The Catholic Church allows up to two godparents, where one is a man and the other a woman. How many Godparents do we need, two or four? The Catholic Church requires that you have at least one Godparent per child. Those that are not practicing Christians, can have as many or as few as they like, though it is customary to have at least one godfather and one godmother. But, if you’re a fellow cradle Catholic, you may not notice them. The … We each have different points of view on morality. A. First, you need not necessarily choose individuals on the basis of who will take care of your child in the event of both parents’ deaths. 4) Willingness to learn: many of us have one or more Church teachings or practices we struggle with or, maybe, desire to openly reject. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him (her) up in the practice of the faith. Beginning with the priest saying. Girls usually have two godmothers and one godfather while boys have two godfathers and one godmother but … Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. gender and the witness being of the other gender. Copyright © A.D. 2018 Catholic Stand | Powered by Astra. This page explains more about requirements for godparents. And the parents to select the godparents since 1983, neither the Catholic Church sixteen years age! 2) If you decide to not be Catholic that’s okay, just do whatever works for you and makes you happy. Many inter-denominational marriages demonstrate this. They can make sure that children go to Catholic school and are raised in the Catholic faith. For my DD they just took our word that both Godparents were Catholic and we did prep classes without them. Asks them several questions before taking them to the baptismal fount. After the anointing the child, the baptismal candle is lit and the priest says. Avoid: 1) Mass is important but just go when you can. 2) Struggling: individual who acknowledges his or her sinful ways and does the best to purge sin from life through God’s grace and a commitment to finish the race (2 Tim 4:7). Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are at least 16 years of age and must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. My friends with children followed this trend, a sibling and a friend, or perhaps, when possible, another married couple. 1. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. Part III, Whiskey, Oreos, and the Absurdity of Hope, How Having Faith Can Help You Find True Love, God's Chat with the Devil; The Vision of Pope Leo XIII, Is Pope Francis Guilty of False Compassion? One godparent is usually mandatory. One Godparent can be replaced by a witness of the same gender of the Godparent that is being replaced. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. Reply. We seriously can't decide between 8!! Pingback: THURSDAY MORNING EDITION - Big Pulpit, Your email address will not be published. You need at least two catholic Godparents (male and female), but you can have as many as you want with permission of your priest. They most certainly can. How many Godparents for a Catholic Baptism? It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. How many godparents can I have? It is expected that a godparent be a firm believer in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and be ready to take on the role of a spiritual guide for the newly baptized. Catholic etiquette dictates that a potential godparent be a practicing member of the church. You should have a minimum of three godparents and you can have as many additional godparents as is practicable. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? Traditionally, Christian children have three godparents in total, though they can have as many as the parent wants. They vocalized the confession of faith and acted as guarantors of the child's spiritual beliefs. In the church where my DS was baptised, not only do godparents need to have been confirmed but they need to be going to mass regularly and get a letter of support from their own priest. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. If married, the godparent must be married in the Catholic Church or had their marriage blessed by the Catholic Church . You should have a minimum of three godparents and you can have as many additional godparents as is practicable. In the case where you have two Godparents, the maximum allowed, there must be one male and one female. Parents should seek someone who is willing to accept on faith the Church teachings while reading and asking questions so as to better understand why the Church teaches what she does rather than reject the teaching(s) outright simply because he or she doesn’t like what they hear. For their first child, they chose my husband as godfather and my sister-in-law’s sister as a Christian witness. The celebrant calls forward the parents and godparents with the child. (Lapse Catholics deserve patience, love, and understanding so, please, do not mistake this bullet for anything other than pointing out a manifestation of relativism.). Traditionally a Christian child has three godparents in total; girls have two godmothers and one godfather and boys have two godfathers and one godmother. Some squeal with delight while others cry their eyes out as the cold Holy Water runs across their heads. As such, this means baptism is not a mere sign or imitation referring to Christ’s baptism but is a channel of grace which draws us closer to our creator. This falsehood is used to justify hedonistic gobblings of experiences and people without a thought to consequences, responsibility, charity, or God. Required fields are marked *. I’ve heard parents voice the need for Catholic schools and parishes to help them more with raising their children in the faith. HI were having a catholic ceremony next month and im having my sister and my oh has asked his aunty x. See that the divine life which God gives him (her) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) heart. In a perfect world, the parents would have a variety of choices of individuals who devoutly practice the faith in all circumstances, possess an active pray life in their relationship with Christ, and do their best to live out the moral teachings of the Church. So, how do parents chose a suitable individual(s)? I know the general rule is 2 men and 1 woman for a boy but just wondered how many godparents other people have? Godparents must have a Godparent Eligibility Form (attached) signed by However, some churches require one or three or an unspecified number of godparents. gender and the witness being of the other gender. If it is the desire of the parents, twins or triplets can share the same Godparent(s). Translating Hillary Clinton’s Doublespeak. I would, lasty, advise that the ‘best-looking’ candidate might not be the most effective if they will never be able to be involved in the child’s life. Leads to babies having no godparents how many godparents for Baptism this article explains the role godparents!, because only one godparent need be Catholic 2 parents to select the godparents must be one female and male. They are planning to baptize their second child as Roman Catholic and are discussing godparents. How many godparents can a Catholic child have? If you don’t know whom to ask or how sort through your choices, ask your priest or another trustworthy individual for help. I’m always curious though about who the parents chose as godparents for their child. But, we are each called to continually strive to grow in holiness. No, but if such an individual walks in, do chose them. But, baptism is also a sacrament of initiation (CCC 1229-1231) and thus requires post-bapistmal instruction in the faith. How many Godparents can I have? And, in the end, place your trust in God’s love to guide you through. Disordered desires abound in our sinful times, but at their heart is the ultimate disorder for a Christian: the earth is our only home and death is the absolute end, for from this all else builds upon this disordered earthly affection. The ability and desire to be of aid to the child’s faith must be considered above all else, feelings, past promises, reciprocal godparenting, or anything else. My question is how many godparents are you allowed to have? First, Godparents were essential in attesting to the integrity of the individual who was joining the Catholic faith, often because s/he was an adult receiving the Sacraments of Initiation (as in RCIA today). Go book a chat with your parish secretary- they’ll set you on the right path without wasting the priest’s time He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. How Many Godparents Can Your Child Have? That being said, there are two last misconceptions of baptism and godparents I wish to dispel. Traditionally, Christian children have three godparents in total, though they can have as many as the parent wants. Finally, we see the candle lit, the white garment or bib placed, and the chrism oil anointed upon the child and we are done and ready to move on in the liturgy. One Godparent can be replaced by a witness of the same gender of the Godparent that is being replaced. I think many Catholic godparents take the responsibility seriously. Question: Can you please clarify for me, something that is confusing regarding choosing godparents for baby’s baptism in the Catholic Church. 2. Depending on where you live in relation to family, friends, and other Catholics, your choices will more or less limited by circumstances. So, parents have an obligation to prayerfully select individuals who will assist the child as the grow in the faith. The Catholic Church requires that you have at least one Godparent per child. In the whirl of sounds, smells, and sights did we take in what is happening to the child? How important is this choice? Whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, or any other religion, make like-minded friends and discuss religious issues here. I hope what I’ve shown here is that the choice of godparent and confirmation sponsor is not one to be taken lightly or to be simply given to the sibling or best friend. Those who would negatively impact the child’s spiritual life absolutely shouldn’t be godparent or sponsor regardless of their blood or friendship ties to the parents. Or, perhaps your sibling is to act as guardian but your Catholic friend would be suitable as a godparent. You don’t have to go if you don’t feel like it. It is a spiritual matter, and the choice should be based upon spiritual criteria. We were allowed to have four Godparents per child, some not needing to attend the baptism because they live in a different country. When it comes time to baptize a child, it is also time to select the godparents. But, if you’re looking for a few specifics it’s, unfortunately, easier to go negative. I'm not sure what the limit is on how many Godparents you can have. After completing his undergraduate degree at Baylor (Sic 'em!! Every child should have at least three godparents, two of the same sex and at least one of the opposite sex to your child. Some positives might be: spends time with Christ in adoration, frequently goes to confession, reads the Scriptures, or simply does their best to do more than just be in Mass on Sundays. Lastly, the idea that ‘godfather,’ ‘godmother,’ or ‘Confirmation Sponsor’ are honorific titles which must be bestowed carefully so as to avoid any hard feelings needs to be jettisoned. We are not all on the same point in the spiritual life and that is okay. Additionally, those with 2+ children would be perfectly happy with different godparents for each of their children but would not want many individuals acting as separate guardian so that children be separated in the event of death. I know I used to hear what they said but I did not listen to them. My DH is catholic. Once you’ve seen one baptism, you’ve seen them all. During the administration of the sacrament, there are several different points before, during, and after the child has been baptized where the godparents are addressed. But, as we have seen, with this honor comes duties, responsibilities, and obligations before God. But as Bos points out, each church or organization may have their own unique guidelines. Thus we can see the two are separate even if they may be linked in special circumstances. This is a major decision. This might be something to consider if you’re being asked to be a long distance godparent. These are just broad categories which will manifest themselves differently and in varying degrees for each individual. You don’t have to spend weeks going through résumés but you should sit together and pray about who would best serve your child in their faith journey. The Catholic Spirit. This created a thirst for a deep knowledge of the faith and a desire to share every nugget with others who may benefit. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Here is a brief overview. Are You Waiting for the Church to Change Her Teachings? Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. But, if you wish to have more than one, I am sure your child would benefit from being having people of faith to surround them as they grow to adulthood. Yes. Baptism is the door into God’s house but we do not remain in the foyer. Parents and godparents, First of all i am not catholic. Your child will sin later in life (beautifully grace-filled at baptism though) and will need the help of someone who is not morally relativistic or uses the phrase “if it makes you happy it’s okay.” This is not a green light to ask those who ‘struggle’ by living in mortal sin constantly. Did we pay attention to the role the parents and godparents are promising, before God and Holy Mother Church, to carry out until their dying day? But each twin can only have 2 Godparents of their own. Both dd's baptism in the catholic church. 1. To be a godparent, a person must be one “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” (CIC 874 §1). DD1 has the usual 2 godparents, she is from my first marriage with X and since our divorce unfortunantly she doesn't see her godparents much anymore. There can be 4 godparents in the sense that there are two Godparents for each twin, this totalling four. Hello, I am new here and have a question about godparents. I do not want to say that a non-Catholic cannot give good Christian witness. Additionally, those with 2+ children would be perfectly happy with different godparents for each of their children but would not want many individuals acting as separate guardian so that children be separated in the event of death. We have decided to have DD2 baptised catholic, DD1 is also baptised. Following this are a series of questions, baptismal promises, beginning with the rejection of Satan and sin and concluding with the profession of the Christian faith. Michael is a Texan living in self-inflicted exile as he finishes his PhD. You have asked to have your child baptized. 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