Conditions to be a sponsor of baptism and confirmation
CONDITIONS TO BE A SPONSOR OF BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION
Being chosen godparent at Baptism or Confirmation is an honor. The godparent becomes a companion of the baptized or confirmed, whether they are young or older, on their journey of faith. This ministry can inspire humility and fear.
The godparents have a liturgical mission in the initiation rites, proclaiming their own faith and, in the case of toddlers, committing themselves to assisting the parents in educating their child in the Catholic faith. This is a solemn promise, made publicly, and those who make it should be people whose life of faith and their situation in the community make the words they utter credible.
In the case of adults, the godparent is someone who helps prepare the adult and, after the sacraments of initiation, continues to help the newly baptized lead a life in harmony with the Christian faith.
Godparents should be both role models and people of resource, who are comfortable practicing their faith and are normally considered “practicing Catholics,” that is, Catholics who attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. They should be people who find it easy to answer questions about their personal relationship with God as they experience it in the Catholic communion, even if they are not sure about all the technicalities. People who are interested and will continue to be interested in helping their sponsored child for years to come.
Church law (Code, 874) specifies that these godparents be at least 16 years old and that they have themselves been fully initiated, that is, that they have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion, and that they lead a consistent life. with the faith and with the mission that they are going to assume. Parents cannot be godparents.
The sponsor’s mission is not just that of an “employer” or “mentor.” Emotional conflicts sometimes occur in a family when it is felt that some relatives or close friends, who are considered potential godparents, are not technically qualified as such because they are not Catholic or not regularly practicing Catholics, or their religious status is “problematic.” “For some irregular situation, such as civil marriage.
Conflict situations may arise between loyalty to family and friends and the demands of liturgical and religious authenticity. Baptism and Confirmation are sacraments of faith, and their ministers, including godparents, should be examples of faith to those who gather for the celebration.
Not all relatives or friends are appropriate to be godparents, and not all those who could serve as godparents are close enough to be godparents to my family. It’s hard to get the balance. In special cases, the advice and wisdom of the pastor can be very helpful.
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