I’m The Godfather Of Baptism!
One of the greatest expectations of close friends or relatives of new parents is to be godfather at baptism ; it is a joy to life that only the most beloved are privileged to enjoy.
In many cases, as soon as the parents know they are going to have a baby, they start looking for godparents at baptism. Usually, the choice of the godfather is up to the father and the godmother by the mother.
Parents are responsible for making this decision; they must choose who this person will be who will help them introduce their baby to the Christian life.
Furthermore, it is said that the godfather and godmother are the ones who would take the place of the parents if they were absent. This all-important commitment is indefinite; therefore, it is often difficult to find the right people.
What is the role of the godfather at baptism?
The godfather at baptism is usually the person who will take care of the baby, should any incidents happen to the parents. In some painful cases, this is how it happens.
However, the reality goes beyond that. The godfather of baptism is the one who has the duty to guarantee the Catholic education of his godson. He has to lead you on the path of good, always setting an example.
Furthermore, the godfather of baptism must be the one who wants to be part of the child’s life; it should help her reach her goals, celebrate her achievements and accompany her parents at decisive moments.
It is not always necessary for the sponsor to be a family member, as that person will also be part of the family. He should be a strong-minded person, responsible for his actions and interested in moving the child towards a Christian life.
Therefore, the godparents of baptism, together with the parents, must support the education of their sponsees in the faith and contribute effectively to the development of their entire life.
Because such responsibility rests on your shoulders, it is important not to be afraid. The sponsor must be confident and feel secure about the role they will play; in this way, he will do it in the best way possible and will be able to accompany his godson on the right path.
The Church recommends that godparents at baptism set an example by living like good Christians and attending Mass regularly. They should also remind their sponsees of daily prayer and give them religious gifts such as a Bible or rosary.
Requirements to be a godfather at baptism
The Catholic Church asks as a first requirement that the person chosen as godfather must be over eighteen years of age. This will ensure that you are mature enough to fulfill this role. However, some exceptions are known.
Likewise, a person must be Catholic, have received First Communion, have made Confirmation and lead a life of faith. It would be very difficult to teach a child an unknown path.
Parents are not allowed to baptize their children ; much less a person canonically penalized. They must believe in God and not belong to any sect or other religious denomination.
There is the exception that the priest allows the godfather at baptism to be his eldest brother, under the age of fifteen. It is necessary that you have taken First Communion or are preparing for it.
This is often positive as they live under the same roof and are more involved. When the time for the child’s Confirmation arrives, the baptism godparents can be kept or changed.
Strategies for Godfathers at Baptism
There are some strategies or activities that can help a sponsor at baptism fulfill his role in a satisfactory way.
First, good traditions can be established, such as rewarding a good grade, going out to dinner on your birthday, going to the park, or walking.
Also, at baptism, the godfather can write a letter to his godson confirming his unconditional support for him and his parents. In it, too, you must accept such an honorable responsibility and receive it with open hands.
The sponsor’s visits should, in general, be focused on their godson. So that he feels important and supported not only materially, but also personally.
The important thing is to really carry out this arduous task with the will to do it well, loving and supporting your godson in all his moments, good and bad. The godfather must be part of the family and be involved in raising the godson.
