Friday 25 November 2022

Godparents.


Have Godparents become a thing of the past?

With so few churchgoers, and so few babies being Christened/Baptised, it does seem that Godparents are no longer required. No more plunging babies into cold water, no more promises to make sure that he/she behaves like a saint, and no more guaranties to make sure the poor thing believes in gods, devils, and pixies.

Only once have I been asked to be a Godfather. It was someone I hardly knew, he was a Catholic, and I had never met the infant daughter concerned. Why he chose me is something of a mystery. Anyway, I said 'no', and explained that I wouldn't be a very good example to a young French maiden. Of course, I could have given her a few Francs every birthday, but that didn't seem a good enough reason to go against all my principles.

I myself had a Godfather; he was the husband of my mother's older sister, known to all as Sir James. Unfortunately, he went mad and ended up in a 'home'. As my dutiful Godfather, he had left me a tidy sum in his will, but by the time he died his own sister had bled him dry. My father had been his executor and revealed the sorry state of affairs after his demise. I really wasn't fussed.

That was my only experience of Godfathers, and I'm not sorry to see the 'position' fading into obscurity. I think we can all happily live without them; and I for one can certainly live without having been one.


27 comments:

  1. Oh dear, you won't want to know to how many "children" I am godmother to. The fingers on one hand won't suffice.

    To be asked to be a godparent is an honour. Bestowed on you by the parents of the to be christened child. In this day and age not so much to do with subscribing to a particular denomination's "faith" but with faith in you by the parents of a child to look out for the apple of their eye and their interests should they (the parent) bite the dust early. So, yes, an honour, and, the big AND, accepting a responsibility. A responsibility which we shouldn't enter into lightly but willingly, with our heart and best endeavour.

    A christening, like any ritual (weddings/funerals), is also being part of a community - family, friends, your immediate vicinity. So, not unsurprisingly, I find your interpretation rather cold and cynical. More to the point: Did you and Lady M have your children christened and how did you choose their god parents? By the size of their purse or their heart and willingness, their personality, your trust in them, a measure of your fondness for each other?

    U

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course we didn't have them christened. I would have thought that even you would have accepted that I have a certain amount of common sense.

      Delete
  2. Godparents are redundant here as we become increasingly irreligious. I and my next brother were christened but not my two younger siblings. They don't have the devil in them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the old primitive rituals are slowly disappearing. A good thing too.

      Delete
  3. My experience of godparents is much the same as yours. I am not a godparent and was asked once and, like you, I declined.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't really see the point of it. It's all nonsense, and having seen Ursula's comment I'm even more convinced.

      Delete
  4. I am on your side with this Cro, but then I am a total heathen.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am godmother to two. I relinquished my responsibilities when they turned 18. My own godparents were attentive until they divorced and then I never heard from them again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't suppose they need you much after 18, other than for money, of course.

      Delete
  6. I am godmother to a fine young man, the son of my best friend. It's been good.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was Christened and so was my brother, It didn't take with him as he was a wee bugger but it worked for me, I'm perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My godfather was present at my christening but he never again figured in my life. I think my father was friendly with him in WWII. His name was Ernie Ray... I wonder if he left me a fortune when he died? Mmm, I don't suppose I will ever find out but hey, money isn't everything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My godfather lived just a few houses away, but as he was bonkers he didn't really fulfil any godfatherly duties.

      Delete
  9. You couldn't live without one here. The baptism is a huge celebration and lucky godparents get to pay for the service, gold cross and the first set of clothes for the babe who has been set on the road to God. Then they give presents on birthdays, name days, Easter and Christmas. My husband has 3 god sons. All grown up now thank goodness. And my daughter is not far behind with 3 god children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You see, I was right. Nothing but a damn nuisance.

      Delete
    2. An expensive nuisance by the sound of it.

      Delete
  10. My sister was christened but I wasn't !!!! She has a middle name but I dont ! It wasn't because my parents didn't care about me .... I think a friend of the family's daughter was being christened when my sister was a baby so they chucked her in the font as well !!! So, no godparents feature in my life ..... and our children weren't christened. XXXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stick with Uncles and Aunts, at least we know who they are, and they can usually be relied upon.

      Delete
  11. My children were baptized and had godparents, chosen because they were people close to us. It's something I probably wouldn't do now as I am no longer married to the man who insisted we had to belong to a church and ended up becoming a Bahai himself.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds complicated. It's all probably best avoided.

      Delete
  12. I was christened as were my brother and sister. My mother's brother was godfather to us all. My mother's thinking was, if she passed away while we were children, he would take us in and raise us. Not a bad idea. That said, I did not christen my own son. But...my uncle, named above, (without my involvement) had my son christened making himself godfather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a bit sneaky, doing it behind your back.

      Delete
  13. I am Godmother to a girl I saw at her Christening and never since. I don't even know where they live or if they are still alive. The father was friends with my husband, at the time they were both in the Army.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suspect you are not alone. For most people I expect 'godparent' is a once-used word only.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...