Abbey Magazine Fall/Winter 2020

ABBEY MAGAZINE
18
InFormation
MEET AQUINAS AND VINCENT – NORBERTINE
NOVICES NOW TAKE RELIGIOUS NAMES
By Michael Brennan, O. Praem
Director of Vocations at St. Norbert Abbey
In our Judeo-Christian
tradition, the taking of a new
name is symbolic of entering a
new stage of life. In Scripture,
Abram becomes Abraham; and
Sarai, Sarah. Jesus called Simon
to follow him and renamed him
Peter. When a person is baptized
or confirmed, he or she receives
a new name symbolizing a deeper
commitment to Christ.
After being elected the seventh
abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, Abbot
Dane Radecki, O. Praem.,
decided to bring back the
abbey’s religious naming tradition,
which had fallen out of
practice. Together with the formation
committee, the abbot
also considered some more
practical factors: sometimes a
young man entering religious life
does not have a Christian first
name; there can be confusion
when a community has multiple
members with the same name;
and the young men currently in
formation are enthusiastic about
reviving the tradition.
Now each candidate for the
novitiate submits a list of three
religious names along with
his reasons for choosing each.
Names of Norbertine saints or
blesseds are encouraged but
not required. The abbot then
selects one name from the list
and announces it at the candidate’s
vestition.