Taking a New Name Upon Reception

  • Thread starter Thread starter tizzidale
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tizzidale

Guest
I posted this elsewhere but didn’t get a response. Thought that this may be the place:

Can candidates in RCIA take a saint’s name upon reception into the Church? When is this done? How do I ask? etc?

Any help would be appreciated.

rusty
 
You can most certainly take a saint’s name when you are received into the Church. Just tell whoever is in charge of the ceremony the name you have chosen for your baptism and/or confirmation name, that’s all. And welcome home to Christ’s Church!

Do you have a saint’s name in mind already?
 
I was thinking of taking the name of St. Joseph the Protector of Mary, earthly father to Jesus, the Christ.

I’ve felt a devotion to him for quite some time now. Is his a ‘popular’ name to take?

rusty
 
Yes,
You can take one at baptism and at confirmation. so if you have never been baptized you can take two
 
Della said:
You can most certainly take a saint’s name when you are received into the Church. Just tell whoever is in charge of the ceremony the name you have chosen for your baptism and/or confirmation name, that’s all. And welcome home to Christ’s Church!

Do you have a saint’s name in mind already?
Click to expand...
As an RCIA Candidate myself, I was wondering if it was OK for men to use a womens’ Saint Name…in fact, Mary, to whom I feel a special devotion.
 
Yes, it’s perfectly okay to take the name of a Saint of the opposite gender - I know a lady doctor who took St. Luke as her Confirmation Saint, and I once had a woman art student who went by her Confirmation name of Michael, after St. Michael the Archangel. 🙂

But if you’re worried, then you could take the name of a male Saint, St. Jose Marie, except just the “Marie” part of his name - or else the “Marie” from St. Louis Marie de Montefort. 😃
 
jmcrae said:
Yes, it’s perfectly okay to take the name of a Saint of the opposite gender - I know a lady doctor who took St. Luke as her Confirmation Saint, and I once had a woman art student who went by her Confirmation name of Michael, after St. Michael the Archangel. 🙂

But if you’re worried, then you could take the name of a male Saint, St. Jose Marie, except just the “Marie” part of his name - or else the “Marie” from St. Louis Marie de Montefort. 😃
Click to expand...
I am not so much worried, as wondering if it is ACCEPTABLE to others to take the confirmation name of Mary. Come to think of it, will our :confused: Blessed Mother be happy with that?
 
Andruschak said:
I am not so much worried, as wondering if it is ACCEPTABLE to others to take the confirmation name of Mary. Come to think of it, will our :confused: Blessed Mother be happy with that?
Click to expand...
I see absolutely no reason why not. Everyone else does it - do a survey of the kids in your parish, and see how many of them (including boys) have some variant of the name “Mary,” or of one of her titles in their names, either as a Baptismal name, second name, or Confirmation name - I think you’ll find quite a few of them.
 
jmcrae said:
I see absolutely no reason why not. Everyone else does it - do a survey of the kids in your parish, and see how many of them (including boys) have some variant of the name “Mary,” or of one of her titles in their names, either as a Baptismal name, second name, or Confirmation name - I think you’ll find quite a few of them.
Click to expand...
OK, “Mary” it will be when the time comes. (I assume that is part of the Easter Vigil?) Thank you!
 
Andruschak said:
OK, “Mary” it will be when the time comes. (I assume that is part of the Easter Vigil?) Thank you!
Click to expand...
Make sure the priest knows before then, so that he can give you the name when you are being Confirmed. Don’t wait until then to tell him, in case in all the rush he doesn’t hear you.

Usually, there is an application form you fill out ahead of time, where you write what you want your Confirmation name to be, as well as the name of your sponsor, and other important details - this goes into your permanent record. 🙂
 
tizzidale said:
I posted this elsewhere but didn’t get a response. Thought that this may be the place:

Can candidates in RCIA take a saint’s name upon reception into the Church? When is this done? How do I ask? etc?

Any help would be appreciated.

rusty
Click to expand...
Candidates would take a Saints name for Confirmation, if they want, it is not required. Catechumens would take a new Christian name for Baptism only if their given name was anti-Christian.
 
I’m 17 and a candidate myself! I’ve felt such a strong devotion to St. Padre Pio. If I wanted to take his name for my Confirmation name, would I take his real name, Francesco? Or would I take the changed name, Pio?

In Pax Christi
Andrew
 
Harpazo said:
I’m 17 and a candidate myself! I’ve felt such a strong devotion to St. Padre Pio. If I wanted to take his name for my Confirmation name, would I take his real name, Francesco? Or would I take the changed name, Pio?

In Pax Christi
Andrew
Click to expand...
Probably Pio but you could use either I would think.
 
jmcrae said:
Yes, it’s perfectly okay to take the name of a Saint of the opposite gender - I know a lady doctor who took St. Luke as her Confirmation Saint, and I once had a woman art student who went by her Confirmation name of Michael, after St. Michael the Archangel. 🙂
Click to expand...
There are also many nuns who take names of male Saints. I had a Sister Frederick as a professor in college.
 
People often take an opposite gender saint name, but it usually goes after a name of the same gender.

Men have often taken the name “Mary” in religion (either confirmation or, more often, religious profession)

It usually then goes as a middle name:

St. Anthony Mary Claret for example…

St. John Mary Vianney is another.

And women of course, Sisters, are known to taken men’s names (usually after the name Mary, but not always)

“Mary Thomas” “Mary Patrick” etc…
 
Struggling said:
People often take an opposite gender saint name, but it usually goes after a name of the same gender.

And women of course, Sisters, are known to taken men’s names (usually after the name Mary, but not always)

“Mary Thomas” “Mary Patrick” etc…
Click to expand...
My professor, Sister Frederick’s baptismal first name was Mary.
 
you certainly may take a saint’s name as a new name, it is not required, except in areas where the given name might be of overtly pagan or anti-Christian origin. It does not change your legal name, you would need to go through the civil law process to do that, but it is entered in the baptismal and confirmation record of the parish. We have one child for baptism who is named for a particularly repulsive Aztec god and will be getting a new name.
 
When I was confirmed in the Catholic Church many years ago, I took the name Elizabeth because I thought it was a beautiful name (any more profound reasons were beyond me at the time!).

When I converted to Greek Orthodoxy 11 years ago now, my priest encouraged me to keep the name Elizabeth, as I had had it for so many years. Now I feel it is an honor to share the pretty name with St. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (and we’re both mothers!)

I am called Elizabeth as I receive Communion or go to Confession (or in any other sacramental situation). I go by my regular name in “real life”.

Just my experience –

Alisa
 
Okay, sorry for being a bit dense, but can you guys explain this further to me? I have heard of taking a new name at Confirmation, but I have never heard any details about it. I am a Candidate, and will be Confirmed next year. By taking a Saint’s name, will I be known by that name at Church? Is that how I would introduce myself, for instance? Or is it more of a personal thing?

Thank you!

Stacie
 
It can be either, and depends on various factors. The first and most important is personal preference.

I look the name Michael as my confirmation name, and rarely use it. I don’t fill it out on official (government and banking) forms as that might confuse matters. But, I do include it when I am writing to people who are part of the Church. I do not use it to introduce myself; it goes as a second middle name for me.

But, some people use their confirmation name as their new first name. Perhaps because they did not like their first name, or because they want to really become “a new creation” in Christ, or whatever.

It’s up to you - what you call yourself and introduce yourself as is your own business!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top