Skip to main contentAccessibility feedback
Get Your 2025 Catholic Answers Calendar Today...Limited Copies Available

Why do we have to pick saints’ names for our children’s baptism?

Question:

I’m not a Catholic, but my wife is. We’ve decided to have our two children baptized and brought up as Catholics. We’ve been getting instructions from the parish. We were advised to pick a saint’s name for each of the children. Why is that done?

Answer:

You will hear in the creed, when it is said at Mass, that we believe in the Communion of Saints. This means we are spiritually united with those who have died and are now in heaven. They can act as intercessors–they have the ability to assist us and pray for us.

By choosing a saint’s name you acknowledge this fact and ask a particular saint to assist you in bringing up the child; the saint becomes the child’s patron–and a role model for the child.

Did you like this content? Please help keep us ad-free
Enjoying this content?  Please support our mission!Donatewww.catholic.com/support-us