What a godmother should do for a child

How to choose a godmother for your baby. What a godmother should do during baptism. What to buy for a christening child, and what gifts are appropriate on this day.

The sacrament of baptism is a great rite for all Christians. It is believed that at baptism, a person is given his guardian angel, who is invisibly with him throughout his life. Therefore, parents try to baptize the child as early as possible in order to give him divine protection and help. However, according to the canons, neither mom nor dad of the baby can take part in the baptism ceremony. For this, the child needs a spiritual mentor: a godmother or a godfather. The task of godparents is not only to go to church and support the baby at baptism. This is a responsible mission that must be carried out throughout life. We figured out what the godmother should do during baptism and what role she plays in the future life of her godson or goddaughter.

Who can become a godmother to a child

The godmother should not be a blood relative of the child

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According to old church rules, a child should have only one godparent: for a boy it is a man, and for a girl it is a woman. However, since about the 15th century, it has been customary for the Slavs to choose both godparents for baptism. Therefore, the godmother is invited to the baptism ceremony, even if the child is male. When choosing a godmother for your little one, be sure to talk to her about her relationship to religion. According to church canons, a person cannot become a godparent for a child in such cases:

unbelieving
unbaptized
professes a different faith (not only a non-believer, but even a different confession)
minor
is a minister of the church

It is also very undesirable to take a blood relative of the baby (brother or sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother or grandfather) as the godparent. There is no direct prohibition from the church on this (it is forbidden to baptize a child only by biological parents), however, ancient rules prescribe choosing an outsider for the family in the role of spiritual mentor person. You cannot choose for christening a man and a woman who are married or are going to get married. The Church places the spiritual kinship that arises between godparents and godson higher than any other alliance. Therefore, the family that christened the baby, from a spiritual point of view, will have to end their relationship.

What a godmother should do at baptism

The godmother buys a kryzhma and a baptismal shirt for the child

It is imperative to prepare for the sacrament of the baptism of a child in advance. The future godmother must attend a church service, confess (repent of her sins) and receive communion. Three days before the baptism itself, it is very desirable to observe a light fast: give up animal food and alcohol, refrain from sex and entertainment, not swear or swear. In some churches, priests schedule one or more interviews for the godmother-to-be. After passing them, the priest blesses the woman for this bright and responsible mission.

For the baptism ceremony, the godmother must buy in advance a kryzhma - a white cloth (diaper, towel), into which the child is accepted after the font. This canvas will be stored throughout a person's life: many consider it to be as strong a talisman as a pectoral cross. Also, the duties of the godmother include the purchase of a christening shirt (undershirt). This is a loose-fitting shirt made of natural fabric, into which the baby is changed after the font and before the anointing procedure. Pectoral cross and chain according to church traditions the godfather buys.

On the day of the christening, the godmother is advised not to eat anything until the sacrament itself. So she can take part in the first communion of her godchild and receive communion with him. You must come to church with a pectoral cross and always with your head covered. Clothes for christening should be restrained: hands and neckline should be covered, skirt should be below the knees. Try not to wear dark clothes: baptism is a bright and joyful holiday. Choose clothes that are soft, pastel colors that blend in with your surroundings.

During the christening, the godmother holds and calms the baby

During the sacrament of baptism, it is the godmother who holds the baby in her arms, soothes and entertains him. Therefore, it is very good for the future godmother to get acquainted with the child in advance and teach him to hand, as well as to find out from the mother the ways that can distract the baby from crying. Do not forget that before starting the ordinance, you will need to read prayer "Symbol of Faith": it is better if the godmother learns it by heart, so as not to worry and not get lost during the baptism. If you baptize a girl, then after the baptismal font the godmother takes the baby from the priest (if the boy is the godfather). She also holds the goddaughter in her arms while walking around the baptismal font behind the priest, while reading prayers and during the anointing.

What gifts should a godmother give

It is customary to give a child symbolic gifts for baptism. It is believed that the godmother should buy the Gospel with a bookmark for the godson or goddaughter, for review in the future. There is also a custom to give a so-called “measured” icon to a child for christening, which is equal to the growth of the baby at the time of birth. This icon, if desired, can be donated by both godparents (from two). But there is no need to give a silver spoon for a christening: the godparents give such a gift to the child in honor of the appearance of the first teeth.

Everything else christening gifts can be very different. But it is better if the godmother coordinates them with the baby's parents in advance. Most often, a commemorative photo album for the first photo of the child, clothes, toys, children's books or jewelry (for example, the first earrings for a girl) are presented for christenings. It is not forbidden to give money for christening - sometimes (especially for young parents) this is the most practical and useful gift.

What role does a godmother play in a child's life?

After the christening, duties for the godmother do not end, but only begin. Indeed, according to church customs, it is she who is responsible for the spiritual education of the baby. Therefore, the godmother should introduce the child to church: go to church with him, pray, receive communion and confess. It is believed that she should serve as a role model for the godson or goddaughter: by her example to show the principles of a godly life. The godmother must necessarily pray for the child and take part in his spiritual development, take his problems seriously and be ready to support him in difficult times. She is also obliged to God to take responsibility for the child if something happens to his blood parents.