Edited by Julia Callahan
The tradition of choosing a Saint as a Confirmation name is something that many young Catholics look forward to because it is a chance for us to look to a historic figure for spiritual guidance and because, well, let’s face it, the idea of getting to choose your own name can be fun! The following are quotes from confirmed DePaul students on their experience of choosing a Confirmation name and what it means to them:
“The reason I chose St. Rose is because she is the patron saint of flowers. My dad is a florist, and my grandmother used to embroider flowers. She was my saint for All Saint’s Day, too.” – Bianca Olimpia Rose Domenghini, 1st-year student
“My confirmation name is Kateri after St. Kateri Tekakwitha. I chose her because she is the saint of ecology, and the environment is very important to me. Also, the more I learned about her the more I liked her. She had a difficult life — she had scars on her face from battling smallpox and lost her parents — and found her strength through God. She refused to deny God even when her tribe shunned her for converting to Catholicism.” – Kristen Kateri Slevnik, 1st-year student
“I chose St. Clare because I am amazed by the miracle God performed for her. When she was dying, she was distraught that she could not go to mass before passing. God ‘projected’ mass for her so that she could experience it one last time before her death. Even though this happened long ago, St. Clare is considered the patron saint of film, which is a bit ironic. I’ve always enjoyed the media, so I really preferred her story over her name.” – Kara Josephine Clare Callahan, 1st-year student
“I chose St. Cecilia because she is the patron saint of music. She embodies two of the most important things in my life: music and faith.” – Camilla Cecelia Mroczkowski, 2nd-year student
“When I was confirmed, I actually did not have a confirmation name. As the time got closer to pick a name, I didn’t really look into what name I wanted. I regret not having a confirmation name, as I feel I missed out on something spiritually important. If I could go back, I would name myself after St. Cecilia because she is the patron saint of music.” – Selena Cecilia Miller, 3rd-year student
“I chose St. Catherine of Bologna because she is the patroness of artists and the arts. Growing up, I loved music, dancing, and drawing. I was originally going to choose St. Cecilia because she is the patron saint of music, and I played the piano, violin, and sang in the school choir. When I discovered St. Catherine, I decided that she would be a better fit because she was more all-encompassing of my various talents and passions, not just one.” – Julia Christine Catherine Callahan, 3rd-year student
“I chose St, Therese of Lisieux. I chose her because she didn’t perform any miracles while she was alive. It wasn’t until after she died that there was evidence of any miracles that led to her beatification. That was appealing because she was leading a saint-like life without any supernatural intervention while on Earth, making her more relatable. She also led a life full of love. Her love of God was so strong and present with everything that she did and felt love for everyone she encountered. I try to live my life by treating everyone with love and free of judgments.” – Caitrin Therese Gallagher, 2nd-year student
It is easy to forget the significance that a confirmation name holds. We put a lot of thought into it as young teens, but as the distance between that time of our lives and the present time grows, we put less emphasis on that pivotal point in our faith journey. The stories of the saints we choose become part of our own stories. The saints’ lives help us make sense of what our faith is supposed to be going forward. By continuing to share our confirmation names with others, we get to share a part of ourselves and remember why we chose to become a full participant in the Catholic faith.
