When was the last time you thought about your confirmation saint? Admittedly, I hadn’t thought about mine — St. Catherine of Bologna — in years. That changed when I saw her name pop up online, and it struck me: I had no idea who she was. Who was this woman, and why did I pick her specifically?

When Catholics pick saints for our confirmation, we also pick our spiritual role models. Unfortunately, many Catholics preparing for confirmation are just eighth graders picking at random to get it over with. 

Do you like pets? Pick St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals! Do you have Irish heritage? Pick St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland! It’s a spiritual rite of passage filtered through the logic of a middle schooler trying to finish CCD, our religious education classes.

But what if we took a second look at our confirmation saints now as adults in college? This new chapter in life challenges us academically, socially and spiritually. What if the saint we picked back then actually has something to teach us now? What if they weren’t a random pick but a providential one?

That’s how I’ve come to see St. Catherine of Bologna. I picked her all those years ago simply because she is the patron saint of art, and I enjoyed drawing. However, I now know she was a 15th-century Poor Clare nun who was an artist, writer, mystic and teacher. She lived a thoughtful life full of joy and sacrifice and created incredible amounts of art and writings for a woman of her period. The more I’ve learned about her, the more I’ve realized how relevant lessons and stories from her life are to my own.

So, research your saint again. Read their story. Pray for their intercession before a big exam or when you’re struggling. Maybe even keep a lookout for their feast day. Your confirmation saint isn’t just a memory from eighth grade — they’re someone you can look up to for your entire life.