Baptism ceremony question

[coda]

My wife and i have been asked to be Godparents to a friend’s child. We completed the baptismal class, but there was no instruction on duties during the baptism…Where to stand etc. Also, does anyone know who holds the child and the baptismal candle-- parents or Godparents?

 

[puzzleannie]

you will be instructed at the time, by the rite itself, for instance the deacon or priest will say: the godparent now comes forward to take the lighted candle, or similar words. the child and parents should stand or sit “first” and then the godparents ready to step up when called. all other guests will probably be asked to sit behind. sometimes small children are invited to gather around the font so they can see better.

 

[coda]

It seems that during the new rite of baptism, the mother holds the child and the father lights the baptismal candle. The godparents had more of a role in the pre- vatican ll ceremony.

 

[Belle10]

When we baptized our DD, just before the ceremony, our priest explained to the Godparents where they were to stand. Don’t worry, the ceremony is the easy part.

 

[Phemie]

It seems that during the new rite of baptism, the mother holds the child and the father lights the baptismal candle. The godparents had more of a role in the pre- vatican ll ceremony.

In our parish one of the parents holds the child, the godmother presents the baptismal garment to the child & the godfather lights the baptismal candle. If there is only one godparent he/she does both.

As for pre-Vatican II it depended on the culture. Mothers were often absent due to the timing of the baptism and another woman, not necessarily the godmother, carried the child. In our community they had a name for that woman: “porteuse”, literally ‘carrier’.