What does it mean to be someone's Godmother or Godfather?

[her209]

We don't have such a custom in my custom (at least that I know of).

 

[LS20]

you assume legal guardianship after the persons mother/father passes away

 

[DeepBlu]

Nothing really

 

[Coquito]

It has to do with the sacrament of Confirmation or in others, at Baptism.

 

[Whisper]

It's mostly done as a showing of respect/affection/what have you for the person selected. But as mentioned, the godmother/father assumes guardianship if the parents pass away.

 

[IronWing]

It's mostly a Catholic thing. You agree to see that the child is raised Catholic in the event the parents are not able to do so. There is no legal component. As a child I lived in terror of anything happening to my parents 'cause my aunt and uncle were my godparents. They had eight kids and there was no way I wanted to live with them. Turns out that that wouldn't have happened anyway.

 

[Pepsi90919]

you don't have a custom in your custom? what

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

mostly ceremonial....you participate in the baptism, etc. if they have one, and may have more inclination to give gifts and keep in touch. Used to be you were expected to take care of them if something happens to the parents, but thats kind of gone by the wayside.

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: ironwing
It's mostly a Catholic thing. You agree to see that the child is raised Catholic in the event the parents are not able to do so. There is no legal component. As a child I lived in terror of anything happening to my parents 'cause my aunt and uncle were my godparents. They had eight kids and there was no way I wanted to live with them. Turns out that that wouldn't have happened anyway.

FTW