1 decade ago. Yesterday, my colleague Michelle Arnold discussed in her blog post Once a Godparent, Always a Godparent the tendency many parents have of treating the godparent role as a social honor rather than a religious obligation. I know it can be hard to choose godparents. There are no rules on that type of godparents, you could have 40 people be godparents in that sense. Choosing godparents By Elaine J. Ramshaw August 16, 2007 Start with the “job description”: A godparent is to develop a special, lifelong relationship with the godchild, communicating faith and values to her or him in word, deed and play, reminding him of his baptism, rooting for … Unfortunately, it appears that such a couple as you describe is not eligible to be godparents at a Catholic baptism. 2. What are Godparents? Since the role of the godparents is to be a presence, specifically a spiritual presence, in a child's life, then some considerations must be made. Anonymous. The Catholic Church allows up to two godparents, where one is a man and the other a woman. The godparent must have completed the 16th year of age, unless an exception is granted for just cause. One godparent is usually mandatory. GODPARENTS often play a big part in a child’s life or, at the very least, turn up with gifts on their birthday. There can be only one male and one female chosen per representative, so twins going through the ceremonies may have four godparents or sponsors present, but only have two each. Additionally, godparents or close family friends called padrinos may also be involved with the ceremony. I never knew there were so many rules to choosing godparents!?! Godparents derive from the Christian faith, and date back to the 2nd century when baptisms became common. Choosing a godparent for your child is an important decision, because the person you choose will be responsible for providing guidance and life lessons to your child. It is not possible for an unbaptized person to act as godparent … The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church. It’s truly beautiful to use the Baptismal candle as a reminder of the joy of welcoming the little one into the Catholic family rather than allowing it to collect dust in … Welcome to Baptism Week at Team Whitaker! You want to choose the best for your child, but at the same time you don’t want to offend anyone. The number of godparents a child may have depends on the rules of the concerned Church. Normally, parents choose their child’s godparents based on friendship, reciprocity, or even as a result of social pressures. The Godparent must bring godliness and holiness to the child. Here we look at whether at how many a kid can have and what their rights are\b… Nina, an editor from London, has had a lot of experience of being a godparent, but when it came to her turn to choose for her own children, she came up with an elegant solution. Seeing as you can select your child’s godparents from among family or friends, the pool of potential candidates can be pretty big, and it can be tough to only pick a couple of people to honor with the coveted title. A godparent serves God in developing a close-knit relationship with the child, encouraging through a Christian light whenever possible. The person you choose as a godparent will have a significant role in your child's life. 1 0. Don't choose for the wrong reasons. The god father of her girls is her brother. It is 3 years since our son was Baptised and I have closer friends within my church family all of whom would be wonderful, we also have several close friends who could be possibilities, and also the Godparents we chose for our son. 0 0. Godparents must have been baptized in the Orthodox Church, must be in full sacramental communion, and must be a member in good standing of a local Orthodox parish.. A person may not serve as a godparent if his or her marriage has not been blessed by the Orthodox Church, or, if civilly divorced, he or she has not been granted an ecclesiastical divorce, or if … Helpful guide to choosing Godparents. 7). Being a Godparent is a large responsibility and also a great honor. There are no hard and fast rules nowadays but, in practice, there is a world of difference between just being a godparent and being a good godparent - both in the eyes of the child and its parents. Whether you are still thinking or have already asked some special friends, discover more about what it means to be or have godparents. A godparent should walk the walk, not just talk the talk. This is the second post of a five-part series: Preparing for the Sacrament (What the Sacrament Means) Choosing Godparents (Finding People to Support Your Child) + BOWL SET Giveaway from Clarey Clayworks Looking Your Best (Dressing the Part for Your Child’s Big Day) + $100 PHOTO CREDIT from Renee Blood Photography,… A godparent is expected to be a spiritual guide for the child. Be clear with expectations. Godparents should not be chosen just out of family expectations or pressures. They can be single and don't have to be related to any of you.Most churches will ask if they have been baptised but don't require proof. While choosing a godparent, most couples think of someone who is close to the family and follows the same faith and values as themselves. If you're thinking about Godparents for your new arrival, read on. Parents should not choose godparents because they feel obligated, or because they think that if they don't ask a certain person or couple that they will be offended. The Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church has a whole chapter on godparents—"sponsors" is the technical term—but before we go there, let's talk about the Catholic theology of baptism. More time seems to be spent on choosing a saint’s name for the child and a venue for the post-baptismal festivities than on choosing a suitable godparent. The godparents may also present the scepter, one of the true symbols of the quinceanera. But when the time comes to choose the godparents of your children, you should ask yourselves if the people you are choosing can really provide what you really want for our children. If you emphasize how special the role is to the selected Godparent and the child, you will help provide an added source of love and support for the duration of your child's life. Whether you have questions about gifts or want to explore the … Make sure they're a positive influence. The practice of choosing godparents for a person to be baptized has existed since the earliest years of the Church. Choosing your brother's girlfriend of two weeks is not a good choice for a godmother because who knows if she'll still be around in years to come. Choosing a friend or relative as godparent may enlarge the family, but it can also add to family drama and discord. 3. While being a godparent is a great honor and a crucial part of Latino culture, the true and entire purpose of a godparent is to serve as a mentor in the Catholic faith to your son or daughter. Godparents should really help the parents commemorate their godchild’s Baptism annually, much like a birthday celebration. 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