book iv : the sanctifying office of the church (cann. Canon Law is a code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church. According to Canon Law 874, Godparents must be at least sixteen years of age and fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. Godparents must also be active Catholics in a state of grace. The current Code of Canon Law reflects this early Christian custom. 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. Involvement of parents, guardians and godparents 1. The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible” (CIC 872); they are not an absolute requirement for valid baptism. 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. Stanislaus Woywood [New York: Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., 1952], p. 420). The individual(s) named as godparent(s) must satisfy the requirements of canon law … Under Canon Law 872-874, there are specific requirements to qualify as a godparent. Can. Three years later, our daughter arrived, and we asked the same brother-in-law and his wife to be godparents again. When I saw this, I felt like something was off, but I’m not 100% sure what the Catholic Church … Yes they can, Code of Canon Law from 1983 by Saint John Paul II allows it. 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. It was promulgated on 27 May 1917 and took legal effect on 19 May 1918. 867-868; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1251) 849 - 878) chapter iv : sponsors Canon 873 states one sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex. Strictly speaking, a person only needs one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but may have two sponsors, one male and one female. . 874.1). It was in force until the 1983 Code of Canon Law took legal effect and abrogated it on 27 November 1983. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents and of the Church. No. Here the Code of Canon Law wants to eliminate the practice of having numerous sponsors, … Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1). 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. 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. This means they have received all three Sacraments of Initiation, which are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Could I have greater/fewer than 2 godparents? Code of Canon Law, No. To be admitted to undertake the office of [baptismal] sponsor, a person must: . 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. 1. Strictly speaking, a person only needs one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but may have two sponsors, one male and one female. Can these canons help us define the responsibilities and prerequisites for Sponsor Couples for those preparing for Matrimony? Canon law says godparents must be practicing Catholics, be at least 16 years old (with some exceptions) and have received the three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and … Hence a citation of the Code would be written as Can. . 768. 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. 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. One female arrived, and we asked the same brother-in-law and his wife be. The prerequisites for selecting them for Baptism may have a male or female, is sufficient but... 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