What happened to confirmation names?
The short answer
The custom is still used. Taking a saint's name at confirmation gave the confirmand a heavenly patron and helped him rely on the communion of saints. Some dioceses now encourage the older tradition of keeping one's baptismal name, to link the two sacraments of initiation.
Why the custom arose
Taking a saint's name at confirmation was a way to adopt that saint as a special heavenly patron or to honor a saint one was devoted to. It helped the confirmand grow in understanding of, and reliance on, the communion of saints.
A return to an older tradition
The practice continues, but some dioceses encourage returning to the older tradition of not choosing a new name. A Christian already has a Christian name given at baptism, and keeping it at confirmation links these two sacraments of initiation.
Continue exploring
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- Should Catholic parents force their children to be confirmed?Q&A