No it isn’t. From the Code of Canon Law:I know the requirements/qualifications of a godparent and also their responsibilities but can anyone tell me if there is an upper limit for the number of godparents. I’m attending a relative’s son’s baptism this weekend and there will be 6 Godparents. Is that permitted?
Canon Law reqoures for Solemn Baptism ONE Godparent of either gender. A SECOND godparent of the opposite gender is permitted. Or a Christian Witness of the opposite gender.I know the requirements/qualifications of a godparent and also their responsibilities but can anyone tell me if there is an upper limit for the number of godparents. I’m attending a relative’s son’s baptism this weekend and there will be 6 Godparents. Is that permitted?
You’d be surprised at what happens at the parish level. I deal with this all the time:I have 4, but only 2 official ones, the other ones are more just witnesses and were my parents best friends when i was born so it was just a curtosy. The priest made it clear that the second couple were just witnesses. This might be the case in the situation you talking about and the parents are just saying Godparents even if thats not what they really are. But if it is the other way around then its no good, cannonically that is.
no, there should be at most two, one male and one female. only one is required. it is possible in our culture down here to have several padrinos or madrinas, one to buy the dress, one to get the flowers, one to make the cake, and other roles in the celebration, but only two at most will be the actual godparents who take part in the rite of baptism and are listed on the sacramental register (and must take classes to prepare). here the only person who signs the register is the priest.I know the requirements/qualifications of a godparent and also their responsibilities but can anyone tell me if there is an upper limit for the number of godparents. I’m attending a relative’s son’s baptism this weekend and there will be 6 Godparents. Is that permitted?
I’m confused because the father of the baby boy being baptised said the priest says 6 godparents are allowed and all will sign the sacramental register so he is guided by what the priest told him.no, there should be at most two, one male and one female. only one is required. it is possible in our culture down here to have several padrinos or madrinas, one to buy the dress, one to get the flowers, one to make the cake, and other roles in the celebration, but only two at most will be the actual godparents who take part in the rite of baptism and are listed on the sacramental register (and must take classes to prepare). here the only person who signs the register is the priest.
It gives permission for 2, specifying that in that case they have to be 1 of each gender. That means that there can’t be 2 godmothers or 2 godfathers. The Canon Law commentaries I’ve read indicate that that article of Can. 873 was written that way especially to stop multiple godmothers and godfathers.I’m confused because the father of the baby boy being baptised said the priest says 6 godparents are allowed and all will sign the sacramental register so he is guided by what the priest told him.
Also if I may refer to Can 873 which states: “One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.”
It says one is okay but there may be two but it does not say there may not be more than two.
Wouldn’t it have been very simple to state there can be no more than two godparents. There is not a definitive statement that two is the maximum. It is left unclear and frankly the wording can be interpreted either way.It gives permission for 2, specifying that in that case they have to be 1 of each gender. That means that there can’t be 2 godmothers or 2 godfathers. The Canon Law commentaries I’ve read indicate that that article of Can. 873 was written that way especially to stop multiple godmothers and godfathers.
The liturgical Norms and Canon Law are not collections of things you as not supposed to do!!I’m confused because the father of the baby boy being baptised said the priest says 6 godparents are allowed and all will sign the sacramental register so he is guided by what the priest told him.
Also if I may refer to Can 873 which states: “One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.”
It says one is okay but there may be two but it does not say there may not be more than two.
Sorry but I don’t agree with you. It does NOT say there cannot be more than two.The liturgical Norms and Canon Law are not collections of things you as not supposed to do!!
OR it would say :“One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be more, of either sex.”
Maybe Dcn will pop in here and interpret the canon for us. I’m always open to correction by experts when it come to my interpretation of Canon Law.Sorry but I don’t agree with you. It does NOT say there cannot be more than two.
Unless you can refer me to a document that definitively says more than two is not allowed (and Can 873 does not say that) I will have to accept what the priest says.
I’m not disagreeing with you anyway because I know better. Its my own reading and interpreting of the words and what the priest said. I live in the Philippines and since my last post I checked with some friends and two of them said they had more than two godparents for their childrens baptism. If a canon lawyer interprets 873 as meaning no more than two then the priests here seem to see it differently. Personally I don’t see the sense in having more than two but that’s not the topic.Maybe Dcn will pop in here and interpret the canon for us. I’m always open to correction by experts when it come to my interpretation of Canon Law.
Archdiocese of Chicago
Policies, Book 4, The Sacraments of Initiation
policy.archchicago.org/policies/bk4num100.pdf
It states there is two as a norm, although you may choose to have only one.102.3.5. Policy
Although the selection of two godparents is customary, only one godparent is required for baptism. A godparent can be either male or female. If two godparents are chosen, one must be male and one female. (Canon 873 - above) A godparent must also be a fully initiated Roman Catholic who is free to celebrate the sacraments. (Canons 892 and 893) A baptized non-Catholic Christian can be chosen as a Christian witness provided there is at least one Catholic godparent. (Canon 874.2)