Are Godparents usually mentioned in the will?

[consumedconvert]

I’m a newish sort of Catholic and I read in an older Catechism that asking someone to be a godparent is the same thing as asking them to take your children if you both die. Is this true? WIth these godparents I certainly wouldn’t mind, but I need to know what I"m asking them.

Thanks!

 

[Sr_Sally]

I’m a newish sort of Catholic and I read in an older Catechism that asking someone to be a godparent is the same thing as asking them to take your children if you both die. Is this true? WIth these godparents I certainly wouldn’t mind, but I need to know what I"m asking them.

Thanks!

Nope, not true. Often in the past it was the same. Especially for ordinary people who didn’t have enough property to make a will necessary back when the farm/store/whatever very obviously went to the oldest son.

You can certainly choose different people to be godparents and to name in your will. How wonderful if they could be the same though!

 

[1ke]

I’m a newish sort of Catholic and I read in an older Catechism that asking someone to be a godparent is the same thing as asking them to take your children if you both die.

I’m surprised a Catechism would say that.

A Sponsor/Godparent is purely a spiritual relationship.

Guardianship is a civil matter, and the Church has no jurisdiction over this.

Is this true?

No, it is not true.

You specify a guardian in your will, and it has no correlation with who you chose as a Godparent. Although, certainly you are free to choose someone as both.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m a newish sort of Catholic and I read in an older Catechism that asking someone to be a godparent is the same thing as asking them to take your children if you both die. Is this true? WIth these godparents I certainly wouldn’t mind, but I need to know what I"m asking them.

Thanks!

No being Godparents has nothing to do with being guardians of the children. That is a civil legal matter only. But the Godparents would still be required to assist the guardians in raising the child Catholic.

 

[1ke]

But the Godparents would still be required to assist the guardians in raising the child Catholic.

Bro Rich brings up something that might also need to be specified in the will-- especially if the parents are converts (as is the OP) and there are no Catholic relatives who would likely be guardians.

It should be specified that the children will continue to be raised Catholic, completing all their Sacraments, and that the Godparents should have a primary role in this education/faith formation/taking kids to Mass, etc.