What's the Catholic Church view about changing baptism and confirmation name?

Question

I heard that a person is supposed to choose a baptism and confirmation name according to the saint(s) that one feel "close" to. Mine was chosen by my mom because that's the name of one of my relative and i didn't think of it again because since i was a kid until few years after my confirmation i wasn't interested in the faith and didn't practice it. I felt that it was more of an obligation to my family.

Now that i'm a practicing Catholic, i start to question her decision, as i feel that there are other saints that i feel i can relate more to.

My baptism name is Monica Roberta, and my confirmation name is Theresia (or Theresa in common English)

Answer 1

Interesting question - and I don't think I can answer it definitely. But perhaps I can give you some food for thought.
1. In the UK it is very easy to change one's surname - you can do it on a whim, or pay a few pounds and swear before a lawyer by Statutory Declaration.
2. Changing a Christian (first) name is more difficult. I believe it may be done in the way above, however I think it used (or maybe strictly nowadays) to have to be done by the bishop. In any even - from a Catholic point of view - I'd consult him in the forst instance
3. What's wrong with your names now ? Monica is one of the greatest saints - and her prayers are a model for anyone (and most especially for mothers) as she prayed quietly daily for the conversion of her son, Augustine. St Robert Bellarmine wasa great counter-Reformation Cardinal; and I believe there is a number of English saints called Robert too.
4. If you now have a particular devotion to a saint, I see no reason why you shouldn't ADD this to your list of holy patrons - and even ask people to call you by the new name. After all, if you became a nun, you'd most likely change your name to one of a new saint you particularly admire, or who is prominent in the order. I know that Benedictine (lay) Oblates take the name of a Benedictine saint when making their oblation.

Hope this helps !!

Answer 2

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One is not required to choose a Baptism name because, quite often, one is Baptized as an infant. It is Traditional for the candidate to choose a patron saint for their Confirmation.


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Whatever our Confirmation saint's name is, and however we get that Confirmation saint's name, the Truth is, we were meant to have that saint's name as our Confirmation name.


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There is nothing wrong with this. Rather than rebel against these names, look into them. Perhaps you will discover something of spiritually redeeming value, that you would otherwise overlook by dismissing these names.

Answer 3

you're able to do a little historic study and you would be suprised at what you stumbled on. From an archeological stand factor, the secure locations to baptize interior the Jordan River have been shallow and it could be particularly impossible to be thoroughly immersed under the water. in case you prefer to take Mark one million:9-10 "And it got here to bypass in those days that Jesus got here from Nazareth of Galilee and alter into baptized by using John interior the Jordan. And today, springing up out of the water, He observed the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." ok, definite it says springing up out of the water, yet why do human beings have faith this implies he replace into immersed and then shot as much as the floor? It does not say "coming to the floor" it says springing up out of the water, that would desire to intend out of the river because of the fact the drop to the river's financial institution is 139 ft. additionally, for the sprinkling area, whilst Peter (Acts sixteen:33) escaped from detention center, he baptised the preserve and his family and there surely wasn't any rivers around then. Acts 2:40-one says that there have been 3,000 human beings baptized in one day from throughout at one river. If immersion have been the sole perfect form of baptism then they might've in no way gotten 3,000 human beings baptised, that is not conceivable to be finished in one spot with the limited help they had for the period of that factor. Christianity back then replace into to be hidden, so how did they baptize 3,000 human beings in one day with out being caught in the event that they had to immerse each and every guy or woman? And in case you researched the greek meaning of the be conscious baftisma, you may see that however definite, it ability to dip, plunge and immerge, that is extensively utilized to intend fairly actually to bathe. "To be baptised" ability "to be washed". that's from the Greek-English Lexicon of Liddell and Scott. Take Luke 11:38 "The Pharisee replace into astonished to be certain that he did not first wash", the greek right here being baptisma, so as that they've been astonished he did not baptize himself formerly dinner. Mark 7:3-4 is an identical. examine the fairly some early Christian works (everywhere from 50 A,D to 3 hundred A.D) and you may locate that pouring, immersing and sprinkling have been all perfect varieties of baptisms as properly infant baptism. do not think of purely because of the fact you examine one meaning of the Greek be conscious Baptism which you recognize each and every of the meanings or the heritage of the early Church.

Answer 4

You can select your own patron saint at any time, though you would not take on that saint's name.