Remember that saint you chose?

I received the Sacrament of Confirmation when I was twelve years old. There are just some things that a twelve year old cannot appreciate... like the beauty of choosing a Saint to model your life after.

The Saint that I chose was Alexander. I chose him because I had always wished that my parents had named me Alexander instead of Chris. I had no devotion to St. Alexander and really hadn't done any research about him.

Looking back, there were so many that I wish I would have chosen; John Bosco, Pio, Maximillian Kolbe, John the Baptist, Aloysius Gonzaga, Dominic Savio. But alas... I did not choose these names, I chose Alexander.

The other day someone asked me what my Confirmation name was and I told them this same story. Afterward, I felt called to look up some information about St. Alexander (basically, I wanted to introduce myself after having used his name for over a decade). I was amazed at how much I was able to identify with St. Alexander. It was almost like God had known that I would find conviction of belief in Alexander's example but was just to young to appreciate it yet.

Here is some biographical information about St. Alexander for anyone that is interested:

St. Alexander

Feastday: March 18

St. Alexander, Bishop and Martyr. Alexander was a student with Origen at the famous Christian school of Alexandria in the late second century. He became bishop of Cappadocia and during the persecution of Severus was imprisoned for several years (204-211). Following his release from prison, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was proclaimed coadjutor bishop there in the year 212. Demetrius, the bishop of Alexandria, censured Alexander for participating in the ordination of Origen and for encouraging Origen to teach in churches while still a layman. Despite this, Alexander received Origen in exile. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Alexander developed a great theological library. During the persecution of Decius, he was seized and again imprisoned. After making a public confession of faith, he was condemned and thrown to the wild beasts, but they refused to attack him. Alexander was then taken to Caesarea where he died in chains in the year 251. The Church recognizes him as a martyr. St. Alexander, despite his great learning and important ecclesiastical positions, was known as an individual of great mildness, especially in his sermons. When put to the test during two persecutions, he remained steadfast in faith and was willing to suffer death for the Faith.

Today when we are criticized by friends and society for the moral tenets of our Faith, St. Alexander is a prime example of how we should stand fast in the face of ridicule and ostracism.