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Choosing a Confirmation Name
In the Catholic Church, we have a tradition of taking the name of a saint for our own Confirmation name. The saint whose name we choose serves as an inspiration to us in living out our Christian faith. It signifies that you are in the process of answering God’s call, and it can reflect a desire to model yourself after the saint whose name you have chosen.
While not required, it is highly encouraged that boys select a male saint and girls select a female saint.
Where do I begin?
You may want to start by going to our Saint Look-up page on this website.
There are literally hundreds of quality websites and resources that list the saints. Catholic Forum has a good site in which the patron saints can be researched by location, physical condition, spiritual condition, vocation, etc. This site has profiles of each saint, which include portrait, biographical information, areas of patronage, prayers, links to related sites, readings, etc.How to Choose a Confirmation Name?
1. Life-time Saint FriendsDon't simply choose a name you like. Select a saint to help you live as a Christian their praying for us (intercession) and their good example (CCC 2156, 956).
2. Read Stories About the Saints
Take time read the lives of the saints. There are many different books on saints. The internet also has many different websites on the saints. You might start your reading with a saint that has similar interests or with one of the saints from the curriculum. Sometimes, patrons are chosen because of the day their feast day falls on (e.g., if you were born on September 4, you might chose St. Rose of Viterbo).
You may want to start with your own baptismal name. There are many different starting points for choosing a particular saint. Ultimately, the patron chosen should be someone that you want to imitate in their love for Christ and others.3. Visit our Saint Pages
The Chapel has a number of saint profiles on its Saint Pages. Visit our saint pages as you conduct your research.
4. Learn and Pray
You should pray to the saint. Ask for the saint’s intercession. Get a picture or statue of the saint, read more about the saint, etc.
5. Practice Telling the Saint’s Story
You will be asked repeatedly why you chose a particular saint. You should be able to explain who the saint is, how they were a faithful disciple and witness of Jesus Christ, and what they hope to imitate in their own lives as a disciple and witness.
Researching Saints
A good place to start researching saints is the Catholic Online website, www.catholic.org/saints/. There you will find an alphabetical index of saints, an index of patron saints, and a calendar with saints’ feast days, among other useful tools. We've also listed some saints on our website.
In starting to research saints and complete their projects, candidates may want to consider the following questions:-
« How and why did your parents choose your baptismal name?
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« What activities, places, people, etc. interest you? Is there a patron saint associated with any of these activities, places, people, etc.?
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« Which saints have their feast day on your birthday?
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« Which saints inspire you? Why?
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« When and where did the saint you are interested in live? When was he/she canonized? By which pope?
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« How did this saint die? Was he/she persecuted and/or martyred for his/her beliefs?
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« What was this saint’s occupation?
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« What did this saint’s mission look like?
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« What virtues did this saint practice in his/her life? Did this saint always practice these virtues? Did this saint experience a conversion?
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« How would you describe this saint’s personality?
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« What miracles did this saint perform?
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« Are there any symbols associated with this saint? What are their meanings?
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« In what ways is this saint a model for Christians today?
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« How would this saint act/react if he/she were living in today’s world?
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« If this saint were to complete a Confirmation project on his/her own life, what kind of project would he/she create?
Special Note: Your Confirmation Saint is someone
whom you look to as a Christian model. Pick someone
who may have had the same interestsWhat is the significance of choosing a confirmation name?
The name of a saint is chosen by the one confirmed and imposed by the bishop, and added to the Christian name … choose carefully!
Your confirmation name should be freely chosen and reflect your devotion to a saint
You will come under their patronage, and receive the graces of their particular charisms (a power, generally of a spiritual nature, believed to be a freely given gift by the grace of God)
Written and Oral Saint Report
Each candidate will be expected to write a Saint Report. In addition to the written report, each candidate will present a 10 minute presentation to the class about their report.
Names of saints are chosen to serve as patrons and models for those being confirmed. Candidates should choose a patron saint because of the attractiveness of their Christian life.
You will be required to submit a written report of one to two pages on your patron saint (double-spaced).What to include in your written report:
Saint’s name and feast day. Name or derivative you have selected to honor this special patron.
Facts about your saint such as country of origin, birthplace, occupation, years they were alive, family, etc.
Saint's contributions to the church
Important events in your saint’s life that helped shape who they were and why they have been canonized.
What are they specifically honored for and what are they the patron of, including how the saint is a model for Christians today.
What virtues did this saint practice in his/her life?
What aspect of this person’s Christian life attracted you?
What prayer and/or songs are attributed to your saint?
What role will this saint play in your life after Confirmation?Web sites to help with Saint Reports
We have an excellent set of Catholic Encyclopedias as well as books on the lives of the saints in the church library, or you may use the Public Library or Internet, using such sites as:t American Catholic
t Catholic Forum
t Catholic Information Network
t Catholic Online
t Catholic Pages
t Finding God
What is a Patron Saint?
ln several forms of Christianity, but especially in Roman Catholicism, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group.
Patron saints can also be associated with geographical areas (depending on where they were born or where they preached). For example, St. Joseph is the patron saint of Belgium, Saint Anthony is the patron saint of Portugal and St. Patrick is patron saint of Ireland.
Patron Saints
Accountants: Matthew
Actors: Genesius
Adopted children: Clotilde, Thomas More
Alcoholism: Monica
Altar Servers: John Berchmans
Anesthetists: Rene' Goupil
Architects: Thomas the Apostle
Artists: Catherine of Bologna, Luke
Athletes: Sebastian
Authors: Francis de Sales
Aviators: Joseph of Cupertino, Our Lady of Loretto
Bakers: Elizabeth of Hungary
Bankers: Matthew
Blindness: Raphael
Booksellers: John of God
Boy Scouts: George
Brewers: Augustine, Nicholas
Brides: Nicholas of Myra
Builders: Vincent Ferrer
Business Women: Margaret Clitherow
Butchers: Anthony of Egypt
Cabdrivers: Fiacre
Cancer: Peregrinus Laziosi
Carpenters: Joseph
Catechists: Charles Borromeo, Robert Bellarmine
Charity Workers: Vincent de Paul
Children: Nicholas of Myra
Cooks: Lawrence, Martha
Dancers: Philemon
Deaf: Francis de Sales
Dentists: Apollonia
Desperate Situations: Jude
Dietitians: Martha
Divorced: Fabiola, Helena
Doctors: Luke
Dying: Joseph
Ecologists: Francis of Assisi
Editors: John Bosco
Emigrants: Frances Xavier Cabrini
Engineers: Ferdinand III
Expectant Mothers: Gerard Majella
Eye Diseases: Lucy
Falsely Accused: Gerard Majella
Farmers: Isidore
Firefighters: Florian
Fishermen: Andrew
Florists: Dorothy, Therese of Lisieux
Forest Workers: John Gualbert
Funeral Directors: Dismas, Joseph of Arimathea
Gardeners: Dorothy, Fiacre
Girl Scouts: Agnes
Grocers: Michael
Grocers: Michael
Hairdressers: Martin de Porres. Pierre Troussaint
Headaches: Teresa of Ávila
Homemakers: Anne
Hospital Administrators: Frances Xavier Cabrini
Hospital Workers: Camillus de Lellis, John of God
Hotelkeepers: Amandus, Martha
Invalids: Roch
Jealousy: Elizabeth of Portugal
Jewelers: Dunstan
Journalists: Francis de Sales
Laborers: Isidore
Lawyers: Ivo, Thomas More
Librarians: Jerome
Lost Items: Anthony of Padua
Lovers: Raphael
Maids: Zita
Mariners: Michael
Medical Records: Raymond of Penafort
Mental Illness: Benedict Joseph Labre
Merchants: Francis of Assisi, Nicholas of Myra
Midwives: Margaret of Cortona, Raymond Nonnatus
Military Chaplains: John of Capistrano
Miners: Barbara
Missions: Francis Xavier
Mothers: Monica
Musicians: Cecilia
Nurses: Agatha
Orphans: Jerome Emiliani
Painters: Luke
Paratroopers: Michael
Pharmacists: Cosmas and Damian, Gemma Galgani
Philosophers: Catherine of Siena, Justin Martyr
Physicians: Cosmas and Damian, Luke
Poets: Cecilia, David
Police: Michael
Poor: Cuthbert, Julia, Lawrence, Macrina the Elder
Postal Workers: Gabriel
Priests: John Baptist Vianney
Printers: Augustine, John of God
Radiologists: Michael
Rheumatism: James the Greater
Runaways: Dymphna
Sailors: Brendan
Schools: Thomas Aquinas
Scientists: Albert the Great
Second Marriages: Adelaide, Matilda
Secretaries: Genesius
Seminarians: Charles Borromeo
Separated Spouses: Edward the Confessor, Philip Howard
Servants: Martha, Zita
Sick: Camillus de Lellis
Singers: Gregory the Great
Skiers: Bernard of Montjoux
Social Workers: Louise de Marillac
Soldiers: George, Joan of Arc, Sebastian
Stepparents: Adelaide, Thomas More
Students: Thomas Aquinas
Surgeons: Cosmas and Damian, Luke
Tax Collectors: Matthew
Teachers: Gregory the Great
Telecommunication Workers: Gabriel
Theologians: Alphonsus Liguori, Augustine
Throat Disease: Blaise
Travelers: Anthony of Padua, Christopher
Victims of Abuse: Fabiola, Monica
Victims of Rape: Maria Goretti
Workers: Joseph
Writers: Francis de Sales
Youth: Agnes, Aloysius Gonzaga -