J.M.J. Q. “What if I cannot find a suitable godparent for my
child? At pre-Baptism class, the instructors advised me to find godparents who
will make good examples of the Catholic Faith for my daughter. I’m not very
active in church and don’t know many friends who are good, practicing
Catholics. My relatives, to my knowledge, are not living the best Christian
lives either. I’m sure there are good Catholics who live their faith well, but
as I don’t know them personally. And even if I found one of them to be my
child’s godparent, will it have any effect?"
A. The question you raise is, sadly, not uncommon.
The Code of Canon Law tells what the Church expects of
godparents (or “sponsors”) for Baptism (and Confirmation).
Canon 872 informs us that the sponsor “assists an adult in Christian Initiation or together
with the parents presents an infant for Baptism. A sponsor also helps the
baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with Baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.”
Canon 873
declares: “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of
each.” (Hence, only one sponsor is absolutely required, but if there are
two, one is to be male and the other, female.)
And Canon 874 asserts: §1. “To be permitted to take on the
function of sponsor a person must: 1° be designated by the one to be baptized,
by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the
pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this
function; 2° have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the Diocesan Bishop
has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception
for a just cause; 3° be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already
received the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith
in keeping with the function to be taken on (that is, who attends Holy Mass on
Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation; if married, enjoys a marital union that is
recognized by the Catholic Church; if unmarried, does not cohabitate with a
person of the opposite gender); 4° not be bound by any canonical penalty
legitimately imposed or declared; 5° not be the father or mother of the one to
be baptized. §2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial
community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and
then only as a witness of the Baptism.” (Hence, only a practicing Catholic can
be a sponsor. A non-Catholic Christian may be a “witness.”)
You are
humble about your lack of receiving the Sacraments (that can change now!) and that
your friends and relatives don’t practice their Catholic Faith. You have
escaped the trap that has ensnared many parents: the tendency to choose
relatives as sponsors mainly because they are relatives, not because of their
stellar Catholic lives.
Your pastor
undoubtedly knows someone in your parish who would be an excellent sponsor. He may
recommend a married couple to be your child’s sponsors. Invite them to your
house so that they can meet your family.
Eventually,
these sponsors will love your child. They will participate in your child’s life
at special times by their prayers, good example and, if possible, their
presence.
Does a godparent have an effect on a child? Certainly—either
for good or ill. But the Church envisions that by ardent prayer and inspiring
example, a sponsor will heartily encourage the child to follow Jesus Christ to
Everlasting Life.
Mother immaculate, pray for us.
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