The Sacrament of Baptism

What is Baptism?
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation. Through the waters of Baptism, the recipient is cleansed of all sin and begins a new life in Christ as a beloved son or daughter of God. Baptism is willed by God to be an essential part of the ordinary path to salvation, as it is the means by which one enters into the Church which Christ founded. 

The rite of Baptism has two essential elements called "form" and "matter". The matter of Baptism is natural water. The water symbolizes the real spiritual cleansing of sin, which takes place within the soul of the recipient. The form of Baptism consists of the words spoken by the minister while pouring the water. These words are "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." In order for the Sacrament to be validly conferred, both the matter (water) and the form (these specific words) must be used in the ritual. If either element is omitted or is altered, no valid Baptism can occur. 

The Sacrament of Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul of the recipient, meaning that he or she is eternally marked as a member of the Church, consecrated for Christian worship. For this reason, the Sacrament of Baptism can never be repeated. 

Since Baptism is a free gift of God and impossible for any man or woman to merit by their own power, the Church has seen fit to confer the Sacrament upon children below the age of reason, so that they may experience the grace and freedom of a life in Christ from their earliest years. This has been the tradition of the Church from her earliest times. 

What is required to be a Godparent?
For a person to act as a Godparent, the following requirements must be met:

• Be designated by the candidate, parents, guardians, or pastor.
• Have the intention of performing the role of sponsor.
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Be a fully initiated Catholic (received Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation).
  • ​Godparents must provide their Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation certificates to be approved for the role by the parish.
• Lead a life in harmony with the Faith and role of a sponsor (i.e., be a registered member of a parish, follow the five precepts of the Church as described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2041-2043,  and be faithful to the laws of the Church regarding marriage).
  • ​Godparents must provide their certificate of marriage from the Catholic Church in which they were married. 
• Not bound by any canonical penalty.
• Not the father or mother of the candidate.
• Provide a letter of Good Standing from their home parish if they are not registered members of Our Lady of Guadalupe.