STILL can't pick a confirmation saint

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I’ve had the same quandary…but I’ve narrowed it down to two (I think) either St. Paul or St. Josemaria Escriva. I’ve just read a good number of the “Lives of the Saints” and (strangely enough) looked up various Saints on youtube.com. They have stories/biographies etc on many Saints on there. I actually “came across” St. Josemaria while watching EWTN at my parents’ house…they were doing a documentary on him. Let me throw out some of my favorites beside St. Josemaria and St. Paul…

St. John Bosco
St. Philip Neri
St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

Just to name a few. My favorite site for looking up Saints is 👍saints.sqpn.com/
 
I’ve been going through the same thing…I think I’m going to go with St. Josemaria Escriva…or St. Paul…but for you?

Here, let’s make it easy…I’ll pick for you.

St. Teresa of Avila. There. Done. :eek:

No, but if I was female I would most certainly pick her. Once you pick her and grow in your faith you will be more and more glad that you did…of course just my opinion…but her relationship with Jesus Christ…wow! Wow! If you want to pick a dynamic “no holds barred” champion of the Catholic Church she’s the one!

Then take time to read a book called, “Fire Within” by Fr. Thomas Dubay…it’s not a quick read but will give you more ammo to live out your Christian life in love and faithfulness and you will most certainly grow in your love for St. Teresa of Avila…aka…St. Teresa of Jesus.

You have my prayers…even if you don’t end up picking her.👍
Try this site saints.sqpn.com/saint-teresa-of-avila/
 
I came up with a list of all the female Saints I could think of, - maybe you could research various Saints and just see which one you like best? 🙂 also, is there any spirituality that you’re really drawn to? For example, if you like the Passionists, you could choose St Gemma…etc. Some people choose Saints based on what virtue they need most…for example if someone is struggling with patience, or humility, or purity, they’d choose the Saint that most demonstrated that specific virtue

St Teresa Benedicta
St Teresa of Avila
St Therese of Lisieux
St Gemma Galgani
St Faustina
St Mary Magdalene
St Rose of Lima
St Rita
St Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi
St Agatha
St Philomena
St Anne
St Bridget of Sweden
St Catherine
St Cecilia
St Clare of Assisi

here’s a really big list 😉
catholic.org/saints/female.php
 
I picked St. Catherine of Alexandria for, it seems, many of the same reasons that make you attracted to Edith Stein. She came into the Church through philosophy (as did I) and converted as an adult like me.

I was attracted to her tenacity and the story of her standing up to the emperor’s greatest philosophers and converting them all! I also liked that she was one of the saints divinely appointed as St. Joan of Arc’s advisor. I love the stories of strong women in the Church who are strong and speak their mind because they are filled with the love of Christ.

You will find your confirmation saint. Have no fear, and rest in Christ. Pray and ask the saints to help you. They’re pretty good at that, you know!
 
It’s ok if you can’t make up your mind and you are debating between a few of them. I know I was. I originally had my heart set on Joan for Joan of Arc. After, I had a very moving experience with St. Faustina, and officially chose her to be my Confirmation saint. Then after, I fell in love with Therese of Liseaux. I was about to ask my teacher for a change, then I found out that my Confirmation was on Divine Mercy Sunday. I think St. Faustina deffinately had something to do with that.

My point is, you don’t have to limit yourself. I have an equal devotion to all 3 of my patron saints, and they each have a special charism in their life that I admire and pray for. Saints do not get upset if you pick another name over theirs. Who was the first saint you were considering? God had a reason for bringing you to them first. It’s something to consider and pray about.

St. Faustina, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Therese, please pray for Student09 that he will be able to find a saint for Confirmation!

-Jeanne
 
Student09 said:
That’s correct, I have never been baptized so I guess this will also be my baptismal name. I’m thinking of maybe St. Edith Stein … since she was also an adult convert and studied philosophy/theology. She was apparently also a very kind and selfless person, which I need to work at. I need to just pick her and stop changing my mind.
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I love St. Edith Stein! I saw a program on her, and she is just lovely. And you have a lot in common with her. I picked Faustina because she was a writer, like me, and she wanted to bring people to God with her book. I also chose her because I am devoted to Divine Mercy. I think St. Edith Stein is your saint. Please remember, that if you can have more than one patron! Saints are like good friends in heaven. If there is another saint tugging at your heart, you can accept them into your life, pray to them, and honor them in other ways. You want to have a relationship with as many of them as possible. Because when you’re in trouble, they’ll send you so much love and prayers from heaven, just like a friend on earth would.

I think in your situation, being a convert, St. Edith Stein is an excellent choice. And I think she will definately help you in your faith journey.

St. Edith Stein, St. Faustina, St. Therese, St. Joan of Arc, St. Theresa of Avila (who touched Edith Stein so much) St Maxamillian Kolbe, Venerable Pope John Paul II, St Bernadette, St. Lucy, St. Rita, and all of the holy saints in heaven, PRAY FOR US!

God Bless
-Jeanne
 
garyr said:
Confusion / Doubt (reason for your post) = Doubting Thomas (the apostle) - never heard that one??
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Heard it, I guess I just didn’t think of myself as “doubting.”

It’s funny because I think that at one point or another I have considered almost all the saints on this thread! Anyway, I know I am overthinking it and just stressing out about it because I am stressed about pretty much everything right now … I will go with Edith Stein/Teresa Benedicta a Cruce, unless a thunderbolt hits me, haha.

Thanks, Jeanne, for reminding me that I can have more than one patron. 🙂
 
Shin said:
‘Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures are contained. Come! As you descended upon Mary that the Word might become flesh, work in us through grace as you worked in her through nature and grace. Come! Food of every chaste thought, fountain of all mercy, sum of all purity. Come! Consume in us whatever prevents us from being consumed in you.’

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

Pray and seek, without worry, prudently. 🙂
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What a lovely quote.
 
Student09 said:
I have been trying to choose a patron saint for confirmation for something like seven months now and for whatever reason, I just feel stuck. It seems that I don’t relate well to any of them and whenever I set my mind to finding one, I end up feeling frustrated and lonely. (Pretty much the way I feel when trying to make friends here on earth. :rolleyes:) I think this attempt to pick a saint is actually bringing up my lifetime of frustrations feeling alone and different.

Any guidance …? Am I just overthinking it? It’s just that, without overthinking it, I have no idea how to choose. Should I just pull names out of a hat?

I’ve heard the whole “the saint chooses you” story but I’m pretty doubtful of that at this point. Or maybe the saint that chose me is just being very, very, very quiet.
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This is how this problem was worked out in my family.

Help in choosing a Confirmation name
Maree was trying to choose a saint’s name for her Confirmation. She asked her mother for help with this. Her mother gave several suggestions of saints’ names but Maree rejected all of them. Then her mother wrote down the names of many female saints on strips of paper and placed them in a box. She told Maree to invoke Saint Therese to help her draw out the right name. Maree drew out Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. She was not pleased with this result, so her mother asked her to put the name back into the tin, and let her draw again. Again she pulled out Saint Helen. Maree wanted one more try. Yet again the result was Saint Helen. Finally she asked, “Why does Saint Therese want me to have Saint Helen?”
The matter was settled. Helen was chosen as Maree’s Confirmation name.

(Maree is not the real name. The ‘Maree’ in the story is one of my daughters.)

I put the story in my book: Help from Heaven (Answers to Prayer), which can be read free on-line at:

missionbell.homestead.com/HelpFromHeavenBook.html
 
lizaanne said:
And if one’s baptismal name is something like Tiffany or Dakota, what then?
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Many such names can still be connected with saints in one way or another, if one wants.

The Dakotas, for example, are named for the Sioux who lived in that area. The most famous Catholic among the Sioux is Nicholas Black Elk (yes, the same Black Elk in the books Black Elk Speaks and The Sacred Pipe– he was a Catholic catechist). So St. Nicholas, Black Elk’s baptismal saint, would be a great patron for someone named Dakota. 🙂

The name Tiffany is derived from the word “theophany.” So any saint associated with a theophany would be a great patron, like Moses; one of the Magi, traditionally called Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar; John the Baptist; Peter, James, & John; etc. 🙂
 
jeanne71350 said:
St. Faustina, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Therese, please pray for Student09 that he will be able to find a saint for Confirmation!

-Jeanne
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Joining my prayers to yours as well as pointing out that Student09 is a she. 🙂
 
JaredR said:
Joining my prayers to yours as well as pointing out that Student09 is a she. 🙂
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Yes, hehe, I should have picked something more feminine for my username but I did not foresee that this would be a recurring problem! After all, I know I’m a girl, so everybody else should automatically know it, too. 😛
 
You have to start signing all your posts as “Your SISTER in Christ.” 😛
 
JaredR said:
Joining my prayers to yours as well as pointing out that Student09 is a she. 🙂
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yes, I realized that after I posted. I’m sorry. I tend to do that a lot.

But I still pray for you!

-Jeanne
 
Hi, Student09 - this is a very sweet thread, so many thoughtful replies!

I have no idea at all how I picked St. Monica (St. Augustine’s, uh, sainted mother), until about two years ago when we were going through some things with my teenaged son and I prayed for her intercession like mad. When I was 13, I could never have foreseen that! St. Monica is to me a very wise, patient, yet fierce-in-her-faith woman, a very good friend to have.

I will keep you in my prayers - and don’t forget the beautiful name of our Blessed Mother!

P.S. I think St. Edith Stein would be a powerful choice.
 
Don’t feel so bad if you haven’t found a name. I was confirmed at 14 and I recently picked my confirmation names and I’m 39 now! LOL! I picked Faustina Francis. Took 25 years but I finally decided. LOL! Though I don’t think anyone wants to wait that long. 😉
And it doesn’t matter if the name is male or female. If you are drawn to a male name that is okay. I know of a friend whose daughter picked Stephen for a name. 🙂
 
Dymphna777 said:
Don’t feel so bad if you haven’t found a name. I was confirmed at 14 and I recently picked my confirmation names and I’m 39 now! LOL! I picked Faustina Francis. Took 25 years but I finally decided. LOL! Though I don’t think anyone wants to wait that long. 😉
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WOW! That is long! 😃
 
My suggestion is to simplify things. Get a kids Saint book out of the library or Catholic Book store. Read the descriptions and see what feels right.

I was drawn to 2 women: Mary Magdalen and St Therese of Liseaux (Officially St Therese of the Child Jesus.) St Therese’s story and theology spoke to me. So I chose her (or she chose me?) Another person in my RCIA class took Mary Magdalen.

I was 38 when I joined the church (Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion all at once - most amazing day of my life!) I only knew the names of a handful of saints. So, it wasn’t easy. I couldn’t relate to many of them. But, Therese’s simple love of Jesus and her “little way” pulled me in. (Read The Story of a Soul if you want to know more.)
 
I think you may be getting close. Make a short list. Pray and consider each one - how you may identify with them and what you may learn from them. Remember that you are not saying “goodbye” to those you do not choose. Also remember that you can not go wrong, they are Saints!
 
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