Q. Why do consecrated religious women and men give up their name but priests do not?
A. In Scripture, we see that God takes names seriously; He knows and calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1).
Several people in the bible are given new names to signify their new calling and mission. Abram was named Abraham and Sarai changed to Sarah (Genesis 17) to indicate that God had called them to a new relationship with Him and to a special role in salvation history. Jesus called Simon to follow him and gave him a new name Peter (Cephas), which means rock, indicating his role as head of the Church (Matthew 16:13-20). Thus when a man is elected pope, he takes a new name signifying his new role and mission as successor of Peter.
Taking on a new name is also common in our Catholic sacraments. There is a tradition in some cultures of taking on a new Christian name at baptism, symbolizing the new identity entered into as followers of Christ. And at confirmation, it is customary to take on a saint’s name, who can also serve as a role model and intercessor.
Thus many religious orders have the custom of members receiving a new name as a sign of their new life as a religious who have professed vows consecrating themselves to God. The change of names serves as a reminder of the change that has happened in their lives. Some communities may allow a person to keep their baptismal name since the religious vocation is linked to a deeper fulfillment of one’s baptism.
Diocesan priests, sometimes called “secular clergy,” do not take public vows like poverty and do not necessarily live in community. They receive the sacrament of holy orders, but are not withdrawn from the world the same as consecrated religious (the very word consecration means to be separated or set apart). Still living in the world allows secular priests to better serve the people of God, and ownership of things like books, cars, computers and phones are often necessary for their ministry.
Note that there are also religious priests who follow the customs of their religious institute, and thus change their names when they profess vows, not when they are ordained. For example, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in the Bronx, N.Y. allow their members to choose to change their name, hence new names like Father Innocent and Father Angelus.
There are a variety of customs among religious congregations as to how a religious name is assigned. Some allow their members to suggest a preference but ultimately it is the superior of the community who decides. Some communities have a custom of including “Mary” as a part of their religious names, for example the School Sisters of Christ the King in our diocese, hence names like Sister Mary Chiara or Sister Peter Marie.
This question was answered by Father Gary Coulter, co-vicar for religious. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
