Now that we are celebrating Ordinary Time again on Sundays, I thought I might write about some ordinary things about our Catholic faith. We find often that people are not aware of what we believe in our Catholic faith, and often what they think we believe is not accurate.
Almost weekly we receive a request from someone who has been asked to be a godparent. Everyone baptized into the church receives a godparent. Godparents “assist the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it.” That means we ask very little, or actually very much, depending on how you look at it.
According to the universal law of the Catholic Church, Canon law, a godparent must be at lease 16 years of age, confirmed in the Catholic Church, taking communion with the Catholic Church and no other, be leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Church, and not a parent of the one to be baptized. This means the godparents should be active Catholics, which is normally determined if they are registered and active in a Catholic parish. This is why most parishes require a letter from the parish(es) of the godparents confirming that they are indeed living the Catholic way of life. Godparents may be chosen by the one to be baptized, by the parents or guardians, or even by the pastor or the parish minister.
Very often people will ask family members to be a godparents. This has the advantage of binding families together. However, godparents from the parish community may make a better choice. Parishioners can set a good example for the child from week to week and can represent the role of the entire parish community where the person to be baptized will be living out their faith.
Godparents for adults becoming Catholic play an important role during the season of Lent. They support the catechumen at the right of election, the Scrutinies, and the rights of initiation. They usually are the sponsors who have accompanied the catechumens throughout their preparation.
During the baptism of infants, we ask godparents if they will help the parents of the child in their duty as Christian parents. We invite them to renew their baptismal vows together with the parents, and they may assist in lighting the child's candle or placing the white garment on the child. However, a parent should hold the child for baptism and not a godparent.
Finally, if someone asks me or our parish to sign a letter of suitability to be a godparent, but they are not registered in our parish or we have no knowledge of them actually practicing their Catholic faith, in good conscience I will not sign the form. While this has frustrated some, it is a good reminder why everyone who professes to be Catholic should be living an active Catholic life in their parish community.
God Bless,
