What are the Duties of a Godparent?
Question: Exactly what duties do godparents have towards their godchildren nowadays?
Answer: Imagine you are a second-century Christian and a pagan friend wants to join you in your faith. You immediately introduce him to the Christian community. They don’t know him as well as you, so they will rely on you to assure them of his suitability.
Although they will give him some catechesis, you are the one who sponsors and vouches for him, so that after his baptism you undertake to be his supporter in faith, hope and love, unfailingly showing interest in his spiritual wellbeing.
The duties of a sponsor in Christian initiation have not changed down the ages. In our days, when Catholic parents ask for baptism for their baby, they themselves vouch for their own suitability to rear their child in the faith. However, although the Church takes their word for it, it still wants godparents to sponsor the child in partnership with the parents. This is because parental obligations towards the child’s Christian formation may run into difficulties and failings.
It is the godparents who, by their promises, must stand by to give sympathetic encouragement and help. In holding the infant in their arms they also represent the Church itself welcoming the infant into its communion.
When this sort of support is not needed, you might think that the godparents’ obligations cease. This is not the case because the spiritual bond linking godparents to their godchildren remains even if they lose contact with one another. The implication is that godparents will keep their godchildren in their daily prayers. The godchildren will likewise always keep them in their prayers and preserve their relationship by contacting them now and then, if possible.
With the parents, the godparents promise to see that the new life given to the infant at baptism will grow stronger so that everlasting life may be attained in heaven.
In some countries, particularly in small communities and where it is customary, godparents will play a prominent role in the child’s development, such as at confirmations, weddings and graduations. Where possible, they may also be involved in practical support, like giving financial assistance or providing a job and friendly advice.
The modern world may not make it easy for the godparents to be good Christian role models, maintaining a keen interest in their godchildren and whether the parents need some kind of spiritual or practical guidance. But the duty is still there as a result of the promises they made at the baptism.
Asked and answered in the July 2023 issue of The Southern Cross magazine
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