History of godparents?

[Bonnie]

Does anyone know where I could find out the history of godparents? When they started to be a part of baptism & any differences between then & now?
Thanks in advance!

 

[thistle]

From the Catholic Encyclopedia on oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Baptism

When infants are solemnly baptized, persons assist at the ceremony to make profession of the faith in the child’s name. **This practice comes from antiquity and is witnessed to by Tertullian, St. Basil, St. Augustine, and others. **Such persons are designated sponsores, offerentes, susceptores, fidejussores, and patrini. The English term is godfather and godmother, or in Anglo-Saxon, gossip. These sponsors, in default of the child’s parents, are obliged to instruct it concerning faith and morals. One sponsor is sufficient and not more than two are allowed. In the latter case, one should be male and the other female. The object of these restrictions is the fact that the sponsor contracts a spiritual relationship to the child and its parents which would be an impediment to marriage. Sponsors must themselves be baptized persons having the use of reason and they must have been designated as sponsors by the priest or parents. During the baptism they must physically touch the child either personally or by proxy. They are required, moreover, to have the intention of really assuming the obligations of godparents. It is desirable that they should have been confirmed, but this is not absolutely necessary. Certain persons are prohibited from acting as sponsors. They are: members of religious orders, married persons in respect to each other, or parents to their children, and in general those who are objectionable on such grounds as infidelity, heresy, excommunication, or who are members of condemned secret societies, or public sinners (Sabetti, no. 663). Sponsors are also used in the solemn baptism of adults. They are never necessary in private baptism.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

In the origins of the Church, Christians were hunted down for the Faith. They needed to be instructed to a certain point before they could even take part in what we now know as the Liturgy of Word. For that purpose, they were given a sponsor. It was always the sponsor’s repsonsibility to see that they learned the articles of faith and the prayers, and then when they were ready, to present them for baptism, confirmation and admission to the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Babies needed a godparent-sponsor in case of the parents’ death, esp. by martyrdom.

%between%

 

[Phemie]

From the Catholic Encyclopedia on oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Baptism

When infants are solemnly baptized, persons assist at the ceremony to make profession of the faith in the child’s name. **This practice comes from antiquity and is witnessed to by Tertullian, St. Basil, St. Augustine, and others. **Such persons are designated sponsores, offerentes, susceptores, fidejussores, and patrini. The English term is godfather and godmother, or in Anglo-Saxon, gossip. These sponsors, in default of the child’s parents, are obliged to instruct it concerning faith and morals. One sponsor is sufficient and not more than two are allowed. In the latter case, one should be male and the other female. The object of these restrictions is the fact that the sponsor contracts a spiritual relationship to the child and its parents which would be an impediment to marriage. Sponsors must themselves be baptized persons having the use of reason and they must have been designated as sponsors by the priest or parents. During the baptism they must physically touch the child either personally or by proxy. They are required, moreover, to have the intention of really assuming the obligations of godparents. It is desirable that they should have been confirmed, but this is not absolutely necessary. Certain persons are prohibited from acting as sponsors. They are: members of religious orders, married persons in respect to each other, or parents to their children, and in general those who are objectionable on such grounds as infidelity, heresy, excommunication, or who are members of condemned secret societies, or public sinners (Sabetti, no. 663). Sponsors are also used in the solemn baptism of adults. They are never necessary in private baptism.

It should be noted that the above information is very dated and much no longer applies: Confirmation IS a requirement, members of religious orders MAY BE sponsors, etc.

 

[thistle]

It should be noted that the above information is very dated and much no longer applies: Confirmation IS a requirement, members of religious orders MAY BE sponsors, etc.

I know but the OP was asking about the origins of godparents.

 

[Bonnie]

Great! That’s a start, but I guess I’ll have to look up Tertullian, et al. Maybe there are footnotes?

The object of these restrictions is the fact that the sponsor contracts a spiritual relationship to the child and its parents which would be an impediment to marriage.

Anyone have a clue what this means? Would a godparent marry a baby? I mean in the old days.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Great! That’s a start, but I guess I’ll have to look up Tertullian, et al. Maybe there are footnotes?

Anyone have a clue what this means? Would a godparent marry a baby? I mean in the old days.

It means it was not permitted. Offhand, I think it could be dispensed but would have to check.
In the 1983 code of canon law for the Latin Church, the impediment was dropped.

Today among the Eastern Catholic Churches, this impediment remains but can be dispensed.

 

[Phemie]

Anyone have a clue what this means? Would a godparent marry a baby? I mean in the old days.

This rule applied mainly to sponsors of adults being baptized which was why a person couldn’t sponsor his/her own spouse. Then again, my godfather was only 10; with only a 10 year age difference it was not inconceivable that I might want to marry him when I turned 18 or 20.