catholic baptism name rules

What are my choices? They are valuable, also, as containing a summary of the main points to be considered in the treatment of this important matter. In infant Baptism, the immediate family gathers around the baptismal font (see the figure), and the child is held over the basin while the priest or deacon pours water three times over the child’s head and says his first and middle name, and then, “I baptize you in the name … The child would only rarely see them, possibly only on holidays. The 1983 Code of Canon Law changed the rules. Is Nancy a Catholic name and a saint's name? The parents would be required to choose another name instead. At the same time, though, Steve and his wife are not alone in their understanding that baptismal names traditionally had to be the names of saints. Baptismal names are used only by Catholics, and it is often the same name that parents give their child when they are born. Can I name myself after my ancestor Jane and the Biblical character Esther? The name is often the name of a saint, but it does not have to be. If the person receiving emergency Baptism is of the age of reason (at least seven years old or so), then they must have the necessary faith to receive Baptism: So what is an example of a name that could not be given to a Catholic child at baptism, because it is foreign to Christian sentiment? Based on this canon, the priest who was to baptize the child would have not only the right, but the obligation to object to the name—as would the child’s godparents as well. Baptism is defined positively in the one and negatively in the other. What names have the same meaning as Jehan? This accords with a venerable Catholic custom always insisted upon by the Church, and now reaffirmed as a law in the new Code of Canon Law. 855) "In Baptism, the Lord’s name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church. It is prescribed by the Church's newest ritual, as when the celebrant asks the parents or sponsors at infant baptism, "What name do you wish to give the infant?" Get the proven playbook to heal a broken heart. Or do they regard the whole baptismal ceremony as an empty tradition or even a joke? Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. By using our site, you agree to our. The white garment symbolizes the white garments Jesus wore when he was placed in the tomb after his death on Good Friday. In the past Cathy has published articles both in scholarly journals and on various popular Catholic websites, including Real Presence Communications and Catholic Exchange. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Kate is a writer, wife to a really good man, and mama to their seven boys ages 1 to 15. Note that even under the old law, a child could receive a first name that was not the name of a saint—but he always had to have a middle name that was. She founded this website to provide clear answers to canonical questions asked by ordinary Catholics, without employing all the mysterious legalese that canon lawyers know and love. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Christian denominations other than Roman Catholic also use baptism as a ritual where people can outwardly express their acceptance of Jesus Christ into their lives and hearts. This is no accident—since baptism is “the gateway to the other sacraments” (c. 849), it follows logically that it should be governed by the fewest restrictions. When confirmation was split off from baptism as a separate sacrament, the tradition of adding a saint name went with it. This article has been viewed 86,243 times. If their first name wasn’t a saint’s name, at least their middle name had to be. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Let’s say that for generations, the eldest son in his family had been given this name. Read books about saints. The only situation in which a Catholic may be a godparent (sponsor) in "another ecclesial Community" is in an Eastern Orthodox Church "if he/she is so invited" (Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms of Ecumenism, 98, a, b). The old law is, therefore, no longer in use—but for those of us Catholics who were baptized between 1917 and 1983, it was the prevailing law that had to be followed at the time of our baptism. Here just some of the names that begin with F that you can choose from: Felix, Fabius, Festus, Faith, Fara, Flora, Faustina, Fedele, Francis, Fergus, Fina, Fiorentina, Finnian, Finlay, Filippo, Fernandez, Fernando, Fransis, Francus, Francisca, Francesca, Francesco, Frances, Felicity, Foster, Felicia, Florentine, Florentina, Florence. Note that the canon does not specifically require that the child’s name be a saint’s name. Kate Towne. There are also books of baby names that have specific sections on religious names. If he and his Catholic wife had a son, the father might naturally want to have him baptized “Stanton” as well. She shares her thoughts on Catholic baby naming at Sancta Nomina, and her first book, Catholic Baby Names for Girls and Boys: Over 250 Ways to Honor Our Lady (Marian Press, 2018) can be found at ShopMercy.org and Amazon. Check out the reference section of the library, or browse your local bookstore. When I had the Sacrament of Confirmation I had it at a different Church than my friends from school. The name is often the name of a saint, but it does not have to be. The previous law would lead the Catholic priest to balk at baptizing the baby as Stanton, since it is not a saint’s name. There must be at least one person who is a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the Eucharist, who is at least sixteen years old. 6 Parents, godparents, and pastors are to ensure that the name given to the child to be baptized is not foreign to Christian sentiment. Why is Google hiding the posts on this website in its search results? Cathy Caridi, J.C.L., is an American canon lawyer who practices law and teaches in Rome. All rights reserved. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Perhaps if we all raise our children as committed Catholics, names like “Ashley” and “Jennifer,” “Curtis” and “Todd” may some day in the future indeed be the names of saints. The Sanctifying Role of the Church (Code of Canon Law, c. 842, 849; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213, 1263, 1265, 1267-1270) All that is required for a baptism to be valid (and hence to be recognized by the Catholic Church as a true baptism) is the pouring of water over the head of the person to be baptized (or the immersion of the person in water); and the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Note that the first part of the canon didn’t actually say that the name had to be a saint’s name; it merely said that the name had to be Christian. In English-speaking cultures, a person's Christian name is commonly their first name and is typically the name by which the person is primarily known. If the information on this website has helped you, please consider making a contribution so that it can continue to help others. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. As we saw in “Can the Pastor Refuse to Baptize Our Child?” if a priest is to baptize a child, there must be a well founded hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith (c. 868.1 n.1). 1. According to the revised Catholic Church Canon Law, it is no longer mandatory that the child receive the name of a saint. I was named Jeff at birth, and I would like to choose a baptismal name that begins with "J." Naming a child after a Saint is not new in the Catholic Tradition. (A baptised person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism.) (Canon Law no. Lesetta, Eliza, Lisa, Lisabetta, Lisabet, Alisa, Elspie. When (and How Much) Can a Bishop Tax a Parish? Canon 855 directly addresses Steve’s question. % of people told us that this article helped them. A: Back in “Inclusive Language and Baptismal Validity,” we saw that baptism is the easiest sacrament to administer validly. It added that if this could not be done, the name of “some saint” was to be added to the name chosen by the parents, and in the baptismal record both names were to be recorded. Re-post: Confession and General Absolution. They do not usually use baptismal names, however. Do not choose a name that is contrary to Christian values and sentiment. This is why in practice, children were occasionally given baptismal names like “Christian,” “Grace,” and “Faith.” Strictly speaking, these might not be saint’s names—but as they obviously described concepts directly related to the Catholic faith, they were traditionally considered equally acceptable choices. Click here for more information. Lizzie, Bessie, Buffy. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Please check the Archives first–it’s likely your question was already addressed. It all depends on the Church you are receiving RCIA in. [Canon # 874.2] - … Is there conceivably an innocent and legitimate reason for giving such a name to a Catholic child? When Catholic parents choose a name for their newborn child, they understand that they are also choosing a baptismal name. I had to choose a name, but my friends didn't have to. Anyone can do this; a Jew, pagan, Protestant, Catholic only when it is done in its proper form with the intent to do what the Church does when She baptizes. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10673c.htm, http://christeningessentials.com/what_are_godparents_, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Names such as Lucifer or others affiliated with the devil or Satan are not recommended. Unsigned/anonymous questions are not read, much less answered (why is it necessary even to mention this?). This is not merely a question of personal taste. It is most common to choose a saint that you were named after, but you can also choose a saint that you feel a special connection with. Baptism leaves an indelible (permanent) mark on the soul and there is no way nor any reason that one could be re-baptized. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized,” (paragraph 1246). 1) at least 16 years old 2) practicing Catholic with good standing in the church 3) not of the same gender as the second godparent 4) have received the sacraments of baptism, eucharist and confirmation. If a second godparent is … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Choose-a-Baptismal-Name-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Choose-a-Baptismal-Name-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Choose-a-Baptismal-Name-Step-1.jpg\/aid1708575-v4-728px-Choose-a-Baptismal-Name-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"