Involvement of parents, guardians and godparents 1. This distinction is made since a witness cannot be expected to assist in raising a Catholic child in the Catholic faith. 849 - 878) chapter iv : sponsors Formerly it was forbidden, they were considered to have spiritual kinship. The 1917 Code of Canon Law, also referred to as the Pio-Benedictine Code, was the first official comprehensive codification of Latin canon law. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the Blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken (canon 874, Code of Canon Law). Baptisms | Canon Guidelines 7595 North Federal Blvd. It was in force until the 1983 Code of Canon Law took legal effect and abrogated it on 27 November 1983. Can these canons help us define the responsibilities and prerequisites for Sponsor Couples for those preparing for Matrimony? Can. Godparents Law and Legal Definition A godparent is chosen by the parents of a newborn Catholic. 867-868; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1251) When I saw this, I felt like something was off, but I’m not 100% sure what the Catholic Church … Subdivisions. 1. Canon 873 states one sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex. The current Code of Canon Law reflects this early Christian custom. Godparents accompany the catechumen at the parish’s optional Rite of Sending, during the obligatory Rite of Election at the diocesan cathedral and through all the remaining RCIA activities. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents and of the Church. . Because the godparent is an official witness to the baptism of the child, it is not an office for which a “replacement” can be made. 1 – What Canon Law & Commentary tells us about sponsorship for Baptism. (This practice is not written into canon law.) (or Canon) 934, §2, 1°. 840 The sacraments of the New Testament were instituted by Christ the Lord and entrusted to the Church. 834 – 848) part i : the sacraments. 768. — C.L., Potomac, Maryland. book iv : the sanctifying office of the church (cann. B. . Basic Guidelines and Information for Infant (to include young children) Baptism (Code of Canon Law, cc. CANON LAW RELATED TO CONFIRMATION PART I : THE SACRAMENTS Can. Canon Law is a code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church. Hi Everyone, A few months ago, I witnessed a baptism of a newborn at my church and I noticed that the two godparents of the little baby were two women. There seems to be some confusion when Godparents are being considered between wanting to have one’s best friend or another relative or acquaintance be the God parent. Canon Law Requirements for Godparents for Baptism . This means they have received all three Sacraments of Initiation, which are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Three years later, our daughter arrived, and we asked the same brother-in-law and his wife to be godparents again. They stood beside us and answered affirmatively to all the vows, photos were taken, cake was consumed, tra la la la. Here the Code of Canon Law wants to eliminate the practice of having numerous sponsors, … 874.1). The 1983 Code of Canon Law contains 1752 canons, or laws, most subdivided into paragraphs (indicated by "§") and/or numbers (indicated by "°"). Dr. Robert J. Matava, Dean of the Christendom College Graduate School in Alexandria, wrote an article for the Arlington Catholic Herald that explains the requirements of a godparent as listed by the Code of Canon Law. Indeed, had that been so, emergency baptism would have proved impossible. Namely in canons : Can. In the Latin or Western Church, the governing code is the 1983 Code of Canon Law, a revision of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Canon law - Canon law - Development of canon law in the West: From about 300 until about 550, canon law in Western churches had a certain unity through the acceptance of the Eastern and North African councils and the binding factor of the papal decretal law (answers of popes to questions of bishops in matters of discipline), which did not exist in the East. Yes they can, Code of Canon Law from 1983 by Saint John Paul II allows it. Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. During the Sacrament of Confirmation, as during the Sacrament of Baptism, in accordance with Paragraph # 1311 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Canon Law # 892-893, the child will need at least one Godparent, a maximum of two, a male and a female. What are the requirements for godparents? Canon law talks about two types of godparents: “sponsors” and “witnesses.” A sponsor is a Catholic, and a witness is a baptized Christian of another denomination. The 1917 Code of Canon Law maintained this impediment with regard to sponsors and baptismal candidates (canon 1079), but abolished it with regard to Confirmation sponsors (A Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, by Rev. Canon Law (Canon 872-874) & Commentary articulates the responsibilities of Sponsors (Godparents) and the prerequisites for selecting them for Baptism. The sponsor's role is to … Hence a citation of the Code would be written as Can. There may only be up to 2 godparents: one male and one female. 872 – Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. Godparents must also be active Catholics in a state of grace. Role of Godparent (Canon Law 872-874) The godparents, together with the parents are present to profess the church’s faith, in which the child is being baptized. Strictly speaking, a person only needs one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but may have two sponsors, one male and one female. Stanislaus Woywood [New York: Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., 1952], p. 420). As actions of Christ and of the Church, they are signs and means by which faith is expressed and strengthened, worship is offered to God and our sanctification is brought about. It was promulgated on 27 May 1917 and took legal effect on 19 May 1918. Canon law doesn't seem to prohibit consecrated people from becoming godparents. According to Canon law; • Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a godparent/sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents present an To be a godparent, a person must be one “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” (CIC 874 §1). In a wider sense the term includes precepts of divine law incorporated into the canonical codes. sacraments, Christian Initiation. When this idea was put forth here, an assistant pastor – a canonist – advised (and strenuously maintained/demanded) that no "proxy" was possible, but in fact a sponsor is the physical witness to the Confirmation. Although the Common Worship: Christian Initiation: Emergency Baptism (Note 2 at To be admitted to undertake the office of [baptismal] sponsor, a person must: . Canon law, body of laws made within certain Christian churches by lawful ecclesiastical authority for the government both of the whole church and parts thereof and of the behavior and actions of individuals. Westminster, CO 80030 Tel. In accord with Canon 874 of the Code of Canon Law, the Church can admit a person to the role of Godparent/Sponsor if, He or she is not less than sixteen years of age; and; Has been confirmed and has already received the blessed Eucharist ; Lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken, and ... Godparents today follow in this tradition, and while they are often viewed in a … Ex baptismo spiritualem cognationem contrahunt tantum cum baptizato baptizans et patrinus. I thought that the two godparents must be a man and woman or just be one godparent (male or female) at minimum according to Canon Law. According to Canon Law 874, Godparents must be at least sixteen years of age and fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. When our son was born, we were Anglican and had him baptized there, with my brother-in-law and his wife as godparents. 303-428-3594 X 19 What are the duties and responsibilities of Godparents? The Code of Canon Law from 1917 forbids it. (Cf. Could I have greater/fewer than 2 godparents? 1079. A separate but parallel Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, issued in 1990, governs the Eastern Catholic churches. Below is a Canon Law citation regarding the selection of godparents. Therefore, in order to be appointed sponsor, the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it. Canon law (#873) specifies that candidates for baptism may have a male or female sponsor, or one of each sex. Can. The canon law has never required the consent of a parent before a child is baptized. Strictly speaking, a person only needs one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but may have two sponsors, one male and one female. Under Canon Law 872-874, there are specific requirements to qualify as a godparent. No. A: There was a general restriction on priests, religious and other consecrated souls acting as godparents that stemmed from the 1917 Code of Canon Law. title i: baptism (cann. Code of Canon Law, No. The individual(s) named as godparent(s) must satisfy the requirements of canon law … Canon 872 and 874 of the code of Canon Law lists these requirements for valid and lawful sponsorship in Baptism. Code of Canon Law, No. Canon 874 tells us that a sponsor should be (1) at least 16, unless the bishop or pastor makes an exception; (2) a practicing Catholic who has already been confirmed and made his first Communion; (3) free of any canonical penalty; and (4) neither the father nor mother of the person to be baptized. 874.1). The answer is in the Code of Canon Law. 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