Yesterday we received a letter from our delightful daughter, Sr. Mary Kate. This one was special as it’s the last letter we will receive from her until after Easter.
One area of discernment and discussion among the postulants is the new religious name they will receive upon entering the novitiate this summer. The postulants have considerable input on this, though the final decision comes from the mother superior.
Anyway, Sr. Mary Kate said that she and some other postulants had fun one afternoon coming up with a list of names never to take–a process of elimination, of sorts. So, for your amusement, here are some of the names they came up with:
- Sr. Rosary Bede (after Venerable Bede, of course)
- Sr. Polycarp Esther (or Sr. Polyesther, for short)
- Sr. Chrysostom Chrysologus
- Sr. Esther Sylvester
- Sr. Dies Domini (although every Sunday would be her feast day!)
- Sr. Michael Jordan
- Sr. Immolata Victima Sanguine (one of the professed suggested this, with a straight face, to a peppy, personable postulant)
Can you come up with any other religious names to avoid?
Beautiful picture of Sister Cecilia Maria of the Passionist Nuns at
//www.passionistnuns.org/
I once suggested the name Isidore to a couple whose baby was due on his feast day. The family’s last name is Wall. The father immediately replied, “Isidore . . . a Wall?”
Probably Sr. Isabel or Sr. Isadore … you know, “Sister is a bell!” or “Sister is a door!” :S Also, Sr. Mary Christmas 😉
Sr. Hillary William, or Sr. HillBilly for short!