During the Rite of Baptism, the parents of the child to be baptized make a solemn vow to raise their child in the Catholic Faith, “so that, keeping God’s commandments, the child may love the Lord and neighbor as Christ has taught us.” However, prior to this promise nothing is asked of the parents other than that one of them be a baptized Catholic. As the Church wishes to make it easy as possible for Baptism, and thus for Salvation, she does not even ask that the parents be practicing Catholics!
After the parents make this pledge, the Godparents or Sponsors vow to assist the parents to live out the promise that they just made: raising the children as practicing Catholics. In the early Church when adult Baptism and Confirmation were more prevalent, it was the Sponsor who would instruct the person preparing for the Sacrament. Therefore, this person needed to be living an exemplary Catholic life.
Today the Church asks that Sponsors (Godparents) are capable and willing of living out this important task. Therefore, the sponsor must meet the following requirements:
- Be themselves Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church.
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Live as a practicing Catholic by attending Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy Days.
- If married, be married in the Catholic Church (as the Church has consistently taught).
- Promise to give good example to the child by support, encouragement, and prayer.
- Reflect in their own life the spirit and teaching of the Catholic Church.
- Model an active faith life through prayer, works of mercy, and charitable support of the community.
The certificate of eligibility is not a “permission” letter that the pastor grants. Rather, it is the attestation that the person is committed to living a life consistent with the teachings of Christ and His Church and thus give witness to the child to be Baptized or Confirmed.
At our Parish, a letter of eligibility may be obtained by meeting with one of the priests.