Age for Baptism sponsor

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irishcolleen45

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I’m reading a blog and according to the blogger, Canon law requires that a prospective godparent be at least 16 years old.

My older cousin, who was 10 years and 8 months at the time (1952),was the Baptismal sponsor to his younger brother. I remember being told that as long as the sponsor had been confirmed, he could be the sponsor. This took place in The Bronx which is in the Archdiocese of New York. Back then, we were confirmed in 4th grade (I was 9 1/2).

Has Canon law been changed since 1952?
 
In 1953 my godmother was 12, godfather 10. They were my cousins.

What I’ve been able to find in the canon law of that time (the 1917 Code) was that to validly be a sponsor one had to have reached the age of discretion (reason). There apparently is no mention in that Code of the need to have been confirmed, although at that age it’s highly likely that they would have been since we were usually confirmed the first time Msgr came to town after we’d received our First Communion. I received First Communion at age 6 and was confirmed at age 7. Msgr usually came to the parish once every two years.

Then the 1917 Code goes on to say that to licitly be a sponsor one has to be 14 “unless for a just reason the minister admits younger ones.” I guess being my cousins who lived next door might have constituted a “just reason”.
 
Only the 1917 Code of Canon Law applied in 1952.

766.1 required an age of 14, unless the minister of baptism (probably a priest, not a deacon) sees a just cause.

Apparently, that priest did see a just cause.

Nothing to be concerned about.

Can 765. Ut quis sit patrinus, oportet:
1º Sit baptizatus, rationis usum assecutus et intentionem habeat id munus gerendi;
2º Ad nullam pertineat haereticam aut schismaticam sectam, nec sententia condemnatoria vel declaratoria sit excommunicatus aut infamis infamia iuris aut exclusus ab actibus legitimis, nec sit clericus depositus vel degradatus;
3º Nec sit pater vel mater vel coniux baptizandi;
4º Ab ipso baptizando eiusve parentibus vel tutoribus aut, his deficientibus, a ministro sit designatus;
5º Baptizandum in actu baptismi per se vel per procuratorem physice teneat aut tangat vel statim levet seu suscipiat de sacro fonte aut de manibus baptizantis.

Can 766. Ut autem quis licite patrinus admittatur, oportet:
1º Decimum quartum suae aetatis annum attigerit, nisi aliud iusta de causa ministro videatur;
2º Non sit propter notorium delictum excommunicatus vel exclusus ab actibus legitimis vel infamis infamia iuris, quin tamen sententia intercesserit, nec sit interdictus aut alias publice criminosus vel infamis infamia facti;
3º Fidei rudimenta noverit;
4º In nulla religione sit novitius vel professus, nisi necessitas urgeat et expressa habeatur venia Superioris saltem localis;
5º In sacris ordinibus non sit constitutus, nisi accedat expressa Ordinarii proprii licentia.
 
When the 1917 Canon was instituted, we reached maturity at a much younger age than we do now - mentally. But, the age of reason is correct, because obviously if a person is chosen to be a Godparent at such an age then they have been brought up by good parents, and that would end up being a wonderful situation.

The Irish tradition, as well as the British, chose Godparents to raise the child in the faith and also care for them if the parents died. My family still chooses based on that.
 
LoyalViews said:
When the 1917 Canon was instituted, we reached maturity at a much younger age than we do now - mentally. But, the age of reason is correct, because obviously if a person is chosen to be a Godparent at such an age then they have been brought up by good parents, and that would end up being a wonderful situation.

The Irish tradition, as well as the British, chose Godparents to raise the child in the faith and also care for them if the parents died. My family still chooses based on that.
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I grew up with that understanding but it was made clear to me when we had our third child that there is no expectation of that in the church and certainly not in law.

Today when I do baptismal preparation with parents I make it clear to them that godparents have no legal standing and if they want the godparents to become the guardians if anything were to happen to them then they have to go see a lawyer and make sure that it’s put in a legal document.
 
Thank you, Father for your response.
My older cousin was an altar boy and a member of the school. The priests there knew him and the family. Perhaps that had some bearing on why he was allowed to be the godfather.
 
Naturally it should be agreed upon in this day and age. I know when I was baptised, it was indeed written in my parents collective will that I’d be left to my godparents, who agreed. Fortunately my parents are alive and well.
 
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