned because I disregard his works of literary output? It’s all silliness, I know, but it’s a thought I can’t help but have…

There, of course, is no urgency in me naming a confirmation saint since it is still just November…but I would like to feel some certainty on the matter…

 

[Andruschak]

There, of course, is no urgency in me naming a confirmation saint since it is still just November…but I would like to feel some certainty on the matter…

Saint Thomas More?

For myself, I’m leaning towards “Mary”. My first name is “Harry”, so I could refer to myself has HM Andruschak.

 

[Epistemes]

Saint Thomas More?

For myself, I’m leaning towards “Mary”. My first name is “Harry”, so I could refer to myself has HM Andruschak.

Haha, no.

Thomas Aquinas.

I pray I never have to call upon the legal expertise of the great St. Thomas More any time soon.

I’ve also thought of going with Mary, just bypassing the whole theologian ordeal, and giving no preference to either Augustine or St. Thomas Aquinas.

 

[puzzleannie]

Saint Thomas More?

For myself, I’m leaning towards “Mary”. My first name is “Harry”, so I could refer to myself has HM Andruschak.

cats would not go for it. they are the only ones in your household who may be referred to as royalty

 

[SORROWS]

For me it was easy to choose because St. Helen (Helena) was SUCH a big influence in my life.

As a small child, my mother would lose things and we would pray to St. Helen for her intercession in finding what ever it was. You see, St. Helen found the true Cross of Jesus (her life is amazing. )

St. Helen has never failed me. As a child I truly admired her. To this day she is a very important influence in my life and her intercessions are miraculous.

 

[Nun_ofthe_Above]

**Hi Andruschak, **
I apprecite your quandry; I am discerning an appropriate Patron Saint. Saint Brigid and I have much in common, but I am not sure if she is acceptable these days. Saint Catherine (All marriages need prayers, and some more than others) and Saint Bernadette.
Might I suggest combining the two names and have Thomas Augustine (or vice versa)?
You are in my prayers,
Gos bless.

 

[LilyM]

For me it was easy to choose because St. Helen (Helena) was SUCH a big influence in my life.

As a small child, my mother would lose things and we would pray to St. Helen for her intercession in finding what ever it was. You see, St. Helen found the true Cross of Jesus (her life is amazing. )

St. Helen has never failed me. As a child I truly admired her. To this day she is a very important influence in my life and her intercessions are miraculous.

Woohoo! Greetings fellow Helen(a)

Though I have at times shamefully neglected her … but then sometimes I do that with other family and friends too

 

[Nun_ofthe_Above]

Epistemes, I apologise; I accidentally wrote the wrong name in my reply.
God bless.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Do a double: Augustine Thomas or Thomas Augustine.

That’s what I did. I took the name Joseph Thomas, after Saint Joseph, foster father of Our Lord, and Saints Thomas a Becket and Thomas More.

 

[Andruschak]

cats would not go for it. they are the only ones in your household who may be referred to as royalty

I’ll just inform them that HM = humble minion (to cats)