J O'Regan <[email protected]> When the Saints Go Marching In! Mr. V and Mr. Koenen <[email protected]> Thu, Nov 21, 2019 at 7:42 PM Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] Here you go! SAINTS As promised, we've put together a few lists of prospective Confirmation Saint Names under various categories. Just click on the name of the Saint you wish to learn about. You should be linked to a short video, audio, and/or write-up on that Saint's life. Please know that by no means is this a complete list. If it was, it would be more overwhelming than helpful. We've also provided some additional links as well as a few words of wisdom on choosing a Saint. We pray that if you haven't already made a selection, these resources will help lead you to a wise choice, for truly, the Saints are our greatest friends and advocates. SAINTS WHO ARE LOVED BY YOUR CATECHISTS THESE SAINTS (AMONG OTHERS) WERE HAND-PICKED AS THEIR FAVORITES BY YOUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS. ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA - NATIVE AMERICAN - PATRON SAINT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM - ALSO A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH ST. LAWRENCE - PATRON SAINT OF THE POOR ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA - PATRON SAINT OF LOST THINGS ST. THOMAS THE DOUBTER - THE APOSTLE ST. JOHN BOSCO - PATRON SAINT OF STUDENTS ST. PETER CLAVER - PATRON SAINT OF SLAVES ST. RAPHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL ST. DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI ST. SIMEON STYLITES ST. VINCENT DE PAUL - PATRON SAINT OF VOLUNTEERS ST. JOHN VIANNEY - PATRON SAINT OF PARISH PRIESTS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS - PATRON SAINT OF STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITIES ST. JAMES THE GREATER - THE APOSTLE ST. ELIZABETH - THE BLESSED MOTHER'S COUSIN AND MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ST. MARK - THE GOSPEL WRITER ST. BARBARA - PATRON SAINT OF MATHEMATICIANS ST. CELESTINE ST. PHILLIP NERI - PATRON SAINT OF HUMOR ST. RITA ST. CHARLES BORROMEO ST. ROSE OF LIMA ST. JUAN DIEGO SAINTS WITH A REALLY COOL CONVERSION STORY GOD WORKS WONDERS IN OUR LIVES IN SMALL AND HIDDEN WAYS, BUT SOMETIMES HIS WONDERS ARE LOUD. THESE SAINTS EXPERIENCED A PROFOUND CONVERSION THAT REALLY SHAPED THEIR LIVES IN TREMENDOUS WAYS. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI ST. MARY MAGDALENE ST. PAUL - THE 13TH APOSTLE - PATRON SAINT OF OUR CHURCH ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO - ALSO A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH ST. GENESIUS ST. VLADIMIR OF KIEV ST. MOSES THE BLACK ST. LONGINUS BL. IMELDA LAMBERTINI SAINTS WHO REACHED SANCTITY BEFORE THE AGE OF 25 MOST OF THESE SAINTS WERE YOUNGER THAN YOU WHEN THEY REACHED SAINTHOOD. LET'S GET GOING! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? BL.JOSÉ SÁNCHEZ DEL RIO ST. AGNES ST. DOMINIC SAVIO ST. TARCISIUS ST. MARIA GORETTI *BL. CHIARA LUCE BADANO ST. AQUILINA ST. LUCY *BL. PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI ST. CHARLES LWANGA ST. PERPETUA ST. FRANCISCO MARTO *ST. JACINTA MARTO ST. PHILOMENA ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA SUPER HEROES WE'RE PRETTY SURE THESE SAINTS WERE ACTUALLY SUPERHEROES. THEIR “SUPERPOWERS” WEREN’T DESIGNED BY FANCY MACHINERY OR ALIEN INFLUENCE, THEY WERE SIMPLY RECEPTIVE TO THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD. THESE SAINT'S STORIES ARE INCREDIBLY HEROIC. ST. MARY, OUR BLESSED MOTHER ST. PETER BL. MIGUEL PRO *ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE ST. JOSEPH CUPERTINO ST. JOAN OF ARC *ST. PADRE PIO ST. LOUIS IX ST. GEORGE ST. SIMEON STYLITES ST. QUITERIA ST. DENIS ST. MARGARET OF ANTIOCH ST. GEMMA GALGANI ST. PATRICK MODERN DAY SAINTS MEN AND WOMEN WHO KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO LIVE IN THE 20TH CENTURY AND STILL LIVE A HOLY LIFE. THAT’S NOT ONLY IMPRESSIVE, BUT BEAUTIFUL. WE'VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN FROM THESE MEN AND WOMEN. MANY OF THESE SAINTS ARE FAVORED AND ADORED BY YOUR CATECHISTS. ST. JOHN PAUL II BL. CHIARA LUCE BADANO ST. JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA *ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS ST. KATHARINE DREXEL ST. MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA ST. JOHN XXIII ST. PAULINE OF THE SUFFERING HEART OF JESUS ST. LUIGI ORIONE *ST. ANDRE BESSETTE ST. JAIME HILARIO BARBAL ST. RICCARDO PAMPURI ST. PIUS X ST. MARY MACKILLOPP ST. GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA SAINTS WHO ARE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH NO, WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL DOCTORS, BUT RATHER PHYSICIANS OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH. MEN AND WOMEN WHO, THROUGH THEIR OWN INTENSE STUDY AND REFLECTION, HAVE GIVEN THE CHURCH GREAT WISDOM AND INSIGHT. ST. AMBROSE ST. JEROME ST. GREGORY THE GREAT ST. ATHANASIUS ST. BASIL THE GREAT ST. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS ST. BONAVENTURE ST. ANSELM OF CANTERBURY ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS ST. LEO I, THE GREAT ST. PETER DAMIAN ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX ST. HILARY OF POITIERS ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE ST. EPHREM THE SYRIAN ST. PETER CANISIUS ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE ST. ALBERT THE GREAT ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA *ST. THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX SAINTS TO INVOKE IF YOU NEED PRAYERS FOR A SPECIFIC INTENTION... A SAINT IS WAY MORE THAN THEIR PATRONAGE, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED A SAINT IN OUR LIVES WHO CAN PRAY FOR US IN A PARTICULAR WAY. ST. SEBASTIAN - FOR ATHLETES ST. CECILIA - FOR MUSICIANS ST. CATHERINE OF BOLOGNA - FOR ARTISTS ST. BENEDICT - FOR STUDENTS ST. JUSTIN MARTYR - FOR SPEAKERS AND PHILOSOPHERS ST. CHRISTOPHER - FOR TRAVELERS ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST - FOR FRIENDSHIPS ST. ANNE, MOTHER OF MARY - FOR CHRISTIAN MOTHERS ST. THOMAS MORE - FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER - FOR FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ST. NICHOLAS - FOR BAKERS ST. ANDREW - FOR FISHERMEN ST. HUBERT - FOR HUNTERS ST. LUKE - FOR PHYSICIANS ST. JOHN BERCHMANS - FOR ALTAR SERVERS ST. ROCH - FOR DOGS AND FOR THOSE TOO SICK TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES ST. JOSEPH - FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND FOR FATHERS ST. DYMPHNA - FOR THOSE SUFFERING NERVOUS AND MENTAL AFFLICTIONS ST. MONICA - FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE ST. POLYCARP - FOR EARACHES ST. TERESA OF ÁVILA (ALSO A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH) - FOR HEADACHES ST. APOLLONIA - FOR TOOTHACHES ST. CLARE OF ASSISI - FOR EYES ST. AGATHA OF SICILY - FOR PROTECTION FROM FIRE ST. JUDE THADDEUS - FOR “HOPELESS CAUSES” SOME IMPORTANT READING CONFIRMATION NAME CHOOSING A NEW NAME FOR CONFIRMATION IS AN ANCIENT AND HONORABLE TRADITION. IT CAN BE SYMBOLIC OF A NEW STAGE IN LIFE. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, JESUS GAVE SIMON THE NEW NAME OF “ PETER” AND SAUL OF TARSUS WAS CALLED PAUL (THE PATRON SAINT OF OUR PARISH). EACH POPE HAS CHOSEN A NEW NAME WHEN ELECTED. WHEN CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO FROM ARGENTINIA WAS ELECTED, HE CHOSE THE NAME FRANCIS AFTER ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI. ST. FRANCIS' DEVOTION TO GOD WAS EXPRESSED THROUGH HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF GOD'S CREATION. HE CARED FOR THE POOR AND SICK. HE EVEN PREACHED TO ANIMALS AND PRAISED ALL CREATURES AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS UNDER GOD. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY CARDINAL BERGOGLIO CHOSE THE NAME. HE HAS MANY OF ST. FRANCIS' ENDEARING QUALITIES. IN TERMS OF YOUR CONFIRMATION NAME, IT WOULD BE BEST TO CHOOSE THE NAME OF AN ADMIRED SAINT, ONE WHICH YOU WOULD HOPE TO EMULATE. HOWEVER, IT’S PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO USE ONE'S GIVEN NAME AS LONG AS IT IS A CHRISTIAN NAME. PLEASE KNOW THAT THE CHURCH DOESN'T PUBLISH A LIST OF SAINTS. IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 10,000, ESPECIALLY WHEN COUNTING THE MARTYRS OF THE EARLY CHURCH ON EARTH. MOST OF THE PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE HAVE NARROWED DOWN THEIR ENUMERATION TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST WELL KNOWN OR MOST REVERED. SUGGESTIONS: 1) EACH SAINT IS CUSTOMARILY ASSOCIATED WITH A "FEAST DAY". YOU COULD LOOK UP YOUR BIRTHDAY OR SOME OTHER SPECIAL DAY IN YOUR LIFE AND LEARN ABOUT THE SAINT(S) WHO ARE AFFILIATED WITH THAT DAY. 2) YOU COULD FIND A CAUSE, AN INTENDED CAREER PATH, A HOBBY OR PATRONAGE WHICH RESONATES WITH YOU, EG. THE PATRON SAINT OF MUSIC IS SAINT CECILIA; THE PATRON SAINT OF DANCERS IS SAINT VITUS; THE PATRON SAINT OF ATHLETES IS ST. SEBASTIAN; AND, THE PATRON SAINT OF THOSE WHO SUFFER DISCRIMINATION IS ST. MARTIN DE PORRES. 3) YOU COULD CHOOSE YOUR GIVEN FIRST NAME OR MIDDLE NAME (PROVIDED IT'S CHRISTIAN NAME). OFTEN, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHRISTIAN SAINT'S NAME, THERE WILL BE A SIMILAR NAME WHICH YOU MIGHT SELECT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE NAME CAMERON WOULD HAVE A LINK TO SAINT CAMILLUS.... OR THE NAME JACKSON WOULD BE LINKED TO SAINT JACOB OR SAINT JAMES. JUST ASK AND WE CAN HELP YOU. 4) YOU COULD CHOOSE A RELATIVE’S NAME OR THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO IS CLOSE TO YOU. OR, YOU MIGHT SELECT THE NAME OF A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT SO AS TO HONOR THEM FOR THEIR EXAMPLE OF LOVE AND HOLINESS. REMEMBER HOWEVER, THAT THE NAME YOU SELECT MUST BE A CHRISTIAN NAME AND YOU SHOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE SAINT WHO BEARS THE SAME NAME. 5) FINALLY, YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO SELECT A SAINT WHO IS THE PATRON OF THE COUNTRY OR CITY WHERE YOUR ANCESTORS ARE FROM.... THERE'S ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND, ST. BONIFACE FROM GERMANY AND ST. PLECHELM FROM THE NETHERLANDS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHEN YOU’VE COMPLETED YOUR RESEARCH, TRY TO NARROW THE CHOICES DOWN TO TWO OR THREE. PRAY AND REFLECT ON YOUR CHOICES… TALK TO YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SPONSOR, OR YOUR TEACHER, OR ANYONE ELSE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. ASK THEIR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY… PRAY SOME MORE…. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN HELP GUIDE YOU IN MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE…. SO, WE CHOOSE A CONFIRMATION SAINT (LIKE WE CHOOSE A CONFIRMATION SPONSOR) BECAUSE WE REALIZE HOW UNFORTUNATE IT WOULD BE TO TRAVEL ALONE IN THIS LIFE.