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To be chosen as a godparent, a sponsor for baptism,
is a special honour, an invitation to a unique, life-long relationship. But for many Catholics, including new parents
and prospective godparents, the role of the baptismal sponsor is unclear. In this article, we offer some notes on the role
of the baptismal sponsor.
* The Rite of Christian Initiation recalls that godparents have had an important role from early times.
"It is a very ancient custom of the Church that an adult is not admitted to baptism without a godparent, a member of the Christian community
who will assist at least in the final preparation for baptism and after baptism will help the newly baptised persevere in the faith and in life
as a Christian. In the baptism of children too, the godparent should be present to be added spiritually to the immediate family of the one to be
baptised and to represent Mother Church. As occasion offers, the godparent will be ready to help the parents bring up their child to profess the faith
and to show this by living it." (Rite of Christian Initiation, par. 8)
* One part of the godparents' responsibility may be in teaching the faith, for instance, in helping the growing child learn the Church's prayers.
* There is another, even more important part: witnessing to the Good News in your own life.
* Godparents must be mature enough to carry out the responsibilities involved in this role. A person 16 years of age is presumed to have this maturity.
* The godparents cannot be the parents of the one to be baptised (Canon 874, 1, 5). However, grandparents can be godparents.
* There may be one or two godparents. "One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient: but there may be two, one of each sex."
(Canon 873)
* A sponsor must be "a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken." (Canon 874, 1, 3)
* A baptised and believing Christian not belonging to the Catholic Church may act as a Christian witness along with a Catholic godparent.
* Those who sponsor infants in baptism have the same kinds of responsibilities as those who sponsor adults: to walk beside, listen to, cherish;
to pray with, share with, learn with; in other words, to be a friend and guide on the road of Christian living. In the case of infant baptism,
the challenge - and the advantage - of starting with someone so young and unformed is, in most cases, the gift of time.
This infant has no sense of good or bad; you will be there to help him or her discern those differences as they impact on a growing life.
This infant doesn't even have a "reason" to desire to be Catholic; you will be there to witness, by your very life, your reasons.
Paul Bird C.Ss.R.
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