05/17/2026
Did you pick a saint's name to use for your confirmation? While this practice has become a popular tradition, it is not actually required to pick the name of a saint when confirmed. This pious custom, however, is rooted in the idea that one is confirmed (a word which means "strengthened") to be a witness of Christ to the world.
The saints, above all, were witnesses to God. A passage from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of the saints and says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us."
Thus we are commended to look to the example of God's witnesses -- the saints -- and it makes some sense that we should turn in particular to one of these witnesses to help us fill our own role as a witness.
Share your saint name in the comments below!
