Joshua Bennett
Confirmation is an important Catholic sacrament in which an individual renews their commitment to their faith. In preparation for the sacrament, it is customary for the individual to choose a confirmation name, often the name of a saint, though this is not a legal or liturgical requirement. The tradition of adopting a saint's name at confirmation is intended to encourage the development or strengthening of a devotion to a particular saint. Confirmation records, which include the confirmation name, are kept at the diocese level archives. These records can be used to find out an individual's confirmation name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To adopt a saint as a special heavenly patron or to honour a saint to whom one has a special devotion |
| Who it applies to | Adults and children |
| Requirements | The only current legal requirement is that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given |
| Database | French Catholic parish records from the United States, covering states like Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, etc. |
| Record-keeping | Parishes keep records of baptism, confirmation, and vocational sacraments like marriage and holy orders |
| Choice | Choose a saint's name based on their patronage or your own goals and aspirations |
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What You'll Learn
Confirmation name records
Each parish is responsible for maintaining its own sacramental registry, which begins when the parish is founded. The records typically include essential details about the sacrament administered, such as the confirmand's name, the date and place of the confirmation, and the name of the minister or officiant. These records are kept by the parish where the sacrament was conferred and do not usually transfer if an individual moves to a different parish or diocese. However, in cases where parishes close, their records may be sent to a specified neighbouring church or stored in the diocesan archives.
The format of confirmation name records has evolved over time. Initially, priests documented sacraments in free-flowing paragraph form, but today, parishes use standardised charts with "fill in the blank" sections to ensure consistency. It's worth noting that confirmation name records may be written in Latin or the native language, or both, so familiarity with Latin genealogy terms can be helpful when consulting these records.
While confirmation name records are typically stored within the parish or diocesan archives, individuals may need to access them for specific purposes, such as marriage or ordination. In such cases, they would need to request their confirmation records from the parish where they received the sacrament. These records serve as official documentation of the sacrament and play a crucial role in an individual's religious journey within the Catholic Church.
To summarise, confirmation name records are an integral part of the Catholic Church's sacramental recordkeeping system, providing a historical account of the confirmation sacrament received by individuals within the Church. These records are carefully maintained and preserved by parishes, offering a valuable resource for both the Church and those seeking confirmation of their sacramental history.
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Choosing a saint's name
The act of choosing a saint's name is similar to choosing a confirmation sponsor. It is about recognizing the importance of companionship on the spiritual journey and the value of having a "saint-buddy". Saints are like friends and advocates, and their stories offer wisdom and insight, as well as the powerful gift of their intercession.
When choosing a saint's name, it is essential to know the saint's story and understand the lessons they impart. These saints, canonized, blessed, or servants of God, serve as heavenly patrons and guides. Their stories can provide inspiration and strength on one's own path to Heaven.
There is a long tradition of receiving a new name at a moment of important spiritual change, as seen in the Bible with examples like Jacob becoming Israel and Simon becoming Peter. This practice continues today, with religious figures taking new names to denote their new status and mission in the Church.
In conclusion, choosing a saint's name for confirmation is a meaningful and personal decision. It involves reflecting on the lives of saints, understanding their stories, and seeking inspiration and companionship on one's spiritual journey. By inviting a saint into one's life, individuals can strengthen their devotion and gain a powerful advocate on their path to Heaven.
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Confirmation name requirements
Confirmation names are not mandatory, and you can choose to be confirmed under your own name. However, if you wish to choose a confirmation name, it is important to follow the rules of your diocese, so be sure to ask your priest, teacher, or Director of Religious Education for clarification.
The purpose of choosing a confirmation name is to encourage devotion to a particular saint. The name you select can be associated with someone in your life, your parish, or your community whom you respect and admire. Many people choose the name of a saint they feel close to or with whom they share a commonality. For example, a musician might choose Saint Cecilia as their confirmation name, while a cook might choose Saint Lawrence, the patron of cooks.
When choosing a confirmation name, you can opt to use your baptismal name, especially if you were already named after a saint. This reestablishes a link between the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. However, you are not limited to your baptismal name and can choose a completely new saint's name.
In addition to choosing a confirmation name, you will also need to choose a confirmation sponsor. A sponsor is a person who encourages and assists you in embracing and actively practising the Catholic faith both before and after confirmation. They will also present you to the Bishop or his delegate during the confirmation ceremony. Your sponsor must be an active, practising Catholic who can serve as a role model for you. Ideally, you should choose one of your godparents as your sponsor, provided they meet the necessary guidelines. If this is not possible, you can select another committed Catholic as your sponsor, such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle, teacher, or family friend.
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Parish records
Sacramental certificates, including confirmation, are only available from the parish where the sacrament was celebrated and received. If you do not know the name of the parish, you can try contacting another parish where you received a sacrament, such as First Communion or Matrimony, as they may have your parish of baptism information. If the parish has closed, contact the Tribunal.
If you are unable to access the parish directly, some dioceses offer central archives that can assist in locating records. Some church records have also been deposited in government archives or libraries. You can also try searching online databases such as FamilySearch, Findmypast, or AmericanAncestors, which may have digitised versions of parish records. However, note that some records might have viewing restrictions.
To obtain your confirmation record, you will need to provide your full name, your parents' names, and an approximate date of confirmation to help locate the record. Some parishes may require a formal request form and may charge a small administrative fee for processing and mailing the record.
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Confirmation name history
Confirmation is a divine action that empowers a person "born through water and the Spirit" to "live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ". It is an individual's first public affirmation of the grace of God in baptism and the acknowledgment of the acceptance of that grace by faith. The Catholic Church teaches that, like baptism, confirmation marks the recipient permanently, making it impossible to receive the sacrament twice.
The custom of adopting a saint's name at confirmation was done to adopt the saint as a heavenly patron or to honour a saint to whom one had a special devotion. The purpose was to give the confirmand the opportunity to develop their understanding of and reliance on the communion of saints. This practice is still in use today, although some dioceses have encouraged returning to the older tradition of not choosing a new name at confirmation.
The only current legal requirement around names in the Church is c. 855 of the Code of Canon Law, which states that at the time of baptism, "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given." This is a relaxation of the 1917 Code, which required that only Christian names (names of saints or virtues) could be used.
In some regions, it is customary for the person being confirmed to choose the name of a saint, which they adopt as their confirmation name. The saint whose name is taken is henceforth considered a patron saint. This custom is more common in the United States and other western countries than in other parts of the world. While there are no legal or liturgical requirements governing this practice, dioceses may have their own local policies.
If one's first name (baptismal name) is a saint's name, the Church allows and encourages using it as their confirmation name as a way to recall their baptism. It is recommended to pray to the saint whose name will be used as the confirmation name and seek their protection and guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
You can try searching for your confirmation name in the records of the parish where you were baptised. You can also try searching in the records of the diocese.
If you don't know the parish or diocese, you can try searching for your confirmation name in the records of the town or state where you were baptised.
If you don't know the town or state where you were baptised, you can try contacting the diocese or parish where you currently live and asking them to help you locate your confirmation name.
If you still can't find your confirmation name, you may need to get in touch with the Catholic Church directly and ask for their help in locating your confirmation record.
Confirmation names are usually the names of saints and are chosen to guide one's spiritual journey. The custom of adopting a saint's name is to honour the saint and develop a devotion to them.
