In the late hours of a September night seventeen years ago, my parents gave me my name. A unique, meaningful compilation of letters and sounds that they determined would encompass my identity. Throughout my adolescence, I grew accustomed to the name my parents gifted me. Being Catholic, I also had the opportunity to choose my own name through my faith: the name of my Confirmation saint.
During my sophomore year, the religious education leaders at my church tasked the members of my Confirmation class with selecting a saint to guide us on our journey to Catholic adulthood. They buried us under an avalanche of lists, articles, and stories detailing the pious lives of past generations of devout Christians. Overwhelmed by the abundance of options, I searched for a meaningful connection to one of the many candidates. As the deadline for my choice rapidly approached, I found the perfect guide. My Confirmation saint would be Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
After flipping through a seemingly endless stream of family names, I stumbled upon the name of my great-aunt. She passed away before I could know her. However, by choosing a saint who shared the same name as her as my guide, I discovered who she was during her life. She lived passionately, encouraging education, and living every day to the fullest. Not only did she inspire me, her memory empowered me to make a tangible difference in the world through my Catholic faith.
The name Teresa also connects me to my cousin, Meghan Teresa. She carries the name as a member of the next generation of independent women in my family and she has been my exemplar for my entire life. Being the youngest of fifteen grandchildren, I often lacked the “requirements” to spend time with my older cousins. I was too young. I was too short. I was only in elementary, middle, or high school. Despite my many shortcomings, Meghan included me. She was a compassionate, pure-hearted beacon of goodness for me at every family event. When I found Mother Teresa, a saint who shared her name, I knew she was the one.
Beyond sharing a familial name, Mother Teresa was a pious woman whose religious calling led her to create change in a global community. She brought the love and hope of God to people who otherwise would not have been shown that compassion. In feeding those who were starving, nursing those who were sick and could not afford treatment, and offering kindness to everyone around her, she lived among the poverty-stricken individuals of India and touched the hearts of countless people. As I attempted to define my own religious calling, I sought Mother Teresa’s guidance to bring God’s love into the world. To complete the daunting task of choosing my Confirmation saint, I looked inward at my personal values and the path God set forth for me. Months later, I can confirm that I made the right choice.
By Rachel Dunn ‘25, Staff Writer
25rdunn@montroseschool.org
