Godparents--what say you?

[Jennifer132]

So we are coming into the Church at Easter, but the Deacon said our three younger children can be baptized sometime before that after a Sunday Mass. We initially were worried that we wouldn’t have enough sponsors, but the Deacon said we can share a pair godparents for all three children, one godfather and one godmother. So we found two people who were willing to do that. Then tonight another lady who is close to the little children (she babysits them frequently) offered to be their godparent. Can we have more than the two people? Can we have two godmothers and one godfather? Is there a way to include this other woman in the baptism?

 

[babochka]

So we are coming into the Church at Easter, but the Deacon said our three younger children can be baptized sometime before that after a Sunday Mass. We initially were worried that we wouldn’t have enough sponsors, but the Deacon said we can share a pair godparents for all three children, one godfather and one godmother. So we found two people who were willing to do that. Then tonight another lady who is close to the little children (she babysits them frequently) offered to be their godparent. Can we have more than the two people? Can we have two godmothers and one godfather? Is there a way to include this other woman in the baptism?

You only need one Godparent for each child, male or female. Since you have three Godparents, you could assign one to each child. You cannot have more than one male and one female sponsor for each person.

 

[1ke]

A person needs one sponsor, but can have two. If they have two, they must be of different sexes.

 

[Usige]

You only need one Godparent for each child, male or female. Since you have three Godparents, you could assign one to each child. You cannot have more than one male and one female sponsor for each person.

That seems like a perfect solution.

 

[Phemie]

You only need one Godparent for each child, male or female. Since you have three Godparents, you could assign one to each child. You cannot have more than one male and one female sponsor for each person.

Perfect solution.

 

[PJM]

So we are coming into the Church at Easter, but the Deacon said our three younger children can be baptized sometime before that after a Sunday Mass. We initially were worried that we wouldn’t have enough sponsors, but the Deacon said we can share a pair godparents for all three children, one godfather and one godmother. So we found two people who were willing to do that. Then tonight another lady who is close to the little children (she babysits them frequently) offered to be their godparent. Can we have more than the two people? Can we have two godmothers and one godfather? Is there a way to include this other woman in the baptism?

God parents can be “shared”

A God Parent ought to be an INFORMED and fully practicing Roman Catholic as THEY ARE charged by God to do what they can to lead the Baptized to heaven and to learn, accept and practice the Catholic Faith.

If this friend meets the qualifications; I {me here} don’t see what she too could not also be a God-parent to the kids.

This is a serious obligation, not merely a social act; so I suggest you speak to your priest about it.

God Bless all of you

Patrick

 

[Phemie]

God parents can be “shared”

A God Parent ought to be an INFORMED and fully practicing Roman Catholic as THEY ARE charged by God to do what they can to lead the Baptized to heaven and to learn, accept and practice the Catholic Faith.

If this friend meets the qualifications; I {me here} don’t see what she too could not also be a God-parent to the kids.

This is a serious obligation, not merely a social act; so I suggest you speak to your priest about it.

God Bless all of you

Patrick

They can certainly be shared, there just can’t be three of them for any individual child. That’s why we suggested that each child be assigned one.

There are certainly several permutations available here:

• Each child has one godparent.
• All the children have the same godfather, two have the same godmother and one has a different godmother.
• All the children have have the same godfather, two each have a different godmother, one has no godmother.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

If this friend meets the qualifications; I {me here} don’t see what she too could not also be a God-parent to the kids.

Because the strictures of canon law concerning baptismal sponsors must be complied with.

You may have one.
You may have two, provided one is male and the other is female.
You may not have three.

 

[Jennifer132]

Because the strictures of canon law concerning baptismal sponsors must be complied with.

You may have one.
You may have two, provided one is male and the other is female.
You may not have three.

Father, can I assign one person to each child then, and in that way include this third person? Or, like someone else said, have two share a godmother and one have her own godmother, and have the godfather shared between all three as well?

All three are wonderful, devoted Catholics. All three are close to my children.

 

[Phemie]

Father, can I assign one person to each child then, and in that way include this third person? Or, like someone else said, have two share a godmother and one have her own godmother, and have the godfather shared between all three as well?

All three are wonderful, devoted Catholics. All three are close to my children.

I’m not Father but I am involved in preparing parents for their children’s baptism in our parish.
Each child may have just one godparent. Here is how the law reads

Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.
Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

 

[PJM]

They can certainly be shared, there just can’t be three of them for any individual child. That’s why we suggested that each child be assigned one.

There are certainly several permutations available here:

• Each child has one godparent.
• All the children have the same godfather, two have the same godmother and one has a different godmother.
• All the children have have the same godfather, two each have a different godmother, one has no godmother.

AMEN!

 

[thistle]

So we are coming into the Church at Easter, but the Deacon said our three younger children can be baptized sometime before that after a Sunday Mass. We initially were worried that we wouldn’t have enough sponsors, but the Deacon said we can share a pair godparents for all three children, one godfather and one godmother. So we found two people who were willing to do that. Then tonight another lady who is close to the little children (she babysits them frequently) offered to be their godparent. Can we have more than the two people? Can we have two godmothers and one godfather? Is there a way to include this other woman in the baptism?

Remember that the baptism of your three children is about them and not pleasing or not offending potential godparents.
Frankly, if you have an acceptable male and female sponsor it makes sense to me for them to be the sponsors for all your children.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I’m not Father but I am involved in preparing parents for their children’s baptism in our parish.
Each child may have just one godparent. Here is how the law reads

I am sure you intended to insert a qualification here that was accidentally omitted…such as “each child may have just one godparent from each gender” since, of course, a child may have two godparents, as long as one is male and the other is female…as, indeed, the law you quote declares.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Father, can I assign one person to each child then, and in that way include this third person? Or, like someone else said, have two share a godmother and one have her own godmother, and have the godfather shared between all three as well?

All three are wonderful, devoted Catholics. All three are close to my children.

This is one of those moments when, frankly, I would suggest you informally exceed what the law declares.

As you have said, canonically, you can assign one person to each child, thus including all three, or you can have the gentleman be godfather of all three and the two ladies can divide up the role of being godmother.

Whichever solution you choose is what will be officially recorded in the sacramental register…but then there is what happens in the life that is lived and not simply what is recorded in the sacramental register. By that, I mean that, presuming that the three children are baptised at the same ceremony, all three of these adults will be answering the questions posed “to the godparents” and all three will be making the promise asked of the godparents. If you, and each of them, wishes that the lived relationship would be that all three have a godparent relationship with all three children…well, I think that is what is the more important reality across the many years. Canon law will have been served by the appointment, whichever way you decide, but your children will grow up with three people in their lives whom they can turn to.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Wise pastoral advice from Don Ruggero.

 

[Phemie]

I am sure you intended to insert a qualification here that was accidentally omitted…such as “each child may have just one godparent from each gender” since, of course, a child may have two godparents, as long as one is male and the other is female…as, indeed, the law you quote declares.

Well, no, my intent was to answer the question “can I assign one person to each child then, and in that way include this third person?” by showing that one sponsor is all the law requires.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Well, no, my intent was to answer the question “can I assign one person to each child then, and in that way include this third person?” by showing that one sponsor is all the law requires.

Well, I will presume your knowledge of English would be better than mine.

Perhaps my reading of what you wrote
*I’m not Father but I am involved in preparing parents for their children’s baptism in our parish.

Each child may have just one godparent. *
was predicated on remembering hearing, as a child:

“You may have just one cookie” and quickly understanding that did not mean that I could have one cookie without a need to take multiple cookies…“You may have just one cookie” meant that one was all that I could have.

 

[Jennifer132]

Well, I will presume your knowledge of English would be better than mine.

Perhaps my reading of what you wrote
*I’m not Father but I am involved in preparing parents for their children’s baptism in our parish.

Each child may have just one godparent. *
was predicated on remembering hearing, as a child:

“You may have just one cookie” and quickly understanding that did not mean that I could have one cookie without a need to take multiple cookies…“You may have just one cookie” meant that one was all that I could have.

This is getting off topic, but the use of “may” in the phrase, “may have just one” in English could be used both to mean

1. you are only allowed one, or
2. you are not required to have more than one.

In conjunction with the canon law the poster quoted, it is made more clear which of these meanings was, in fact, intended.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

This is getting off topic, but the use of “may” in the phrase, “may have just one” in English could be used both to mean

1. you are only allowed one, or
2. you are not required to have more than one.

In conjunction with the canon law the poster quoted, it is made more clear which of these meanings was, in fact, intended.

As long as you have understood all the possible permutations allowed and in such a way that facilitates making the decision you deem best, that is what matters most of all. Best wishes to you and to your family. It is, I know, quite a journey for all of you.