Naming Rights

Which Saint will prevail?

The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew by Caravaggio

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”

-Romans 15:13

When you think about it, we really don’t have much of a say when it comes to our names. Sure, we might prefer to be called Bill if our name is William, or Bella instead of Isabella, but that is basically the extent of the power we possess over our own monikers. We are given our first, middle, and last names with absolutely no choice in the matter. The same usually goes for nicknames. But for young Catholics, there is an event that serves as the exception to this reality—The Sacrament of Confirmation.

This week’s post is sandwiched between two Confirmation Masses I will be attending in support of my former St. Francis teammate’s son, Alex—for whom I am a sponsor—and my fiancée’s son, Noah—a young man I’ve have watched grow-up over the last nine years. Now, I have probably been to at least a dozen Confirmations, including my own, and I am always fascinated with the name each candidate selects as it often tells us a little bit about who they are as people.

Alex chose to take the name Andrew. This is a perfect fit for a kid who, just a few weeks ago when I stopped by to see his father after my usual Saturday morning run to Imler’s Outlet Store, was crushing a huge stack of pancakes as he watched his favorite fishing show on YouTube. Alex loves to fish, it brings him immense joy. When he is not on the basketball court or the track, he is usually somewhere with a rod in his hand. St. Andrew of course was a fisherman by trade—so it’s the perfect choice.

Ironically, Noah chose to honor the Apostle Andrew’s brother, Peter, with his Confirmation name—a suitable name for the youngest of my fiancée’s two sons. Noah has always been a rock for all those he knows and loves, particularly his mother, who has raised two boys on her own after her husband passed away when Noah was only an eight-month-old baby. He is strong and dependable for friends and family alike. One of his greatest traits is the kindness with which he treats his younger cousins, always making time to play with them whenever he is asked.

This past Tuesday at Alex’s Confirmation I decided to keep a tally of all the names chosen by each candidate from the five local parishes present at the Mass. Going in, I predicted Anthony would be the top selection for the boys and Catherine for the girls. A special shout-out to fellow sponsor and ten-time track and field All-American, Aurielle Brunner, who sat next to me and lent her much younger ears to help decipher each name Bishop Mark announced in his usual hushed tone.

As I tried to decipher each name being whispered by the bishop, an image of The Communion of Saints—gathered around a heavenly balcony and looking down on the proceedings—came to mind. I could see St. Ignatius of Loyola subtly fist-bumping St. Francis Xavier each time the name of a Jesuit Saint was chosen. Likewise, I could see St. James doing two quick eyebrow raises in the direction of St. John whenever his name was selected over that of his younger brother’s, and vice versa. Siblings teasing each other in a light-hearted manner will obviously still exist in heaven—at least that’s my hope.

Of course, the best part of Confirmation is the sight of so many young folks re-committing to their baptismal vows and re-affirming their love for Christ and His teachings. There is a feeling of hope that pervades the entire church as each young person steps up to be confirmed—and that’s refreshing considering the state of the world today. And while their spiritual journeys will all look different, each will receive the Seven Gifts of The Holy Spirit to help them along the way.

The Seven Gifts of The Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord) do not take hold in the same fashion that a superhero in a comic book receives his or her superpowers. No. Rather, they are more like seven seeds which are planted in the confirmandi, requiring each to continue their relationship with Christ in order for them to grow. If cultivated, these gifts will be present throughout their lives—not necessarily in an overt fashion—but when they look back on different moments—particularly on those times in which they struggled—it will be hard not to see how the third person of the Trinity will have impacted their lives.

Today, across all denominations, we are seeing an increase in those who practice Christianity. According to The Washington Times, in Catholic dioceses alone, there has been a 38% increase in the number of converts to the faith from just last year. Among the sacraments made at every Easter Vigil is Confirmation. Just as it is for teenagers, this important sacrament—which is comparable to a bird leaving its nest—aids people of all ages who have been educated in the faith, and signifies that it’s time for them to begin their own personal journey with Christ. It is truly a spiritual sending forth.

In case you were wondering, after the Mass last Tuesday, the top male saint’s name selected was Sebastian, while the top female saint’s name chosen was Cecilia. There were obviously some athletes and musicians among the 94 candidates who were confirmed. We shall see if this trend continues for Confirmation Mass #2 this coming Tuesday. Regardless, there is no doubt each of these young folks now has a holy man or woman who will advocate for them throughout the rest of their lives.

The painting up top is the work of the Italian Renaissance painter, Caravaggio. Known as The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, it depicts a beardless Christ leading the two brothers away from their occupation of fisherman in order to become “fishers of men.” It’s a painting that has taken on a whole new meaning for me thanks to the names selected by both Alex and Noah (who also likes to fish by the way). No doubt the spiritual armor that comes from the Sacrament of Confirmation will guide and protect them both as they journey through this life.

-Tommy O’Sionnach