What is the purpose of Godparents?

[irishmac]

I have a question. I am currently helping out an RCIA class as they go through the Inquiry phase. One of the candidates asked a question about godparents? I have to be honest, it stumped me. What is a godparent for and where did they come into common usage? The only answer that I can think of is that godparents are to aid and support the newly baptised child through his/her faith formation, as well as supporting and nurturing the parents of the child with their faith. However, I cannot find any instance in history to p(name removed by moderator)oint the beginning of the discipline of godparents. Can you please cite any Biblical passages or CCC sections that point to the usage godparents. Also, are godparents, or Christian Witnesses (for non-Catholic godparents), required for Baptism?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have a question. I am currently helping out an RCIA class as they go through the Inquiry phase. One of the candidates asked a question about godparents? I have to be honest, it stumped me. What is a godparent for and where did they come into common usage? The only answer that I can think of is that godparents are to aid and support the newly baptised child through his/her faith formation, as well as supporting and nurturing the parents of the child with their faith. However, I cannot find any instance in history to p(name removed by moderator)oint the beginning of the discipline of godparents. Can you please cite any Biblical passages or CCC sections that point to the usage godparents. Also, are godparents, or Christian Witnesses (for non-Catholic godparents), required for Baptism?

There is no such thing as “non-Catholic Godparents” In order to be a Godparent one MUST be Catholic and in full union with the Catholic Church. In Canon Law the term Sponsor is used, Godparent is not used. A Sponsor is someone who is not the parent of the person being Baptized who brings the person (child or adult) to the Christian community and introduces them, and presents them for Baptism. This is as old as the Church herself is. We find in the History of the early Church those who were not Baptized were not permitted to participate in Christian worship. Actually they were not even permitted to know where the worship was to take place for fear of the Christians being arrested. Only when a person found a Christian and proved that they were not a threat were they introduced to a few members of the community. after some instruction in the Scriptures and Christian life they were observed to see if they lived out that life. If they did their Sponsor would again bring them into contact with the Church, through various stages over several years their primary contact was their Sponsor. After they showed their Sponsor that they were serious and ready the sponsor would present them to the Church for Baptism at the Easter Vigil.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

You can find the online version of the CCC at WWW.USCCB.ORG. You want Part II, Section 2, Chapter 1.

 

[1ke]

I have a question. I am currently helping out an RCIA class as they go through the Inquiry phase. One of the candidates asked a question about godparents? I have to be honest, it stumped me. What is a godparent for and where did they come into common usage?

A “godparent” is a term used for the baptismal sponsor of an infant. Canonically, the person is a Sponsor-- and all persons seeking baptism have a sponsor, infant or adult.

The Sponsor has several roles and they include:

• Assist the catechumen in faith formation before and after baptism and help them fulfill their baptismal promises
• In the case of infant baptism, also assist the parents in fulfilling the promises they made at baptism
• In the early church the Sponsor also vouched for the catechumen-- basically standing up as a character reference (remember, Roman spies tried to infiltrate the Christians)

Sponsors go all the way back to the first century. They were a required part of the catechumenate. When adult baptisms became rare and infant baptisms were the norm, the Sponsor role changed slightly and the term “godparent” became prevalent.

The only answer that I can think of is that godparents are to aid and support the newly baptised child through his/her faith formation, as well as supporting and nurturing the parents of the child with their faith. However, I cannot find any instance in history to p(name removed by moderator)oint the beginning of the discipline of godparents. Can you please cite any Biblical passages or CCC sections that point to the usage godparents.

The requirement of Sponsors can be found in Canon Law:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM

Sponsors must be Catholic. A non-Catholic can be a Christian witness to the baptism, but cannot be a sponsor/godparent.

Also, I suggest you read your RCIA handbooks on the catechumenate which will likely go into detail on sponsors.

Also, are godparents, or Christian Witnesses (for non-Catholic godparents), required for Baptism?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

A “godparent” is a term used for the baptismal sponsor of an infant. Canonically, the person is a Sponsor-- and all persons seeking baptism have a sponsor, infant or adult.

The Sponsor has several roles and they include:

• Assist the catechumen in faith formation before and after baptism and help them fulfill their baptismal promises
• In the case of infant baptism, also assist the parents in fulfilling the promises they made at baptism
• In the early church the Sponsor also vouched for the catechumen-- basically standing up as a character reference (remember, Roman spies tried to infiltrate the Christians)

Sponsors go all the way back to the first century. They were a required part of the catechumenate. When adult baptisms became rare and infant baptisms were the norm, the Sponsor role changed slightly and the term “godparent” became prevalent.

The requirement of Sponsors can be found in Canon Law:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM

Sponsors must be Catholic. A non-Catholic can be a Christian witness to the baptism, but cannot be a sponsor/godparent.

Also, I suggest you read your RCIA handbooks on the catechumenate which will likely go into detail on sponsors.

Also, are godparents, or Christian Witnesses (for non-Catholic godparents), required for Baptism?

A Christian Witness is never required for for validity or licitness of Baptism. At least one Godparent is required for licitness for solemn Baptism. They are not required for validity.

The RCIA uses both terms Sponsor for the time of the Catechumenate and states that the catechumen should designate a Godparent prior to the Baptism. Which may be a different person from the Sponsor or may be the Sponsor.