Baptismal Godparents – What's required, and why?  

The requirements and duties for a Sponsor, or Godparent, of baptism, are set by the Church.  The U.S. Catholic Catechism, on page 189, states these requirements in this manner:

"Whenever a person is baptized, as an infant, as a child, or as an adult, there should be at least one person present who iwll act as sponsor for the one being baptized.  The sponsor, commonly referred to as one's godmother or godfather, accepts the responsibility of helping hte person grow in the Catholic faith.  One who acts as a sponsor for an infant or child agrees to help the parents teach their child about the faith and how to live as a practicing Catholic.  One who acts as sponsor for an adult agrees to encourage and support the person, pray with and for the person, and offer whatever help, information or support is needed while the person is preparing to enter the Church and then is living out the rest of his or her life as a practicing Catholic.

"For a person to act as a sponsor for Baptism, he or she must be at least sixteen years old, must have already received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist), and must be living in a way that demonstrates that one's faith is strong enough to be able to fulfill the responsibilities involved with being a sponsor.  A sponsor who is married must be married in accord with the laws of the Church."



Some reflections to consider:

Quick – name your baptismal Godparents.  Can you?

In working with parents and godparents preparing for the baptism of their child, we often ask this question as a discussion starter.  Typically, less than half are able to name even one.  One older couple boasted recently that they now had over twenty “ayehados” – godchildren.  “Could you name them?”, I asked.  “Of course not”, they responded.  “How can we keep track of that many?”
A parent of an infant recently called with the question: “Do godparents have to be Catholic?  We know this really great couple, but they’re of another faith.  We want them to ‘baptize’ our baby.  Can  they?”

These examples give rise to a really important question.  What does it mean to be a godparent?  If you already are one, what is expected of you?  And if you are choosing baptism for your child, what do you look for in a godparent?
 

Some Background

First, a little history.  Where did the custom originate?  In the Church’s early days, when a person wanted to join the Church, he/she was given a godparent, or sponsor, to teach and to serve as a living witness of what it meant to be a Christian.  It would be the sponsor’s responsibility to see that this person would grow in his or her understanding of the faith, and practice it wholeheartedly.  Even after the person was initiated into the Church through baptism, confirmation and eucharist, the sponsor would assist them to live in a manner true to their baptismal promises.

When the baptism of infants became common practice around the third century, godparents continued to play a role, by promising with the parents to assist the child to grow in faith.  We have continued this practice, as a way of taking baptism seriously.  Assigning godparents in this backup role, helps us to have complete assurance that this baptism will not be an empty ritual; that this child will grow to know his/her heritage.  Even if the parents should not live up to their task, we reason, the child would still be guided in faith by the godparents.

At one time, it was the Church community who chose the godparents for a child. Today, it is normally the parents who choose, but the Church determines the standards to which a godparent must measure up, stating that each child to be baptized must have one, and not more than two, godparents who are fully initiated into the Catholic faith and practicing it regularly.  A non-Catholic cannot be a godparent; however, a non-Catholic person who lives the Christian faith may be a “faith witness” along with a Catholic godparent.  Church documents tell us that “it is the responsibility of godparents to show the candidates how to practice the Gospel in personal and social life, to sustain the candidates in moments of hesitancy and anxiety, to bear witness, and to guide the candidates’ progress in the spiritual life.” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, p. 11).
 

On Selecting a Godparent

 
The choice of a Godparent, then, is a serious one.  What should you look for? 
Begin with these qualities:

· Someone who practices his/her faith.  If married, a godparent must be married in the Catholic Church.  Some parishes even require written verification that a prospective godparent is registered and participating in his/her church community; and proof of marriage in church.

• · Someone who will be nearby during a child’s growing years.  A good godparent should be able to spend sufficient time with a godchild to bond with him/her and build a relationship of trust.
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• · Someone upon whom you can depend to be part of your child’s life for many years to come. 
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• · Someone who is a solid Catholic; proud of his/her faith; and practicing it regularly.
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• · Someone who has demonstrated that he/she knows how to make a commitment and follow through on it.
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• · Someone who has a good relationship with you, since you will be sharing an important task together.  This relationship should be open to challenge and growth.

 
Some things to AVOID when choosing a godparent for your child: 
 

• · Do NOT select someone simply because they offer.  Often, well-meaning people can volunteer for all the wrong reasons!  If someone does offer, make sure he/she understands the commitment involved. 
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• · Do NOT select someone who lives too far away to spend much time with your child.
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• · Do NOT select someone who does not practice his/her faith.  The godparent must be able to be counted on to help your child grow in faith – a faith that is primarily passed on by example.
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• · Do NOT select someone simply to become his/her compadres/commadre.  The relationship of “compadrazco”, while important, is secondary to the godparent’s relationship to the godchild.
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• · Do NOT select boy friend/girl friend.  If you select a couple, be sure you know them both well, and know their commitment to one another in marriage. 

Parents, remember - It is your responsibility to choose who will be your child’s spiritual mentor.  Take everything into consideration; bring your choice to God in prayer. 
 

On Being a Godparent

 
What if you are asked to be a godparent? 

First, feel honored!  Someone sees something in you that makes them believe you will be a good faith companion for their child.  Second, weigh the responsibility involved.  Ask yourself whether indeed you will be able to be a good godparent.  While it is hard to say “no” to a friend who asks, sometimes it is the better thing to do if you know you would not be a suitable godparent.  And if you say “yes”, pray that you may fulfill this sacred task well. 
 
Here are some ways to carry out your work:

· Develop a relationship with your godchild.  Spend lots of time with him/her.

· Have a good relationship with his/her parents; one that is open to challenge and growth.

· Be informed about your faith and what your Church teaches; be ready to answer your godchild’s questions when he/she gets old enough to ask

· Be a good example for him/her.

· Prepare for baptism with parents; help celebrate the day.

· Remember your godchild’s anniversary of baptism and other special days.  Affirm him/her.
· Be present at your godchild’s First Eucharist, Confirmation and Marriage, whether or not you are chosen as godparent for those occasions.

· Keep your godchild continually in your prayer.
 
“Who is my Godparent?” - should be a question none of us ever has to ask.  A great gift we give to our children is to provide them with good and faithful godparents; so that during their growing years they will have a wise companion, a confidant, a spiritual guide to help them navigate life’s choppy waters.  What a wonderful gift that would be!