Baptismal Sponsors (Godparents)
Godparents who vow to raise a soul in the faith
Baptismal sponsors, or godparents, are adults who sponsor a candidate at baptism and take responsibility for their Christian upbringing. The custom is ancient, reflected in early church orders. It is kept by Catholic, Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Christians. Baptist and Free churches, which baptize believers rather than infants, generally reject the practice along with infant baptism.
How it traveled
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · c. 1274 CEexplains
Key passages(13)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 2: Further, Baptism is a spiritual regeneration, as stated above (A[3]). But in carnal generation nothing else is required but the active principle, i.e. the father, and the passive principl
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
7. That which you have placed at the end of your series of questions you have judged to be the most difficult, because of the jealous care with which you are wont to avoid whatever is false. You state
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The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
Canon LIII. Whereas the spiritual relationship is greater than fleshly affinity; and since it has come to our knowledge that in some places certain persons who become sponsors to children in holy sal
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: Just as spiritual generation is distinct from carnal generation, so is spiritual education distinct from that of the body; according to Heb. 12:9: "Moreover we have had fathers o
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: The principle of fortitude is in the heart, but its sign appears on the forehead: wherefore it is written (Ezech. 3:8): "Behold I have made . . . thy forehead harder than their f
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 63 [XXXIV.]—The Form, or Rite, of Baptism. Exorcism. What shall I say of the actual form of this sacrament? I only wish some one of those who espouse the contrary side would bring me an infan
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It seems that children should not be baptized. For the intention to receive the sacrament is required in one who is being baptized, as stated above (A[7]). But children cannot have such a
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 38.—What “Lighteth” Means. But why, after saying, “which lighteth every man,” should he add, “that cometh into the world,”illumination, as if it were the creation of an inner eye, then it can
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The Confessions · Augustine of Hippo
Anciently, as Palmer has noted in the introduction to his Origines Liturgicæ, the liturgies of the various churches were learnt by heart. They probably began to be committed to writing about Augustin’
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The Confessions · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter VI.—He is Baptized at Milan with Alypius and His Son Adeodatus. The Book “De Magistro.” 14. Thence, when the time had arrived at which I was to give in my name,The Master. “They were baptize
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Although, therefore, both these things which are connected with Christ’s humiliation and those which are connected with His exaltation meet in one and the same Person, and all that is in Him of Divine
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Book VII. Concerning the Christian Life, and the Eucharist, and the Initiation into Christ · Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
I. The lawgiver Moses said to the Israelites, “Behold, I have set before your face the way of life and the way of death;”Jesus also said justly: “No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Homily XXIV. Acts X. 44, 46 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came wit
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