THE CHURCH CATECHISM EXPLAINED. THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT. GODFATHERS AND GODMOTHERS. What is your name? N. or M. Who gave you this name? My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. How many godfathers and godmothers ought you to have had? (If boys,) two godfathers and one godmother; (if girls,) one godfather and two godmothers. What is the duty of a godfather or godmother? To see that we are taught our religion. Is it not the duty of your parents to see that you are taught your religion? Yes. May they not then be your godparents? No. Because they are already bound to see us taught as our parents. B What is the use of having other persons besides your parents to see that you are taught your religion? In case our parents should die, or should neglect to teach us, or to see that we are taught. Who then ought to stand for you as a godfather or godmother? Some relation, friend, or neighbour of our parents. Is it not a good thing for friends, and especially neighbours, to stand for one another's children? Yes. Because it helps to keep them friends when they are interested each in the children of the other. Ought neighbours and friends to refuse to stand for one another's children when asked to do so? Never, unless they are shortly going to leave the neighbourhood or country in which the parents reside. Why may they not refuse? Because it is refusing an opportunity afforded them by God of doing good; and if that opportunity is wilfully neglected, it will have to be accounted for at the last day; especially as Christians are commanded in Scripture "to have a care one for another." 1st Cor. xii, 25. |