Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Rails Against Rise of un-Christian Names
The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1/11/10 | Nick Squires

Posted on 01/11/2011 9:57:46 AM PST by marshmallow

The Pope has warned parents against giving children celebrity-inspired names and urged them to turn to the Bible for inspiration instead.

While names such as Sienna and Scarlett have become fashionable in recent years, Pope Benedict XVI called for a return to tradition.

During Mass at the Sistine Chapel, he said: "Every baptised child acquires the character of the son of God, beginning with their Christian name, an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit causes man to be born anew in the womb of the Church." He added that a name was an "indelible seal" that set children off on a lifelong "journey of religious faith".

According to the Office for National Statistics, celebrity names such as Ashton – after the actor Ashton Kutcher – and Lily – after the singer Lily Allen – are among the most popular in England and Wales. The names celebrities give their own children can be even more exotic.

Sir Bob Geldof has daughters named Pixie and Peaches, while Victoria and David Beckham called their first son Brooklyn, after the district of New York. Katie Price, the glamour model, named her daughter Princess Tiaamii.

In Italy, the name of a child has particular significance. Children are often named after saints, who are considered a guiding force in their life.

The tradition, however, is increasingly under threat. Francesco Totti, the footballer, recently decided to call his daughter Chanel, while Flavio Briatore, the Formula One boss, named his newborn son Falso Nathan.

Cristina Odone, a former editor of The Catholic Herald who grew up in Italy, said: "There are so many of the church's traditions which we have come to ignore and which are actually meaningful and have a big spiritual significance. To deprive our children of that sense of having a protecting saint is to rob.......

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-105 next last
To: fishtank

No record?

4 times God has renamed someone in the bible.

Abram -> Abraham
Simon -> Peter
Sarai -> Sarah
Jacob -> Israel

It’s not about making fun of other people’s name, but emphasizing what their name is for. Names are important. Some parents understand this, others do not.


81 posted on 01/11/2011 2:01:51 PM PST by BenKenobi (Rush speaks! I hear, I obey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: MeganC

Wow ... sounds bitter. Sorry there have been Catholics that have made you dislike them. But hopefully not all.

FWIW ... this dumb Catholic knows all about Ezra and quite a few others mentioned in that book that we supposedly do not read.


82 posted on 01/11/2011 2:12:44 PM PST by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: MeganC

Wow ... sounds bitter. Sorry there have been Catholics that have made you dislike them. But hopefully not all.

FWIW ... this dumb Catholic knows all about Ezra and quite a few others mentioned in that book that we supposedly do not read.


83 posted on 01/11/2011 2:12:51 PM PST by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

Oops. Sorry ‘bout the double post, y’all.


84 posted on 01/11/2011 2:13:43 PM PST by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

This story was told by both my mother and grandmother. When my mother was born in 1925 (R.I.P.) my grandmother wanted to name her Lyda. At her Baptism the priest asked grandma for the name and was told she could not name her that since there was no St. Lyda, without skipping a beat my grandmother said call her Elizabeth. So she was named Elizabeth. Grandma and everyone else called her Lyda. I never got to ask but I think grandma was prepared for the name rejection and had Elizabeth in reserve.


85 posted on 01/11/2011 2:29:17 PM PST by jjr153 (Never Forget 9/11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
Ezra was a priest and teacher of the Hebrews in the Old Testament

so 'Ezra' is actually a Jewish name :-)

86 posted on 01/11/2011 3:08:04 PM PST by T Minus Four ("If Mormonism were a cult, I would know it and I would not be in it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
Most Catholics are unfamiliar with the Bible.

****

ROFL!!!!

Do you really believe that? How droll ...

****

My guess is that Catholics certainly are familiar with the Bible. I have to admit, however, that on five or six occasions in my life, I've heard a Catholic friend joke, "I don't read the Bible . . . I'm a Catholic."

And on a few occasions, the other Catholics with us would chuckle.

So there's apparently a joke in there somewhere.

87 posted on 01/11/2011 3:08:24 PM PST by Scoutmaster (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio
Well then, no second rate names for me. I'll just name them all Jesus.

LOL! Well for all the bazillions of baby boys named Jesus, there still isn't a saint named Jesus.

88 posted on 01/11/2011 3:10:39 PM PST by T Minus Four ("If Mormonism were a cult, I would know it and I would not be in it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BenKenobi
Over three years, including daily masses, the entire bible is read through.

Sorry, not even close:

Over a three-year cycle Sunday Masses include 3.7% of the Old Testament (plus Psalms) and 40.8% of the New Testament. If you add weekday Masses you'll hear 13.5% of the Old Testament (plus Psalms) and 71.5% of the New Testament.

Here's a link

89 posted on 01/11/2011 3:19:56 PM PST by T Minus Four ("If Mormonism were a cult, I would know it and I would not be in it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: T Minus Four

“If you add weekday Masses you’ll hear 13.5% of the Old Testament (plus Psalms) and 71.5% of the New Testament”

I stand corrected. So 72 percent instead of all. Interesting. I do notice that it’s 95 percent of the Gospels over 3 years including the daily masses.


90 posted on 01/11/2011 3:27:40 PM PST by BenKenobi (Rush speaks! I hear, I obey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: Scoutmaster

Yep. It’s like how liberals claim conservatives really are uneducated. They are poking fun at the stereotype.

Unfortunately, it’s just not true.


91 posted on 01/11/2011 3:31:28 PM PST by BenKenobi (Rush speaks! I hear, I obey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
Good for the pope!

I speak Spanish, and personally, I no longer never ask anyone their name, specially women, for it seems almost as if every names in South America is now a “made up name”, and they expect you to understand and spell their name upon hearing it. Forget about it, no way, no one can do it.

Usnavi, Ionemi, Ninusca, llisaisca, and who knows what..... what a nightmare of ignorance.

92 posted on 01/11/2011 4:32:41 PM PST by verdugo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
Good for the pope!

I speak Spanish, and personally, I no longer EVER ask anyone their name, specially women, for it seems almost as if every name in South America is now a “made up name”, and they expect you to understand and spell their name upon hearing it. Forget about it, no way, no one can do it.

Usnavi, Ionemi, Ninusca, llisaisca, and who knows what..... what a nightmare of ignorance.

93 posted on 01/11/2011 4:33:58 PM PST by verdugo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
Heres a Link showing the readings for January, for example.
94 posted on 01/11/2011 5:29:13 PM PST by Celtic Cross
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: BenKenobi

The Scottish variant.


95 posted on 01/11/2011 6:17:18 PM PST by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: T Minus Four

No official ones, but then there is the English form, Joshua.


96 posted on 01/11/2011 6:19:15 PM PST by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
The Pope's middle name, Aloisius, is derived from Old High German Hluodowig, and is pagan. Score one for us.
97 posted on 01/12/2011 12:04:26 AM PST by John Locke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Locke
Want to hear something weird?

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga an Italian was canonized December 31, 1726 in Rome by Pope Benedict XIII.

Aloysius or Alosius is also Luigi, Lewis, Louis and Ludwig.

98 posted on 01/12/2011 12:23:36 AM PST by this_ol_patriot (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: BenKenobi
Unfortunately, it’s just not true.

Understood. And I truly hope it was clear from my post that I wasn't suggesting it was true. I was only relaying that I'd had Catholic friends JOKE about 'not reading the Bible.'

99 posted on 01/12/2011 5:20:14 AM PST by Scoutmaster (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: John Locke

Fail.


100 posted on 01/12/2011 6:25:58 AM PST by marshmallow ("A country which kills its own children has no future" -Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-105 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson