Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Posted on 01/11/2011 2:08:11 PM PST by NYer
POPE Benedict XVI has urged parents to use proper Christian names when naming their children.
The Pope was believed to be speaking out against the trend of copying obscure celebrity baby names.
Several Italian celebrities have fallen foul of religious tradition, most notably Formula One boss Flavio Briatore, whose son is called Falco, meaning Falcon.
Christian names are an “indelible sign from the Holy Spirit” that help protect family life, the Pope said.
Theologian Gianni Gennari said the Pope was “simply asking for seriousness when it comes to baptism”.
It is scriptural ... yes, discerning what name to give a child should begin with God. Consider this. God Himself gave Adam his name; Adam named Eve and all of the living things; the angel revealed the name of Jesus to both Mary and Joseph. And each of these names had a meaning and a purpose. As the angel told Saint Joseph, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."
So names are not something to take lightly, and the Church acknowledges this. As Paragraph 2165 of the current Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
In Baptism, the Christian receives his name in the Church. Parents, godparents, and the pastor are to see that he be given a Christian name. The patron saint provides a model of charity and the assurance of his prayer.
That final sentence is very important. For Catholics, naming our children after saints isn't an arbitrary rule but an acknowledgment that we truly believe in the communion of saints. Thus, when we choose a Christian name for our child, we should have a particular saint in mind. Is Catherine named after Saint Catherine of Siena or Saint Catherine of Alexandria? Is Francis named after Saint Francis of Assisi or St. Francis Xavier?
As Christians, we never walk through this life alone, but in communion with all the saints. And that reality should be reflected in the names we give to our children.
Well, no angels whispered my son’s name in my ear so I chose it myself. Paragraph 2165 is not from the Bible, it is from a work written by man. I’m not as well read in the Bible as some, but I don’t remember a St. Catherine either. Seriously, there are many more issues that the pope could worry about right now.
That's quite popular in cultures of Spanish origin.
By all means: write to him and tell him about them. I'm sure he'll give your advice at least as much careful consideration as you have given his ...
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Apple is pretty lame.
Radish would be better.
Every time I find out I’m pregnant again I start browsing through the Saint list websites. We give our boys three names so I can use all the inspiration I can get. :0)
Anne
Marie
Louise (Louis for a girl(
John David
Patrick
Seriously, there are many more issues that the pope could worry about right now.This issue of naming is only important IF you know that it is important, and the pope knows it is. Like I mentioned earlier on this thread, I felt it was no big deal to name our second son after my brother (and not a saint) and now not only do I wish I could take it back, but I'm thinking of changing my own name as well. It could be considered a derivative of Joan, but I wasn't in any way named for St. Joan of Arc. In fact, my mother pretty much hated the Catholic faith. So who knows; I might be Magdalene Margaret O'Toole or something in that vein ... from 60 on ... :) I'm actually serious about this. I don't feel comfy in my saintless name.
“God Himself gave Adam his name”
And therein lies the rub. We are not God.
you can start with FULTON Sheen....why on earth did he legally change his birth name to his mother’s maiden name?
Would Old Testament names like Noah or Moses count as saintly names?
Absolutely!
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