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Written by FATHER CHARLES SINGLER
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Saturday, 10 October 2009 00:00 |
Within the sacramental practice of the Catholic Church, there are often added customs that arise from a particular region or simply from a given emphasis that might have the intention of highlighting a certain point or reality. The choice of a name at confirmation is one among those multiple aspects.
Interestingly enough, the Rite of Confirmation does not contain a specific directive about choosing a name that will be used at confirmation. It does, however, presume that those to be confirmed will be addressed by the name given them at their baptism. Such a presumption attempts to express the unity between baptism and confirmation as sacramental rites that initiate members into the church.
 Regardless of the fact that a candidate for confirmation uses their name chosen at baptism or chooses another name for this occasion, the intent of the name is the more important aspect. We find our identity in a name or title. Taking a new name at confirmation or using the name given to us at baptism is symbolic of a new stage in life.
There is a precedent for this from the earliest of times. Biblical history relays the fact that personal names of individuals were changed to signify something different in a person, usually in their relationship with God. For instance, Abram became Abraham, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul. Many religious orders of men and women over the centuries included in their rites of profession the designation of a new name given to a candidate upon their entrance into the religious life. Taking another name and being known from that point on by a new name not only gave a person a model of Christian virtue to emulate, but also signified a change and direction to their life.
In our present experience with the sacrament of confirmation, the designation of a confirmation name, whether it be the name given us at baptism or one chosen anew, should be one that is reflective of Christian faith and witness.
For some, it just might be a name taken from among the long listing of Christian saints. For others it may in some way be a name that finds its derivation from among those lists of women and men of Christian faith and from various Christian cultures. The choice of a confirmation name because of secular popularity or no reason at all, seems to miss the whole purpose and intent of including this custom.
We need witnesses in our Christian life. We need heroes and heroines in the ways of the faith. The practice of choosing a name for confirmation has as its primary aim the intent of helping us along our journey through life, knowing that we are not alone, but embracing the fact that we join a whole community of saints in finding our way to God and the reward of eternity.
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Father Charles E. Singler, D. Min., is director of worship for the Diocese of Toledo.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 14:08 |
