When godparenting goes right, it's love without the worry, it's rapport without the rows, it's joyful and spiritual fulfilment and someone to visit you in your dotage. The concept of being a godparent, common in some religions, is becoming more of a universally accepted practice. As such, all the children may be placed together with one godparent or none at all. And as it goes, it is also a representation of the openness of your godchilds parents. For parents, after a point, their responsibilities to their children change. PS. Shop our entire collection of baptismal gifts. At times, it may look like giving advice from a Christian perspective on big life decisions, at times romantic decisions, or at times developing relationship to live out life with that child. In general, I try to instill into adults that the whole family, even older brothers and sisters, have a responsibility to younger ones. Simply being asked to take on the role of godparent does not mean one automatically takes over custody of a child. Help him cultivate a devotion to his patron saint. Here are a few practical considerations when trying to be a good godparent: Remember your godchilds sacramental anniversaries. Anyone who loves fairy tales knows the importance of the godparent. You might have bonded by then, though - in which case, bravo! Many times, the godparents will also be the chosen guardians of a child should something occur (such as the death of both parents) but in modern times this is less common. Some godparents give their godchildren presents on their birthdays too. In those instances, they still remain the godparent. While the Catholic Church only requires one, some churches, like the Church of England, recommend up to four. Her brother, Chris, and his wife, Tara, had just welcomed their first child in May and wanted to name Kaeley godmother. This can be as simple as remembering things they tell you from school, it can look like attending baseball games or school plays, or it can be larger in encouraging a Bible study with the child or bringing them to a Christian event such as a concert or prayer night. The role of godparents is a high honor given to a man and a woman after the birth of a child. Technically, as per most church doctrines, a godparents role continues until their death or the death of the child. If not attached at all, hand over the obligatory silver cufflinks/crucifix/photo frame and slink off after the service. You might have bonded by then, though - in which case, bravo! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The minimum age for a godparent in the Catholic Church is sixteen If not attached at all, hand over the obligatory silver cufflinks/crucifix/photo frame and slink off after the service. It is very important not to let the choosing of godparents be a passive or quick decision. In earlier times, the godparent assumed a role promising to keep an interest in the welfare of the child. In some instances, yes. To Kaeley, the term godparent is a formalityshes not entirely sure who her own godparents are, so they obviously have not mentored me very much, she says. In those instances, they still remain the godparent. Its by no means a light undertaking when considered. Typically, a mother will choose the godmother and the father will choose the godfather, but that is not a set-in stone rule. A godparent serves God in developing a close-knit relationship with the child, encouraging through a Christian light whenever possible. This sponsor helps the child live a Christian life, and represents what it means to be Catholic by praying, living righteously, and being present for the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. This Biblical and Spiritual discernment is an excellent way in which someone can mentor and be present as a godparent. That common ground can be unifying not only in personal relationships but to our communities as a whole. For Confirmation, the sponsors are chosen by the one that is undertaking the Sacrament of Confirmation themselves. Minus the fairy dust and magic, of course. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. How, then, can the godparents best carry out these duties? Because, as we all know from experience, friendships sometimes wane. Imagine a child going to college with a robust collection of spiritual workseach one inscribed as a memento of what is truly important in life. But in the traditional sense, a godparents primary purpose is to guide the godchild in all matters of their faith. When I lived near my family in Chicago, I would take my godchildren out to eat, to cultural events, to church, to museums. You may serve in the role alone, or the child may have two godparents. Gifts, dinners, feasts, and gatherings communicate that this event is important. Each year, especially when the child is young, purchase a spiritual classic for your godchild on his baptismal anniversary or patronal feast, and inscribe it. After all, you are becoming part of the childs memories. If new parents ask you to be a godparent to their precious little darling, they are lashing you, your money and your connections to them for life. They are walking the journey of parenthood alongside of you. Afterward, as time goes on, your role may grow. Whether or not your faith will be a consideration has more to do with the faith of the parents and your relationship with them. I went away for college, Ive never moved back home, Ive traveled a lot, Ive done some things professionally different than their parents have., Though the kids were baptized, McGuire says her relationship with her godchildren skews secular and more auntlike; shes an unbiased voice of reason during disagreements. Around this time, a growing number of parents looked to family members when it came time to choose a godparent. This will depend upon the church. Or use that line from About a Boy: you'll forget all her birthdays until she's 18 and then try and shag her. If the godparent is of a different faith, an item celebrating their faith. Why? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Now she pleaded with the people to surrender their lives to Providence. Mary was a young teenage girl, unwed and afraid, more than ever she needed a strong and older woman of God to come alongside her.Elizabeth stepped into that role with courage and kindness, and in time Elizabeths son, John the Baptist, and Marys son, Jesus Christ, would later come together continuing the legacy of a holy and godly bond in their family. No matter how it is defined, when does this big responsibility end? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'momadviceline_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',647,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-momadviceline_com-medrectangle-4-0'); In short, the answer to this question could be anything. They are not just special on the day but special for a childs life, even when they are grown-up themselves. They do not. Show up swinging a Tiffany bag and make sure you stay sober. Viewed from this perspective, godparents often add to a childs family, like a marriage does between couples. They should always keep in mind, however, that like Lutetia, the godchild to whom God has entrusted them is destined to become a saint. What guides you may be similar to their faith-based principles. As the child matures, it will be important for him to see someoneother than his parentswho treats spiritual goods as the highest goods in this life. Its an ideological question at best. Although the specific naming term of godparent arose through Catholicism, it is not exclusive to the Catholic Church to become a godparent. It is the same with birthdays or wedding anniversaries. But for other faiths, your faith may not be an issue. It now exceeds traditional notions of religion. But over the past half century, American religious views have changed. WebThe role of a godparent Godparents are really special. Your pastor can share more about the role and expectations of godparents. In smaller families sometimes grandparents are the only choice. Presents, presents, presents. Avoid publicising this row in the national newspapers and keep on sending the presents until you can officially shirk your duties. Spoil it. Grandparents have the emotional and familial bond to care for their godchildren. WebYour role as a godparent begins at the baptism. Humans are sensory animals. You might have bonded by then, though - in which case, bravo! Keep it simple if money is an issue. That trust his or her parents placed in you makes you the perfect mentor. Finally, dont fret over religion. I try to be a good person, so I show by example: Hey, Im being a good person; maybe you should be too. Again, these circumstances are limited, controlled by law, and the wishes of the parents. Historically, it held more social weight than spiritual, says Bernadette Sweetman, a postdoctoral researcher in adult religious education and faith development at Dublin City University. WebGodparents play a special role in the life of the child. Along with the childs parents, youll be present to profess the child to the Catholic faith. If the parents elect to Catholic Baptism During Catholic baptisms, godparents are usually referred to as sponsors and they read the Profession of Faith on behalf of the baby and undertake to help lead the childs faith in the course of their lifetime. Photo Credit: GettyImages/Kay Fochtmann EyeEm. In light of that, [Being] a godparent is a huge responsibility, even though the name doesnt mean as much as it did before, Flinn says. He tries to lead by example, he says, to guide the kids toward righteousness. Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. A godparent serves God in developing a close-knit relationship with the child, encouraging through a Christian light whenever possible. Relaying this to their priest, Chris and Tara were given the go-ahead to name Kaeley godmother. With great power comes great responsibility, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex step out for Hollywood date night at exclusive private members club as Harry announces major live event, In Queen Margrethe II of Denmarks last interview before her extensive surgery, she spoke of the royal title drama and Crown Prince Frederiks future on the throne, The Princess of Wales wears delicate brooch with touching connection to the late Queen. Judaism holds, in accordance with the famous saying, that "It takes a village to raise a child." When Mary is told she has been chosen by God to carry the Savior she is suddenly faced with a holy and spiritual call that no one had ever faced before, nor will anyone face again in a virgin conception. Youll never know where your life is going to take you. Parents benefit greatly from godparents who will be a light and guide, like the candle lit at baptism, to their child. As a godparent you can guide your godchild in so many ways outside of their faith. Dear catholic.com visitors: This website from Catholic Answers, with all its many resources, is the worlds largest source of explanations for Catholic beliefs and practices. People move, change jobs, and travel. She started this blog in April of 2019 and is proud that the blog is now paying for itself. Catholic Baptism During Catholic baptisms, godparents are usually referred to as sponsors and they read the Profession of Faith on behalf of the baby and undertake to help lead the childs faith in the course of their lifetime. Godparents should be about making time for their godchild and about the spiritual goods in his life. Whether to follow such a tradition is at the parents discretion. In the modern baptism of an infant or child, the godparent or godparents make a profession of faith for the person being baptized (the godchild) and assume an obligation to serve as proxies for the parents if the parents either are unable or neglect to provide for the religious training of the child, in fulfillment of baptismal promises. As discussed prior, many parents choose these witnesses to function just like a godparent. Plonk them down at a spare desk in your office - Millbank or the recording studio, for instance - and leave them there for a month. As a godparent, you serve a different but important role in helping to teach the child the way in which they should go. For some parents, however, religion will still play a large role in the decision to name you. But as your relationship grows with your godchild, you may choose to do some activities together or assist in other ways as your finances dictate. While it is the parents' role to facilitate a child's education, in the event that something happens to the parents, then the larger community is responsible. Traditionally, a godparent also is supposed to physically take care of the godchildren if the parents died. No, you can't trade someone in for a new one. However, dogma doesnt always surpass dignity. The godparent takes on the responsibility as an adult witness to and someone who influences the spiritual life of a young person. The ritual of baptism is a festive social occasion as opposed to a religious one for many families todayso much so that even other religious communities have adopted the role. You may serve in the role alone, or the child may have two godparents. Be sure to ask those questions in the preparations leading up to the baptism. After the initial joy of the situation wears down, youll probably want to know more about your new role. Everyone shared the same beliefs, and I felt as if [religion] was my way of understanding my community through God. She was baptized when she was 7, and her godmother served as a spiritual guide throughout her adolescence. I'm still lucky enough to have her. Instead, focus on the time aspect of the relationship. Why? Help! Above all else, loving the child through the love of the Holy Spirit is the role and responsibility of a godparent. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. (See Rule 10.) Thats what I wanted to do for my godchildren., A common misconception of godparenthood is that should the parents pass, the godparents would gain custody of the child. PS. People move, change jobs, and travel. Mary proceeds to sing a song of gratitude and joy from this great encouragement from her cousin. While this is a religious event, it doesnt mean that your role as a godparent stops at the boundary between theology and the secular world. By tradition, the role has grown into including a godmother and a godfather. Grace McDermott, Clays goddaughter, knows their relationship was born of a religious tradition, but sees her connection with Clay as more of a big-brother bond. What are the duties of the godparents? Even if you are not religious, the parents chose you because of your core beliefs and values. There is no legal commitment here and the godparent is not the legal guardian of the child. Because Kaeley doesnt consider herself to be a practicing member of the same religion as us, we wanted to double check with our priest.. As the godparent, you will always be guilty. From the point of view of the Church, you needed to build links outside of your relations, Alfani says. My Baby Spits Up Breast Milk But Not Formula, My Strong Willed Child Makes Me Want to Give Up, Today, We Swam (battling hard times with swimming), 9 Strategies for Disruptive Behavior In the Classroom, Small Gifts for Kindergarten Students (31+ Ideas), End of the Year Gifts for Kindergarten Students (Ideas-Easy and Inexpensive), 21+ Christmas Gifts for Kindergarten Students (Easy and Inexpensive), Disruptive Kindergarten Behaviors (Troubleshooting and Tips To Deal With Them), Gumption Traps (A Guide For Teachers and Parents). Birthdays or wedding anniversaries are grown-up themselves which they should go clicking Sign up, you are becoming part the! My way of understanding my community through God should go you because of your beliefs... For their godchild and about the role has grown into including a godmother and the will! The presents until you can officially shirk your duties a godparent often add to a man a... 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