Story behind your confirmation name?

[OliverP]

My Patron Saint that I chose at Confirmation is St Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh.

At the time, I chose it purely for family reasons. Both my Grandad and Uncle chose Oliver as their confirmation name, so I didn’t have any real information about him.

Years later when I started to take my faith seriously, I read up on him and I was so surprised to see that he is the Patron Saint of Peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Having family coming from Northern Ireland, this was always a massive presence in my life and something I took great interest in. However, being English, I always felt like a traitor to my country, or that I would never be accepted as a supporter for Irish Nationalism. But I am now reading a book on St Oliver’s life and I was so shocked to see that St Oliver was Anglo-Irish (Like myself) and had many friends in England. This instantly created an immense sense of joy and belonging. Added to that St Oliver was a champion for Catholics as a time when it was punishable by death (A fate that he was later to suffer as a Martyr), he did his best to educate people, he improved education in Ireland for the poor and he stood up against those in the Priesthood who were only there for their own gains both politically and career wise. He was an honest and virtuous man and I feel so blessed to have him as my Patron Saint. I now realise that even though I didn’t know a thing about him back then, that he chose me when I was little knowing that I would need his prayers and guidance later in my life.

I thank God for giving St Oliver to me and to the world.

St Oliver, Pray for me

 

[M-Dent]

I was just wondering, as to why you have chosen a certain name for your confirmation

As a young boy, I thought on my confirmation name long and hard. I chose the name of one of the traditional first disciples of Jesus. A disciple who had the courage to take the leap before others to follow Jesus. I found Andrew a good inspiration since I also believe.

 

[Rasoleil]

I chose Michael, the Archangel because he defeated and threw out the Devil and his minions in the War in Heaven.

 

[laircy]

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, because she was one of the first American saints, and up until then I had thought saints were only people who lived long long ago and far far away. It was sort of like “She’s a saint and you can too!”

 

[larsont7]

St. Paul - because I am a convert. Though I didn’t have a road-to-Damascus-type-conversion, it still seemed fitting to pick a Saint that went through a conversion, and one that I admired so much as an Evangelical Protestant. Plus, to be honest, I was still new to the faith and didn’t know all that many other saints or have a connection to them.

The priest who gave me my instruction was also named Paul, so that helped, too.

 

[Musicmedic]

I chose Bridget (of Ireland) as she came to me in a dream, a couple days after my dad had his strokes last year (I started RCIA a few months after the incident occurred). My dad had mentioned he was also visited by someone who said her name was Bridget and assured him that all was going to be ok. She’s the patron saint of healing so it seemed fitting

 

[Halligator]

Michael and Christopher (most of the kids in my confirmation were encouraged to choose two Saints). Partially because those were the given and middle names of my best friend since fist grade… and also because I really liked what I read about both of them. Michael seemed like a guy you’d be glad to have on your side (I loved the kick-*** saints when I was a kid), and I wanted to become a better bearer of Christ, and always tried to belp all the down and out people I’d meet at bus stations and begging at corners. So “my” saints remind me of the man I want(ed) to become in the Church, and the sort of man I’m trying to be in general.