Godparents should really help the parents commemorate their godchild’s Baptism annually, much like a birthday celebration. 2. A godparent should walk the walk, not just talk the talk. 2 1. The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church. Whether the child is a blood relative or the child of a close friend, the expectation is that every effort will be made to get to know your godchild well and help the parents by sharing your faith with the child in every way possible, from the day of the baptismal ceremony to all the days beyond. The Godparent must bring godliness and holiness to the child. Choosing a godparent for your child is an important decision, because the person you choose will be responsible for providing guidance and life lessons to your child. Whether you have questions about gifts or want to explore the … Choosing a friend or relative as godparent may enlarge the family, but it can also add to family drama and discord. While being a godparent is a great honor and a crucial part of Latino culture, the true and entire purpose of a godparent is to serve as a mentor in the Catholic faith to your son or daughter. Yesterday, my colleague Michelle Arnold discussed in her blog post Once a Godparent, Always a Godparent the tendency many parents have of treating the godparent role as a social honor rather than a religious obligation. A godparent is expected to be a spiritual guide for the child. But when the time comes to choose the godparents of your children, you should ask yourselves if the people you are choosing can really provide what you really want for our children. Godparents should not be chosen just out of family expectations or pressures. How to Choose Godparents. 0 0. While this makes it difficult to be a part of the child’s life, it is not impossible. Whether you are still thinking or have already asked some special friends, discover more about what it means to be or have godparents. Here we look at whether at how many a kid can have and what their rights are\b… Welcome to Baptism Week at Team Whitaker! It is not possible for an unbaptized person to act as godparent … You want to choose the best for your child, but at the same time you don’t want to offend anyone. In some cases, these are valid reasons. Normally, parents choose their child’s godparents based on friendship, reciprocity, or even as a result of social pressures. Finding the right godparent for your child is easy. The number of godparents a child may have depends on the rules of the concerned Church. The practice of choosing godparents for a person to be baptized has existed since the earliest years of the Church. 1 decade ago. The person you choose as a godparent will have a significant role in your child's life. I never knew there were so many rules to choosing godparents!?! It’s truly beautiful to use the Baptismal candle as a reminder of the joy of welcoming the little one into the Catholic family rather than allowing it to collect dust in … It is 3 years since our son was Baptised and I have closer friends within my church family all of whom would be wonderful, we also have several close friends who could be possibilities, and also the Godparents we chose for our son. If you're thinking about Godparents for your new arrival, read on. Careful deliberation should go into choosing godparents. Choosing them is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Tips for choosing the godparents Choose someone who will stick around. There are no rules on that type of godparents, you could have 40 people be godparents in that sense. Helpful guide to choosing Godparents. Choosing godparents is a tricky situation. The godparent must have completed the 16th year of age, unless an exception is granted for just cause. Since the role of the godparents is to be a presence, specifically a spiritual presence, in a child's life, then some considerations must be made. Choosing godparents By Elaine J. Ramshaw August 16, 2007 Start with the “job description”: A godparent is to develop a special, lifelong relationship with the godchild, communicating faith and values to her or him in word, deed and play, reminding him of his baptism, rooting for … Choosing your child's godparents (or mentors, guide-parents or guardians) can be a tricky decision. 33, No. Often, godparents are chosen from family members and close friends. The Catholic Church allows up to two godparents, where one is a man and the other a woman. There are no hard and fast rules nowadays but, in practice, there is a world of difference between just being a godparent and being a good godparent - both in the eyes of the child and its parents. For those who choose, godparents and grandparents may be involved in a coronation, where they present the quinceanera girl with a tiara. Godparents are parents representing God or parents on God's behalf. Anonymous. 1 0. They can be single and don't have to be related to any of you.Most churches will ask if they have been baptised but don't require proof. But one thing is for sure it has to be a decision that you BOTH agree on!!! Choosing your brother's girlfriend of two weeks is not a good choice for a godmother because who knows if she'll still be around in years to come. The godparents may also present the scepter, one of the true symbols of the quinceanera. Seeing as you can select your child’s godparents from among family or friends, the pool of potential candidates can be pretty big, and it can be tough to only pick a couple of people to honor with the coveted title. Think of it like this: if you want to become a teacher in California, you have to be an adult and have met some essential requirements, like graduating high school and having a clean record. Being a Godparent is a large responsibility and also a great honor. Choosing the right godparents is important for your child’s future. 1 decade ago. The Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church has a whole chapter on godparents—"sponsors" is the technical term—but before we go there, let's talk about the Catholic theology of baptism. While choosing a godparent, most couples think of someone who is close to the family and follows the same faith and values as themselves. More time seems to be spent on choosing a saint’s name for the child and a venue for the post-baptismal festivities than on choosing a suitable godparent. The importance of the role for the Godparent and your child will depend on the significance that you apply. Recall that until the year 313, the Church was under the persecution of the Roman Empire and had to be cautious in conducting its affairs so … This time round though we are very confused who to choose as Godparents. sacred and the social in the compadrazgo can be seen in the rules for choosing godparents. Parents should not choose godparents because they feel obligated, or because they think that if they don't ask a certain person or couple that they will be offended. Sometimes it’s hard to know if that person will be in your life long-term or not. Whether selecting godparents or sponsors, only two people may fill these roles. The god father of her girls is her brother. Nina, an editor from London, has had a lot of experience of being a godparent, but when it came to her turn to choose for her own children, she came up with an elegant solution. Quite often, godparents do not live in the same locale as their godchild. Prerequisites and restrictions. Make sure they're a positive influence. One norm, a prohibition upon parents sponsoring their children, is now a church rule, but it seems to have arisen from folk practices. There can be only one male and one female chosen per representative, so twins going through the ceremonies may have four godparents or sponsors present, but only have two each. GODPARENTS often play a big part in a child’s life or, at the very least, turn up with gifts on their birthday. Once a godparent is named, that person remains a godparent … A second, the prohibition on choice reversal, appears to … I know it can be hard to choose godparents. Alternatively, an Eastern Orthodox Christian may be a godparent (along with the Catholic godparent). A godparent serves God in developing a close-knit relationship with the child, encouraging through a Christian light whenever possible. One godparent is usually mandatory. Apart from this situation, as long as one godparent is Catholic, it is permissible for a non-Catholic to act as witness to your child's baptism. Be clear with expectations. 3. Examples of “just cause” would be a person who will be turning 16 in a matter of days or weeks, or a young person who is known to demonstrate an extraordinary piety or level of maturity (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Clergy Newsletter, Vol. Unfortunately, it appears that such a couple as you describe is not eligible to be godparents at a Catholic baptism. Guidelines for Choosing Godparents Church of Saint Joseph St. Joseph, MN Who do you choose as a Godparent? Additionally, godparents or close family friends called padrinos may also be involved with the ceremony. What are Godparents? Finding someone who genuinely cares for the child, someone who has a moral and spiritual compass that will enable him to be a role model for the child during her lifetime, is the primary goal. The action of the godparent(s) at a baptism, when they physically raise the baptized person up from the font after the sacrament has just been administered, has always symbolized the godparents’ spiritual care for the newly baptized one. 7). Being a godparent is an important duty in the Catholic Church. Godparents derive from the Christian faith, and date back to the 2nd century when baptisms became common. Don't choose for the wrong reasons. If you emphasize how special the role is to the selected Godparent and the child, you will help provide an added source of love and support for the duration of your child's life. This is the second post of a five-part series: Preparing for the Sacrament (What the Sacrament Means) Choosing Godparents (Finding People to Support Your Child) + BOWL SET Giveaway from Clarey Clayworks Looking Your Best (Dressing the Part for Your Child’s Big Day) + $100 PHOTO CREDIT from Renee Blood Photography,… Godparents must have been baptized in the Orthodox Church, must be in full sacramental communion, and must be a member in good standing of a local Orthodox parish.. A person may not serve as a godparent if his or her marriage has not been blessed by the Orthodox Church, or, if civilly divorced, he or she has not been granted an ecclesiastical divorce, or if … Finally they must be willing to submit all the completed paperwork, prior to the ceremony. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: 1255 For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. Anonymous. , the parents commemorate their godchild as a result of social pressures and discord add family. 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