If you are going to baptize a child soon, you will surely wonder what exactly are your responsibilities regarding the sacrament of baptism but also what are the general responsibilities you will have as a godmother.
What a godmother needs to know about baptism
The role of the godmother is therefore very important both during the sacrament and in the later life of the child, where the responsibility is essential and mainly spiritual.
Role of responsibility and not commitment
First of all, the sponsor is the one who will introduce the child to the streets of the church and will stand by him throughout the course of his life, when and whenever he needs to. He has a decisive role in the education of the child and the church justly gives him the title of "spiritual parent". In fact, wanting to give more weight to this title, the church forbids marriage between two people who have the same godfather since it considers them brothers.
The child's spiritual parents must help him find his way and actively support him. By appearing only at birthdays, celebrations, Christmas and Easter loaded with gifts, they are not fulfilling their role.
According to a survey by the American website beliefnet.com, several participants stated how important their godfathers played in their lives and spiritual development. The majority, however, complained that they had little or no relationship with their godfathers. A significant number even stated that they did not even know the godfathers.
More than half said that they consider baptism a ritual process while only 3% believe that godfathers contribute to the religious upbringing of the child.
Strictly for parents
For the reasons mentioned above, parents should be very careful when choosing the person to baptize their little angel.
It is definitely a role of honor and you should respond to this role with joy and love. For this reason it is important that godparents are aware of this choice and dedicate time to the child.
But to see what exactly you need to get before the baptism:
The godmother buys the so-called baptism box which consists of:
• two small towels and a large one,
• a bottle of olive oil, soap, oilcloths,
• 3 candles, testimonials
• baby christening shoes and clothes
• the cross
• the candle
In consultation with the parents, the godmother can undertake the decoration of the church and the swimming pool. At the same time, it offers an amount, symbolic to the temple in which the sacrament will be performed for its liturgical expenses.
It would be good for the godmother but above all for the baby to have a good relationship already cultivated between them, so that the baby feels safe in the godmother's arms during the mystery.
During the baptism
Initially the godfather / godmother holds the baby in the narthex of the church and "validates" the faith in God by reciting the Symbol of our faith, the prayer I believe and throwing away Satan three times, blowing and "spitting" in the air, following the guidance of the priest.
Then, together with the baby, they are led by the priest to the swimming pool.
This is followed by the "naming wish" where the godfather, the godmother are called to announce clearly and loudly the name of the baptized.
The priest blesses the water and the oil and anoints the baby and the godfather / godmother continues, anointing the baby with oil all over his body over the pool and before his holy baptism in it three times.
As soon as the priest lifts the baby, he gives it to the godmother's arms.
The priest smells the shape of the cross with holy myrrh on the forehead, chest, arms and legs of the baby giving him wishes and with a pair of scissors cuts small tufts of his hair. This should be the baby's first "haircut" and the tufts should be thrown in the pool.
Then the godmother with the help of mom or a relative dresses the baby in his christening clothes.
The neo-enlightened person returns again to the godmother's arms and together with his priest they wear his baptismal cross and together they make three rounds around the swimming pool. From behind follows another child who holds the baptismal candle.
Finally, the godfather or godmother delivers the baby to his mother after she first kisses the contractor's hand.
After baptism
Three days after the baptism, the godmother or godfather goes to the baby's house for his first bath, this time in the bathtub.
The water from his bath, according to tradition, must be poured into the sea or on dirt soil. The same goes for the water that will be used to wash the child's christening clothes.
On the first Sunday after the sacrament, the godfathers accompany the baby to church to receive his first Holy Communion. This is repeated for the next two Sundays. On all three Sundays they also take the baptismal candle in the church, which is lit to light throughout the service.
On the third Sunday, he undresses and stays in the church.
May your child live a healthy life!