Catholic - VANITY - Confirmation Names...

18 April 2002

[ThomasMore]

And today you're a deacon, right? Hmm....

Not quite yet...this October I will be ordained. It's coming up quick.

You're a policeman. God bless you! If you approach your career in the tradition of your alias, you must be a good one. Aquinas and most Thomists are dear to my heart.

[jrherreid]

I chose the name "John", for St. Jean-Marie Vianney. My first name is also John, so I had to wear a name tag that read "John John". It was a pretty awful ceremony--our confirmation class sang "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson (I had protested, asking if we could at least sing a song by someone who was some sort of Christian, and was laughed at), while I stood in silence. One of the girls in my class had taken the confirmation name "Tiffany", which was hilarious in a sad sort of way.

One of the other confirmations I attended had a boy who was taking the name "John". The bishop was a bit deaf and didn't hear what the name was to be, so the boy was confirmed "James".

[jrherreid]

My sister took Bernard--her confirmation name was "Mary Bernard".

[afraidfortherepublic]

I was told recently that parishes don't keep a record of First Communion....anyone know about this?

I'll check for you, but we moved around a lot while raising our children. I always had to turn in the name of the parish where the kids were baptized when they received other Sacraments, so that information could be sent back to the Baptizing Parish and the information could be added to the Baptismal Certificate.

When I retrieved a fresh copy of their certificates when the kids got married (a requirement for a Catholic marriage), the information was all there. I am told that this is done so that the Church has a record at the time of the individual's marriage or Holy Orders.

So, the answer may be that the "confirming" parish does not keep the record; it is sent to the "baptizing" parish, but I'll check with my Parish office and ask the question.

[BlessedBeGod]

This will give you a great idea of the quality of my catechesis and the education I got at home.

Since my mother is Catholic and my father was Lutheran, there was NO discussion of God at home, for fear that one would insult the other.

So, when it came time for me to pick my name, I had no idea of the names of any saints. I asked my mother what her confirmation name was, and she said "Catherine." It sounded as good as any to me, so I chose Katherine -- for Katherine Hepburn ! LOL !

When I came back to the Church after being away for 25 years, I realized what a travesty my confirmation name was, and decided it would be Catherine -- for St. Catherine Laboure. Catherine of Siena seemed too far away, I really didn't know anything about any other Catherine, and I had just finished reading a biography of St. Catherine Laboure from TAN Books which had greatly impressed me. It also helped that I was interested in the Militae Immaculatae which uses the Miraculous Medal which Our Lady gave St. Catherine Laboure as their symbol.

(Bolded for the short version!)

[Domestic Church]

I know when I got married in '79 I was the one who put the info down. I submitted a copy of my baptismal certificate (it had nothing on it about my First Communion or my Confirmation which were done in a different parish) as did my spouse and his was in German.

[afraidfortherepublic]

St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, born about the middle of the third century and died about 330. She was of humble parentage, perhaps the daughter of an innkeeper. Nevertheless, she became the lawful wife of Constantius Chlorus. Her first and only son, Constantine, was born in the year 274.

Her son's influence caused her to embrace Christianity. It was said by a contemporary historian of the Church that she was such a devout servant of God, that one might believe her to have been a disciple of the Redeemer from her very childhood. Helena, from the time of her conversion, led an earnestly Christian life and influenced the wider spread of Christianity. Tradition links her name with the building of Christian churches in the cities of the West, where the imperial court resided, notably at Rome and Trier.

[afraidfortherepublic]

St. Stephen -- First Christian Martyr

One of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr; feast on 26 December. In the Acts of the Apostles the name of St. Stephen occurs for the first time on the occasion of the appointment of the first deacons (Acts, vi, 5).

Stephen was arrested and dragged before the Sanhedrin, where he was accused of saying that "Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place [the temple], and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us" (vi, 12 14).

Stephen's answer (Acts, vii) was a long recital of the mercies of God towards Israel during its long history and of the ungratefulness by which, throughout, Israel repaid these mercies. This discourse contained many things unpleasant to Jewish ears; but the concluding indictment for having betrayed and murdered the Just One whose coming the Prophets had foretold, provoked the rage of an audience made up not of judges, but of foes.

When Stephen "looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God", and said: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (vii, 55), they ran violently upon him (vii, 56) and cast him out of the city to stone him to death.

Slyfox: it seems that Stephen is an appropriate name for all the young people in your latest confirmation class in your situation. It should be seen as an honor to the original St. Stephen, and to his namesake, that they chose it.

[Aquinasfan]

You're a policeman.

I'm an illustrator. Cap'n_Crunch is the cop. I wrote a confusing post ;o)

Actually, do you happen to know the patron saint of artists?

[Slyfox]

Find your patron saint here

[dansangel]

Mary....for my godmother. She was a sweet and unselfish lady who suffered most of her short adult life with MS. I feel blessed that I made this decision, even at so young an age.

[Gophack]

I choose St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. I was confirmed as an adult when I was pregnant with my first child. My sponsor suggested St. Monica because it was through her faith and constant prayers that her son, St. Augustine of Hippo, was converted to Christianity after leading a wild life. She is also one of the patron saints of mothers, and I was focused on motherhood because I was pregnant.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

I was reading through the replies, and was wondering if I would see St. Monica. What a strong and loving woman she must have been! My confirmation name is Mary (my first name--I go by my middle name). I was named for the Blessed Mother and a nun that my mother was particularly fond of in grade school (her name was sister Mary Matthew, so my mom named me Mary and my brother Matthew). I am particularly fond of confirmation names that reflect mothers, such as Mary, Monica, Anne, etc. I guess I just didn't realize how much this kind of stuff means to me until I became a parent!

[history_matters]

“It is better that
scandals arise than the
truth be suppressed.”
-- Pope St. Gregory the Great

[Gophack]

I guess I just didn't realize how much this kind of stuff means to me until I became a parent!

My faith has become stronger with every child I have had. I had a major conversion experience while I was pregnant with my son. During Lent of 2001 (I was about 6 months pregnant) I made the decision I would never miss Mass again if I was physically capable. I had become so complacent about attending. And except for one Sunday, I haven't missed Mass in now 14 months. I also went to Confession for the first time in more than 20 years during Advent, and I now understand what they mean by continually converting and growing in the Lord.

I thank God and my children for that.

[ThomasMore]

Actually, do you happen to know the patron saint of artists?

St. Luke is the Patron Saint of Artists, Brewers, Butchers, Doctors, Glass-workers, Notaries, Painter, Physicians, Sculptors and Surgeons.

[glorygirl]

ROFLMAO....(sorry, but it's true)

It's stories like this that make me glad I was literally a child of the '60s.

BTW, what year did this occur? Just curious.

[jrherreid]

BTW, what year did this occur? Just curious.

'Twas in the year 1993. I'm a young 'un.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

LOL you are a hacker that hacked all of our personal info. and to complete your database of us you are getting our confirmation names and REAL hair color.

LOL

[Thinkin' Gal]

Oh my, does that bring back memories. I was nervous that it would be rejected for not being an approved 'saint name'!!!

What was your Confirmation name?

Rachel

Why did you choose it?

Genesis 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.