Choosing a Saint

Candidates and their parents will work together to select a Saint Name for Confirmation.

Discuss:  Names are part of our identity; it tells others who you are.  When you were baptized, your name was chosen because…

(Here parents explain why they chose their child’s name.  Explain any significant meanings or if they were named after someone, share about that person)

Look-Up:  Look up your name on the web and discover the history of your name.

• https://www.behindthename.com/
• http://www.babynames.com/

What is a patron Saint? 

Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life.  These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, and causes - - anything that is important to us.  A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint’s life and when we ask for that saint’s intercessory prayers to God.

What is a canonized Saint?

Saints are people who have lived holy lives and are now in heaven as members of the Church Triumphant.  Their life stories provide examples for others on how to overcome spiritual obstacles on Earth.  Any person who follows Christ is a saint; however, Canonized saints are people the Church identifies as in heaven.

When selecting a Confirmation name, a candidate may keep their Baptismal name by selecting a saint who shares their name OR they may choose a different saint name or a name from the Bible that reflects the NEW role they aspire to undertake as a more mature Catholic.  Confirmation candidates often take the name of the significant people who have influenced their life, people they admire, or a name of a patron saint based on their hobbies, inte rest, or virtues of that saint.  THE SAINT NAME YOUR CHILD SELECTS WILL BE THEIR CONFIRMATION NAME.

1. Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for help in finding a saint whose life you’d like to imitate.  This saint will provide a special bond for you and will be more open to interceding for you before God.
2. List significant people who influence your life or people you admire for their values.
3. Browse & read saint profiles for themes of those significant or admired people.
4. Browse & read about the saint connected to your baptismal name.
5. Narrow your saint choices down to two.  Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you.
6. Decide which saint you connect with the most and make your final selection. 

• You will need the following information
  • Saint’s Name
  • Year of Birth and Year of Death
  • Country where this saint lived
  • Date of saint’s feast day 
  • This is the patron saint of?
  • What is this saint most known for?
  • How/Why did this person become a saint?
  • Why is this saint important to Catholics?
  • What is an amazing story about this saint?
  • How did God work in this person’s life?
  • Why did you choose this saint?
  • How do you hope to live your life more like this saint?

Close in Prayer:  Pray with the saint whose name you will be using as your Confirmation name.  Ask this saint to intercede for you, to help you make the right moral choices, and overall to be a powerful spiritual guide for the rest of your life.

SAMPLE PRAYER FOR INTERCESSION:

Saint _____________, I ask for you to pray for me as I prepare for Confirmation.  I chose your name as my Confirmation name because I relate with you by _________.  Help me to do on earth as you did on earth.  Help me to know and love Jesus and others as you loved Jesus and others.  AMEN.

As you continue to prepare for your Confirmation, continue to ask your saint to pray for you.  Possibly buy pictures, holy cards, statues, and books associated with your Confirmation namesake.  These visual reminders of your saint will help you reflect upon his or her unique virtues.