Confirmation Names
Everyone in the play went through Confirmation, a Catholic Sacrament which completes initiation into the Catholic Church. Everyone who goes through Confirmation takes on the name of a saint to guide them through the rest of their spiritual journey. A few are listed below- feel free to use them to build your character.
IN THE PLAY
St. Martin of Tours http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=81
St. Martin is the Patron Saint of of the poor, soldiers, conscientious objectors, tailors, and winemakers. He started off as a soldier, found Jesus, and quit the army. Later on, he was a Bishop in, but was very unwilling- he even tried to hide so that he wouldn't have to be a bishop. He was born in 316 or 3316 and died in 397. His feast day is November 11.
OF POETS/WRITERS
St. Columba http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=419
St. Columba is the Patron Saint of Poets and Bookbinders. He lived from 521-597 in Ireland and Scotland. He transcribed over 300 books and two of these, The Book of Durrow and a psalter called The Cathach, still exist. He wrote other compositions in both Latin and Irish. His feast day is June 9.
Saint Paul http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=91
St. Paul was originally known as Saul, and he was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He even presided over the persecutions of the early Christians and was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. However, Saul experienced a powerful vision that caused him to convert to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He was duly baptized and took the name Paul.
St. Paul is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, journalists, authors, public workers, rope and saddle makers, and tent makers. His feast day is on June 29.
OF FRANCE
Saint Rémigius http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=376
Saint Rémi (or Rémy) was Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, (c. 437 – January 13, 533 AD). This baptism, leading to the conversion of the entire Frankish people to Catholic Christianity, led to the establishment of the Church throughout France.
OF WARRIORS/SOLDIERS (and haberdashery!)
St Michael the Archangel http://catholicsaints.info/michael-the-archangel/
The Archangel St. Michael is the patron saint of the warrior, who Catholics have designated as the protector of those who strive to preserve security, safety and peace.
As the field commander in the Army of God, Michael, the Archangel is regarded as a powerful, spiritual general and soldier for Christ. St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition.
Saint Louis IX http://catholicsaints.info/saint-louis-ix/
Saint Louis was the King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270, and is the only canonized King of France. Son of King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. King of France and Count of Artois at age eleven; his mother ruled as regent until he reached 22, and then he reigned for 44 years. Louis made numerous judicial and legislative reforms, promoted Christianity in France, established religious foundations, aided mendicant orders, propagated synodal decrees of the Church, built leper hospitals, and collected relics. He married Marguerite of Provence at age 19, and was the father of eleven children. Supported Pope Innocent IV in war against Emperor Frederick II of Germany. Led two Crusades and died on one.
Born: 25 April 1214 at Poissy, France Died: 25 August 1270
Canonized: 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII
(SOLDIERS, HORSEMEN, CHIVALRY +)
St George http://catholicsaints.info/saint-george/
4th Century AD
St George was a third century Roman soldier and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. He is regarded as the most prominent military saint and is one of the most revered in the Western World. George was raised as a Christian and decided at a young age that he wanted to be a soldier. He joined Diocletian’s army and, before long, was one of the finest soldiers around. Some time later Diocletian decided that all soldiers who were Christians had to renounce their faith and become pagan. George refused. Diocletian tried to convince him to convert because he didn’t want to lose his best soldier but George refused. Diocletian ordered George's execution. In preparation for his death, George gave his money to the poor and was sent for several torture sessions. He was lacerated on a wheel of swords and required resuscitation three times, but still George did not turn from God.
OF ANIMALS
St. Francis of Assisi http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=50Birth: 1181
Death: 1226
Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181. Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation. Francis felt that nature, all God's creations, were part of his brotherhood. The sparrow was as much his brother as the Pope. St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals & environment could be viewed as the original Earth Day advocate. Francis was a man of action. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, he preached sermons to animals, and praised all creatures as brothers and sisters under God.
JUST A BADASS WOMAN
St. Quiteria http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=767
2nd Century AD
Many churches in southern France and northern Spain have been dedicated under the name of the virgin martyr St. Quiteria, who still enjoys a wide following, especially at Aire in Gascony, where her reputed relics were preserved until they were scattered by the huguenots.
Portuguese religious traditions state that Saint Quiteria was the leader of the "Nonuplet Sisters." These were born in Minho to an important Roman military official. Their mother, disgusted at the fact that she had given birth to nine daughters all at once as if she were a common peasant (or an animal), ordered a maid to take them to a river to drown them.
Disobeying her mistress, however, the maid gave the girls over to some local women who brought them up. As adult women, they opposed the worship of Roman gods and were brought before their father, who recognized them as his daughters. Their father wanted them to marry Roman officers or other suitors. The nonuplets refused and were imprisoned in a tower. However, they escaped, “ganged up,” and liberated all of their other prisoners. They subsequently waged a guerrilla war in the mountains against the Roman Empire.
Quiteria was caught and beheaded.
IN THE PLAY
St. Martin of Tours http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=81
St. Martin is the Patron Saint of of the poor, soldiers, conscientious objectors, tailors, and winemakers. He started off as a soldier, found Jesus, and quit the army. Later on, he was a Bishop in, but was very unwilling- he even tried to hide so that he wouldn't have to be a bishop. He was born in 316 or 3316 and died in 397. His feast day is November 11.
OF POETS/WRITERS
St. Columba http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=419
St. Columba is the Patron Saint of Poets and Bookbinders. He lived from 521-597 in Ireland and Scotland. He transcribed over 300 books and two of these, The Book of Durrow and a psalter called The Cathach, still exist. He wrote other compositions in both Latin and Irish. His feast day is June 9.
Saint Paul http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=91
St. Paul was originally known as Saul, and he was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He even presided over the persecutions of the early Christians and was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. However, Saul experienced a powerful vision that caused him to convert to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He was duly baptized and took the name Paul.
St. Paul is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, journalists, authors, public workers, rope and saddle makers, and tent makers. His feast day is on June 29.
OF FRANCE
Saint Rémigius http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=376
Saint Rémi (or Rémy) was Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, (c. 437 – January 13, 533 AD). This baptism, leading to the conversion of the entire Frankish people to Catholic Christianity, led to the establishment of the Church throughout France.
OF WARRIORS/SOLDIERS (and haberdashery!)
St Michael the Archangel http://catholicsaints.info/michael-the-archangel/
The Archangel St. Michael is the patron saint of the warrior, who Catholics have designated as the protector of those who strive to preserve security, safety and peace.
As the field commander in the Army of God, Michael, the Archangel is regarded as a powerful, spiritual general and soldier for Christ. St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition.
- The first is to combat Satan.
- The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.
- The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself.
- And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.
Saint Louis IX http://catholicsaints.info/saint-louis-ix/
Saint Louis was the King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270, and is the only canonized King of France. Son of King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. King of France and Count of Artois at age eleven; his mother ruled as regent until he reached 22, and then he reigned for 44 years. Louis made numerous judicial and legislative reforms, promoted Christianity in France, established religious foundations, aided mendicant orders, propagated synodal decrees of the Church, built leper hospitals, and collected relics. He married Marguerite of Provence at age 19, and was the father of eleven children. Supported Pope Innocent IV in war against Emperor Frederick II of Germany. Led two Crusades and died on one.
Born: 25 April 1214 at Poissy, France Died: 25 August 1270
Canonized: 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII
(SOLDIERS, HORSEMEN, CHIVALRY +)
St George http://catholicsaints.info/saint-george/
4th Century AD
St George was a third century Roman soldier and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. He is regarded as the most prominent military saint and is one of the most revered in the Western World. George was raised as a Christian and decided at a young age that he wanted to be a soldier. He joined Diocletian’s army and, before long, was one of the finest soldiers around. Some time later Diocletian decided that all soldiers who were Christians had to renounce their faith and become pagan. George refused. Diocletian tried to convince him to convert because he didn’t want to lose his best soldier but George refused. Diocletian ordered George's execution. In preparation for his death, George gave his money to the poor and was sent for several torture sessions. He was lacerated on a wheel of swords and required resuscitation three times, but still George did not turn from God.
OF ANIMALS
St. Francis of Assisi http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=50Birth: 1181
Death: 1226
Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181. Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation. Francis felt that nature, all God's creations, were part of his brotherhood. The sparrow was as much his brother as the Pope. St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals & environment could be viewed as the original Earth Day advocate. Francis was a man of action. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, he preached sermons to animals, and praised all creatures as brothers and sisters under God.
JUST A BADASS WOMAN
St. Quiteria http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=767
2nd Century AD
Many churches in southern France and northern Spain have been dedicated under the name of the virgin martyr St. Quiteria, who still enjoys a wide following, especially at Aire in Gascony, where her reputed relics were preserved until they were scattered by the huguenots.
Portuguese religious traditions state that Saint Quiteria was the leader of the "Nonuplet Sisters." These were born in Minho to an important Roman military official. Their mother, disgusted at the fact that she had given birth to nine daughters all at once as if she were a common peasant (or an animal), ordered a maid to take them to a river to drown them.
Disobeying her mistress, however, the maid gave the girls over to some local women who brought them up. As adult women, they opposed the worship of Roman gods and were brought before their father, who recognized them as his daughters. Their father wanted them to marry Roman officers or other suitors. The nonuplets refused and were imprisoned in a tower. However, they escaped, “ganged up,” and liberated all of their other prisoners. They subsequently waged a guerrilla war in the mountains against the Roman Empire.
Quiteria was caught and beheaded.