| Author | |
Tina P.
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1638
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 8:42am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
My husband wants our 15 yos and 14 (this month) yod to be godparents to our baby that is due July 8. Does anyone have experience with this? Our 15 yo isn't the most mature person in the world. Will this help give him a sense of responsibility?
I'm also a little concerned about asking them too early considering the potential disappointment if this baby dies in or just out of the womb or suffers some other malady with which the kids may not know how to cope ... Also, we already agreed upon a set of godparents who can handle anything. It's a bit confusing to me. I'm just not sure what I should think. I had considered waiting until the birth. This buys us both time to think things through and really choose well.
__________________
Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 9:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think this is a preference point for you and your husband. I know that in most diocese at least one has to be a confirmed Catholic.
BUT, just to give you a first hand experience, my brother and I are my sister's godparents. She is the surprise baby that came 13 years after my brother and I. I was just shy of 13 and he was just shy of 12. We don't have any other practicing Catholics in our family and my mother felt very strongly that we needed a deeper connection with our sibling. Trust me at 12 and 13, we were not the most mature people in the world.
Words cannot express the deep responsibility that my parents entrusted us with and we were told all the time. When we made choices, the "being a godparent to your sister" was brought up as a point. Not as a guilt thing but as a "do you want your sister to make the same choices" thing. It was a beautiful relationship that blossomed. My sister could have been seen as a bother, coming 13 years later and changing our life but it was not and we never saw her like that. I truly believe that some of that is because we are her godparents. She is a beautiful woman of almost 21 now and while her choices have not always been wise, we still are very active in her life. She is one of my best friends.
As to the concern if the baby dies, well they already are invested and remember that the coping will be hard no matter what their relationship.
I hope that helps, as I sit here crying.  It was truly a gift that my parents gave me and I can't thank them enough.
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 9:54am | IP Logged
|
|
|
There is usually a minimum age requirement so look into that before you get too far along with the decision.
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
jenk
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 25 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 248
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We just attended a baptism class last night and were told that the minimum age is 16- don't know if that changes from diocese to diocese.
__________________
Jen
with 2 boys, 14 and 8, and a girl expected 1/09
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yes, sixteen is the minimum age.
Here are the requirements for godparents from the Code of Canon Law (1983):
Quote:
Can. 874 §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;
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.
|
|
|
My two oldest are godparents to my two youngest --it's a lovely practice. 
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaR
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2226
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
one person needs to be a confirmed Catholic. we only need one valid godparent, the tradition has just evolved so that nowdays most people choose two.
Our Diocese confirmation is 7th and 8th grade, so potentially a 13 y/o on up could be godparent.
Perhaps where the "rule" of a Diocese is 16, it is because they are confirming in high school?
however, upon further thought, in other rites where the baby is confirmed, I do not think they obviously could be godparent for another infant!
the potential godparent has to be past the age of reason- to be able to consent to what they are about to undertake!
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaR
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2226
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MicheleQ wrote:
Yes, sixteen is the minimum age.
Here are the requirements for godparents from the Code of Canon Law (1983) |
|
|
thanks Michele! so, our Bishop has made exceptions down to the age of 13 and confirmed.
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Martha
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 25 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2291
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think if they are confirmed and of a reasonable age (which I know will vary) this is a beautiful thing to do.
I know I would do it.
__________________
Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kingvozzo
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Maine
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2653
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My oldest brother and sister are my godparents. I think it can be a very beautiful practice, esp, as Mimi pointed out, it can help strengthen the sibling relationship.
__________________
Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maria B.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 16 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 544
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:54am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My two oldest are godparents to our youngest. It really is special of your kids are old enough to do this.
God bless you!
__________________
Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 1:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Used my 12yo nephew and 15 yo niece for Godparents for one of my kids....
and then another 15 yo niece again for the next baby..........we did not have very many Catholic choices available to us......in fact, none, really
The two nieces became sisters of the same order..........do you know what a blessing it is to have those nuns for godparents......they take praying for their godchildren extremely seriously........a great comfort to a mother's heart 
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My experiecne is the same as Mimi's, I'm godmother to two fo my brothers, I was 10 and 12 at the time. Believe me I prayed for those babies EVERY night, I took it very seriously (still do) I prayed with them, I prepared them for their sacraments and read Bible stories to them.
Therefore I have also asked my children to be godparents to their siblings once they have made their Confirmation (about 12 here in Australia).
The minimum age is 16 but I have had priests allow exceptions, finding practicing Catholics is a stretch.
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lara Sauer
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 15 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 679
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My oldest brother and sister are my godparents, and my oldest son is my youngest daughter's godfather. However, in both cases, the godparents chosen were confirmed AND over 16 years of age.
__________________
You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the girl!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ekbell
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 747
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 5:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm the godmother for my youngest brother as well.
I think one reason was for the deeper connection since I was 21 and no longer living at home. (He was ten months old at my wedding and soooo cute!)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elena
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 13 2006
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 592
|
| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
All of my kids already have godparents in place, but I can definitely see some of my older kids being sponsors at confirmation time for some of the younger ones. We shall see!
__________________
Elena
Wife to Peter, mom of many!
My Domestic Church
One Day at a Time
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Children as Godparents?
