do you think our names really represent who we really are? or perhaps who we might be destined to be?
God afterall, calls each of us by name (isa 42/43) and even the name of the lord has signnificant meaning for us. we love hearing our name.
something in us wants to be known, to be remembered, to be called by name. so, what's in a name?
as a child, i never liked my name. it was long and it wasn't very...cool. i've come to peace with it since. for a long time i understood my that my name, laurence, just meant "crowned" inferring victor, winner, from the root laurel which is a crown wreath. adding insult to injury, i've never really won much. so i never considered myself a winner but life has been good. i've enjoyed much. i know this, that after i gave my life to Christ, things were different, there's definitely an upward trajectory. today, i read this etymology of names and was like whoah...what a legacy. it makes me proud of the name.
LAURENCE
Usage: English
Pronounced: LOR-en ts
From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "of Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor.
Lauren is the feminine form of Laurence. according to some name books it means artistic and interestingly enough many of you know she is that as well as victorious. also, i grew up catholic and was given a chance to choose a name for myself at the sacrament of confirmation. i was part of a rich italian community and this was a big deal. so i did something really italian. i gave myself a real long brooklyn italian sounding name. but there's more, you would choose a name after someone or some saint you want to emulate.
the confirmation name --- if selected carefully, the confirmation name can serve a purpose in a person’s daily life. it can inspire the individual, albeit to a small degree, to becoming a better christian and thus, advances him in holiness - the sole purpose to human life. a properly chosen confirmation name can be one of many tools used to assist a christian in attaining this lofty goal by frequently reminding the individual of the virtues that his namesake saint exemplified.
i took two names, anthony-francis, after the two of the most beloved saints. here's a description of st. anthony of padua:
Anthony's wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan Priest. When the remains of Saint Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his church, Anthony was moved to leave his order, enter the Friars Minor, and go to Morocco to evangelize. Shipwrecked at Sicily, he joined some other brothers who were going to Portiuncula. Lived in a cave at San Paolo leaving only to attend Mass and sweep the nearby monastery. One day when a scheduled speaker failed to appear, the brothers pressed him into speaking. He impressed them so that he was thereafter constantly travelling, evangelizing, preaching, and teaching theology through Italy and France .
A gifted speaker, he attracted crowds everywhere he went, speaking in multiple tongues; legend says that even the fish loved to listen. Wonder worker. One of the most beloved of saints, his images and statues are found everywhere
from his writings and sermons:
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The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ.
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Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.
But the apostles "spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech." Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!
We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith so our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the triune God. --- from a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua
other name generation
my elvish name is Fëanáro Culnámo
posted by affectionate @ 7/08/2004 12:25:00 PM
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