Godfather? Godmother?
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Why do Catholics need a godparent for baptism and confirmation?
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Wondering abt this too
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actually, what is the role of a godparent? and any selection criterial?
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Has to be a practising Catholic who sets good example for the god child.Originally posted by vince69:actually, what is the role of a godparent? and any selection criterial?
The role is something like a mentor or teacher to the godchild. But how it all came about... I dunno.
Any Catholic bro/sis care to share? -
I will let you all know.
I'm becoming a Godfather on Saturday.
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This is from the Catholic Encyclopedia:Originally posted by Honeybunz:Why do Catholics need a godparent for baptism and confirmation?
(4) Sponsors
When infants are solemnly baptized, persons assist at the ceremony to make profession of the faith in the child's name. This practice comes from antiquity and is witnessed to by Tertullian, St. Basil, St. Augustine, and others. Such persons are designated sponsores, offerentes, susceptores, fidejussores, and patrini. The English term is godfather and godmother, or in Anglo-Saxon, gossip. These sponsors, in default of the child's parents, are obliged to instruct it concerning faith and morals. One sponsor is sufficient and not more than two are allowed. In the latter case, one should be male and the other female. The object of these restrictions is the fact that the sponsor contracts a spiritual relationship to the child and its parents which would be an impediment to marriage. Sponsors must themselves be baptized persons having the use of reason and they must have been designated as sponsors by the priest or parents. During the baptism they must physically touch the child either personally or by proxy. They are required, moreover, to have the intention of really assuming the obligations of godparents. It is desirable that they should have been confirmed, but this is not absolutely necessary. Certain persons are prohibited from acting as sponsors. They are: members of religious orders, married persons in respect to each other, or parents to their children, and in general those who are objectionable on such grounds as infidelity, heresy, excommunication, or who are members of condemned secret societies, or public sinners (Sabetti, no. 663). Sponsors are also used in the solemn baptism of adults. They are never necessary in private baptism. -
I have a different godparent when I got confirmed cuz I lost contact with the first one.
My confirmation godma is very young and pretty..hhehehe -
You think same gender (ie. if you guy, you get a godpa and if you girl you get a godma) can be a better mentor?
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really depends actually. some people relate better to people of the opposite gender, while some relate better to the same gender. I reckon it all boils down to how comfortable u r with your Godparent. Some Godparents only see their Godchild during Chinese new Yr, or like u mentioned, some totally lose contact.Originally posted by Honeybunz:You think same gender (ie. if you guy, you get a godpa and if you girl you get a godma) can be a better mentor?
Oh yah, same gender would also pre-empt gossip, if u get what i mean -
Can we marry our godparents? I mean, does the church allow?Originally posted by ben1xy:really depends actually. some people relate better to people of the opposite gender, while some relate better to the same gender. I reckon it all boils down to how comfortable u r with your Godparent. Some Godparents only see their Godchild during Chinese new Yr, or like u mentioned, some totally lose contact.
Oh yah, same gender would also pre-empt gossip, if u get what i mean -
nice concise article
Q: What are the requirements for being a godparent? Do both godparents have to be Catholic? Must there be a man and a woman? Can godparents be changed later if the first ones turn out not to be very good role models?
A: Canon 874, #1, of the present Code of Canon Law says that the person selected must:
• be appointed by the person to be baptized, his/her parents or the parish priest and be suitable for the role and have the intention of fulfilling it,
• be at least 16 years old unless the local bishop sets a different age or the parish priest considers that there is a just reason for an exception,
• be a Catholic, be confirmed and have made his/her First Communion and “lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken,”
• not be under any canonical penalty, and
• not be the father or mother of the person who is to be baptized.
Canon 874, #2, indicates that at least one of the godparents must be a Catholic. In fact, only one godparent is required (Canon 873).
When there are two godparents, they need to be a man and a woman so that the newly baptized will have a role model for each gender. Should the original sponsors later turn out not to be good role models in Catholic faith, the best solution is to find better role models and involve them more closely in the baptized personÂ’s life. Under some circumstances, paperwork at the parish where a Baptism is registered can be changed. Doing that, however, will change little unless better role models have already been identified. -
Originally posted by Honeybunz:Can we marry our godparents? I mean, does the church allow?
very good question!
i tried googling.... came up with nothing!!
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i also want a young and pretty Godma .....Originally posted by Honeybunz:My confirmation godma is very young and pretty..hhehehe -
*raise hands*
considering both you guys' ages, how young and pretty your godma could be?
*escape quickly* -
@#$%@#% ah lau .....Originally posted by laurence82:*raise hands*
considering both you guys' ages, how young and pretty your godma could be?
*escape quickly*
sadly, but it's true
Ah lau 1 - Ben 0
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haha, my godson is 16.
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Based on the phrasing of the relevant canons in the Code of Canon Law, at most 2.Originally posted by Honeybunz:Can we marry our godparents? I mean, does the church allow? -
there is not limit on age difference or anything?Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:haha, my godson is 16. -
not that i know off. my sec 4's that juz got confirmed, some Godparents were like 1 yr older than them onlyOriginally posted by laurence82:there is not limit on age difference or anything? -
My god ma made many guys in church cry for her before (cuz kenna rejected lah)...hahahahOriginally posted by laurence82:*raise hands*
considering both you guys' ages, how young and pretty your godma could be?
*escape quickly*
She now should be slightly after 30 but still very young looking. Voice sweet sweet like Jeanette Aw that kind. heheheh
Thank goodness her god child (that's me lah!) dun have to counsel these guys
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Because the vatican is rule by the mafia.Originally posted by Honeybunz:Why do Catholics need a godparent for baptism and confirmation? -
*roll eyes*Originally posted by spidey3:Because the vatican is rule by the mafia.
Btw, mafia dun have god mother one hor! You never watch Al Pacino's movie ah? -
cuz, as far as the description goes, the sponsor must be able to instruct the child on faith and morals.Originally posted by ben1xy:not that i know off. my sec 4's that juz got confirmed, some Godparents were like 1 yr older than them only
I think kids mature faster nowadays, so much that they can guide somebody one two years younger -
u mean u have no Godmother?Originally posted by Honeybunz:*roll eyes*
Btw, mafia dun have god mother one hor! You never watch Al Pacino's movie ah? -
The causal relationship appears to have been reversed in this statement.Originally posted by spidey3:Because the vatican is rule by the mafia.