Ideally yes, but talk to your vicar if you simply can’t find three confirmed godparents. Can the person to be baptized have two Godparents and two Sponsors? Godparents must have a Godparent Eligibility Form (attached) signed by Again, one must be a male, the other a female. Building the Family of God Being a godparent is an important duty in the Catholic Church. Can you aid in this? Yes, a Priest can reject your choice of godparent, and you must choose a new one. 1. But a person without children may value being a godparent all the more because of that. If married, the godparent must be married in the Catholic Church or had their marriage blessed by the Catholic Church . I was would ideally like to have my bother and his wife and my partners sister and her husband as godparents (4 in total). Box 130815 St. Paul, MN 55113. In order to fulfill this promise, the godparent must themselves be living the Catholic faith and their lifestyle must be in keeping with the teachings of the Church. Girls usually have two godmothers and one godfather while boys have two godfathers and one godmother but there is no hard and fast rules nowadays. GODPARENTS often play a big part in a child's life or, at the very least, turn up with gifts on their birthday. : Has anyone had their baby baptised and had more than two godparents? hello, i am catholic and have had all my kids christened. A baptized non-Catholic may be permitted to serve at a Catholic baptism, but only in company with another, Catholic sponsor, and simply as a witness. Catholic Parents OnLine is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. barmel. This though also depends on the church the baby is being christened into. Don't be afraid to talk to him or her about God and your personal faith. One must be a male, the other a female. I was wondering if anyone had done this and if so how they … Christening gifts are traditionally silver, such as a silver spoon or rattle but here, too, this tradition is fading and all kinds of presents can be given. “Fully initiated” means someone who is baptized, has received their first holy Communion and is confirmed. The catechism states that the godfather and godmother must be “firm believers” (No. Although his own godson is being raised in a faithful Catholic home, ... godparents can play an important role in the lives of their godchildren. Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church." i believe that you already have a thorough understanding about godparents so i'll just tell you what most filipinos think. One godparent must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the Eucharist, and who lives a life worthy of the role that he or she is about to undertake. It likewise makes no sense for a godparent of a Catholic to be someone who has ceased to practice the Catholic faith, or who lives in a sinful state that is incompatible with the life of a Catholic. They are not just special on the day but special for a … From the explanations of our liturgies to the most eminent Catholics who made Australia what it is, you will find it all here. Or you may mail your tax-deductible donation to: Catholic Parents OnLine P.O. You can have as little as one, either male or female. Do godparents have to be confirmed? Can the same godparents have responsibility for more than one child in the same family? Your role isn't so much to teach the details of the faith, but to share your experience of what faith means in your life. hello, i am catholic and have had all my kids christened. Traditionally a Christian child has three godparents in total; girls have two godmothers and one godfather and boys have two godfathers and one godmother. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Q. Click here to upload yours. Whether you have questions about gifts or want to explore the promises, there are answers to your questions here. A baptized non-Catholic may be permitted to serve at a Catholic baptism, but only in company with another, Catholic sponsor, and simply as a witness. To be a godparent, a person must be one “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” (CIC 874 §1). They can make sure that children go to Catholic school and are raised in the Catholic faith. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. It is the duty of Christian godparents to assist the parents with this all-important task. 2. In early 14th-century Spain, as many as 20 godparents were being chosen. According to the Instructions of the Catholic Church, "One Sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex." The minimum number of godparents is three, two of the same sex and at least one of the opposite sex to the child being baptized. Canon 874.1 follows from the Church’s theological understanding of godparents as a matter of course. Baptism? meaning a Christian from a different religion that is recognized by the Catholic This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. We pay for videos too. on the road of the Christian life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. One or two. My cousin in law is baptizing his daughter in the catholic church and they have chosen as Godparents his brother and his wife. When i was christened the whole church was given the responsibility of being god parents. More; The role of a godparent. ( Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Directore pour l'application des principes et des normes sur l'oecuemenisme , March 25, 1993, AAS 85 (1993) 1039-1119; Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (Washington: USCC, 1993); … Godparents play an important role in christenings, according to Church of England Christenings. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Someone from one of the Eastern Churches may be a godparent, but only if there is also a Catholic godparent. Therefore, Catholics can only have one godfather, one godmother, or one of each. The candidate can not be a parent, step-parent or guardian of the one they are looking to represent, nor their spouse. Though it is ideal to select two Catholic godparents, (one female, one male) the Church only requires that there be one godparent. There can be up to two godparents, a male and a female, for a single child. Yes, as long as they take seriously their responsibility and intention to … How many godparents should there be? However, for a Church of England service, at least 3 Godparents are required. Last edited 22/04/2010. I was raised catholic till I was 18 and then chose to leave the church, but my godmothers(my aunts daughters) were not catholic, they are Methodist so they don't have to be catholic from my experience, but they just had to make sure to raise my sister and I in the catholic faith and gave us attended mass every week. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . To be a godparent, a person must be one “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” (CIC 874 §1). Here the Code of Canon Law wants to eliminate the practice of having numerous sponsors, as has occurred in some cultures (No. Church law requires that you have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. Some couples were under time constraints and married outside the Church because many Catholic parishes require six months of preparation. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It is expected that a godparent be a firm believer in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and be ready to take on the role of a spiritual guide for the newly baptized. Similarly, grandparents can be godparents, or older siblings, or the children of Catholic friends (as long as they are age 16 or over and have received their Sacraments of … twf June 6, 2018, 6:42am #2. Many times, one Godparent will be chosen by the mother for her side of the family, or a close friend, and likewise one on the side of the father for a relative or close friend. The role of godparent becomes official upon baptism of the child in question. BrendanJanuary 6, 2014, 2:46pm A child should have two Godparents - a godmother and godfather. Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. Non-practising Christians can have as many or as few as they like, though it is customary to have at least one godfather and one godmother. Talk about how you pray and how being Catholic/Christian affects the decisions you make in your life. This is the “letter of the law” and the minimum. I'm not so sure. Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are at least 16 years of age and must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. While traditionally there was a religious aspect to being a godparent there is not set rule about whether or not the godparents have been christened or not. 1255).Godparents cannot give or support what they do not have. hurch law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. However, for a Church of England service, at least 3 Godparents are required. In 888, the Catholic Council of Metz attempted to limit the number to one, but proliferation seems to have continued. You don’t need to have a “matched set” of one man and one woman. The godparents should be practicing Catholics. You can have as many Godparents as you like for your child. Likewise, a Catholic can only be a Christian witness for someone who is baptized into another Christian denomination. They can be if you put them in your will but just because they are their Godparents does not mean that they are the ones that will. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. Stbruno: The reason we have godparents in the Catholic church is that godparents represent the church in the faith that we profess to believe. If they are, you can tell how they are with children. My brother said “You can have as many godparents as you want.” Besides being slightly offended (I don’t know why I need a “backup” ! The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Watch the video below for tips on how to choose a Godparent. My kids were baptized in San Diego. It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial community in which the baptism is being celebrated. The … Godparents are not required to attend a Baptism Instruction Class but are invited to do so. The second one can be a "Christian Witness," Roman Catholic: According to the Church legal system, in order to qualify as a godparent the candidates have to be: 16 years of age; Appointed by the parents, guardians or parish priest; A Roman Catholic who has been confirmed and received Holy Communion A Catholic Godparent is a "Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Having been born and raised in the Catholic faith and a practicing Catholic, it was always my understanding that as long as one godparent is Catholic, that it was OK to have the other godparent be a non-Catholic person to be the godparent. Many inter-denominational marriages demonstrate this. One frustrated commenter defined the godparent selection process as a “minefield.” No … Why Godparents Matter Read More » The church states (Catholic) that by Canon law only two godparents are permitted. : Has anyone had their baby baptised and had more than two godparents? Frequently Asked Questions 1. Not what you did 3 yrs ago. You can have as many Godparents as you like for your child. In this circumstance, it’s usually the case that a girl will have 2 Godmothers and 1 Godfather and a boy to have 2 Godfathers and 1 Godmother. The role of the godfather and/or godmother is very important. at least one godparent in each set(if you are having say, 2 couples as godparents) must be catholic and you can have as many as you like. Actually only one Godparent is necessary. No! The role of a godparent is more than being a relative or friend who encourages Christian behavior. I think many Catholic godparents take the responsibility seriously. Catholic etiquette dictates that a potential godparent be a practicing member of the church. seriously, most filipinos don't understand what godparents should do and the responsibilities they hold. Therefore, Catholics can only have one godfather, one godmother, or one of each. The brother is indeed Catholic but the wife – who is to be the Godmother – is Protestant (born and raised and not contemplating becoming catholic any time soon). I think you’ll get better answers in these parts. The role of godparent becomes official upon baptism of the child in question. Technically, only Catholics can be godparents or sponsors. How many Catholic Godparents can a person have at Brother Rich, I have a copy of Unitatis redintegratio, the Decree on Ecumenism, and I cannot find a paragraph or number 57. Oh, Granted marriage is part of catholic life but not if it's not the right time. Therefore, at least one godparent must be a fully initiated baptized Catholic. In this circumstance, it’s usually the case that a girl will have 2 Godmothers and 1 Godfather and a boy to have 2 Godfathers and 1 Godmother. Whether you are still thinking or have already asked some special friends, discover more about what it means to be or have godparents. eagerbeaver June 6, 2018, 9:55am #3. Candidates need to be no less then 16 … The role of godparent is an important one in the Catholic church. There are many facets and factors to choosing a godparent depending on whether you’re approaching it in a religious or symbolic way. What if someone would like to have a faithful Protestant friend as a sponsor? Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? My brother has two of each. I have three children who all have three godparents-DS - two catholic one anglican DD- one catholic, two anglican DD - two catholic, one anglican - they were my nieces who were on 12 and 13 at the time which he was unsure of but I argued that they would always be a part of her life and he agreed. Building the Family of God Church. A valid baptism requires no godparents, so it’s still valid even if there are two godmothers, although in this case one of the ‘godmothers’ may have been a Christian witness. 873). Two, one male and one female. So make sure if your thinking of who will take care of your child if you and your husband die then put it in your will. I moved this to Eastern Catholicism. You need at least two catholic Godparents (male and female), but you can have as many as you want with permission of your priest. According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, you But as Bos points out, each church or organization may have their own unique guidelines. You have a unique role in your godchild's life. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. My mother is both of my DCs godmother. A Catholic Godparent is a "Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church." It is possible to have just the one godparent. The godparent is “able and ready to help the newly baptized . And, as well, all the latest publications from Pope Francis 3. Who can be a Godparent. But in modern times, the individual is chosen by parents to take a general interest in the kid's wellbeing and development, not necessarily with a religious aspect. There can be up to two godparents, a male and a female, for a single child. But from today on you will be a better catholic. There can only be two official godparents , one of each gender. I'm not sure what the limit is on how many Godparents you can have. Reply. In other words, canon law permits the parents of an infant to choose a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian as "godparents," and exteriorly they may both appear to assume these roles at the actual baptismal ceremony. Some strict churches may ask that all the godparents have been christened in order to fulfil their role, or others may be happy to perform the service if only one person has. Not surprisingly, we encountered a diversity of strong opinions in the comment box. All godparents and sponsors need to have undergone their own Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. You can name just one godparent, or two godmothers or godfathers. There has to be a minimum of 1 Godparent. No exception. It doesn’t matter if they are parents. The Church gets to approve your choice. Blood relatives and members of the family can be chosen to be the child's godparent. Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. Finally, for a Catholic baptismal candidate, “one sponsor, male or female is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex” (canon 873). One must be a male, the other a female. Favorite Answer. Canon law says godparents must be practicing Catholics, be at least 16 years old (with some exceptions) and have received the three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist). Regardless of the reason for marrying outside the Church, these couples, presuming they have no previous marriages, can … They most certainly can. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. can have a maximum of 2 Godparents. According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, you can have a maximum of 2 Godparents. Dear Mr. Fecteau, Peace in Christ! All donations are greatly appreciated. You should have a minimum of three godparents and you can have as many additional godparents as is practicable. Once you have chosen, and the Church approved, and the baptism has happened, godparents can never be changed. 'S life big promises to support your godchild throughout their life, '' the website states below for on! Must be a male, the other a female visit our Syndication site or want be... Not what you did 3 yrs ago task is a network of leading companies in the same godparents responsibility! 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