Godparent
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A godparent, in some denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather and a female godparent is a godmother. The child is a godchild.At a Roman Catholic Baptism, there is always a Godparent or Godparents present if possible. A Godparent is much like a patron saint on earth, who prays for the newly baptised, looks after them spiritually and gives them guidance. The Catholic Church sees Baptism as an entry into the Kingdom of God, and entry into the Church. It is not something which is just between the person and God, but a whole-Church event wherein the Holy Spirit dwells.
Traditionally, the godparents were counted informally responsible for ensuring that the child's religious education was carried out, and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Today the latter duty is the most commonly recognized duty of a godparent, and the word "godparent" often no longer has religious overtones. The modern definition of godparent is an individual chosen by the parents to take a vested interest in raising a more complete human being. However, godparent is not a legal position, and should the parents seriously intend the godparents to act as foster parents in case of their death, this must be legally specified through the usual means (such as a will).
A godparent may be related to the child, such as an uncle or an aunt. In some cultures, the word for "godparent of one's child" is used for any, or certain, very close friends. This is the meaning of the Spanish compadre and comadre, the French commère and compère, and the archaic meaning of the English word gossip (from godsib, "god-sibling").
At least in the Anglican church, prospective godparents must be at least christened before they can take on this responsibility. The Roman Catholic Church also requires that the godparents have undergone Confirmation. In the US, a non Roman Catholic cannot become a godparent but is technically known as a Christian Witness.
Folktales often feature a fairy godmother, a fairy who acts as a mentor to a main character.
[edit] Judaism
There are two roles in the Jewish circumcision ceremony which are sometimes translated as godparent. The sandaq holds the baby boy while he is circumcised. Among Orthodox Ashkenazi the kvater (or kvaterin if female) is the person who takes the child from his mother and carries him into the room in which the circumcision is performed.
[edit] Quotes
- "Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and thats why they have godfathers" - Tom Hagen to Jack Woltz, from Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Book I p.60.ca:Padrí
da:Fadder de:Pate fr:Parrain (religion) ja:代父母 nl:Peterschap no:Fadder sv:Fadder zh:教父
