The Role & Responsibilities of Godparents/Sponsers?
Ukes
German baptism records.
1) Is the correct title of these people godmother/godfather or is it
sponsor, or is it something else?
2) What was role of the godparent/sponsor? Were they responsible for,
or obligated to do, anything? Somewhere I read that the godparents
were expected to give their godchildren a Bible when they were
confirmed, but if there were 3 godparents, that would be 2 more Bibles
than the child needed. (I'm Presbyterian, and we don't really have
godparents. The godparents who are best known to me are Fred and Ethel
Mertz, and I'm not sure they set the best example).
3) Were children expected to be named in honor of their godparents? If
a child has Johann among his baptism names, and his father is named
Johann and one of the godfathers is named Johann, was he probably
named Johann in honor of his father or his godfather?
Half of my German ancestors were Lutheran and half were Catholic, but
nearly all of my German research has involved Lutherans in
Mecklenburg. Are the answers to these questions different depending on
whether Lutherans or Catholics are involved?
Thanks,
Jerry
W. Fred Rump
> I have a few questions about the godparents or sponsors who appear in
> German baptism records.
The proper German term for a baptismal sponsor is Pate. The English term is
as you describe: Godparent. In German the word Mutter or Vater can be used
after the pate so that you would get Patenmutter. Often an aunt or
uncle stands in as sponsor and may be referred to as Patentante of
Patenonkel. There are no real fast rules here but the function is always the
same.
>
>
> 1) Is the correct title of these people godmother/godfather or is it
> sponsor, or is it something else?
>
> 2) What was role of the godparent/sponsor? Were they responsible for,
> or obligated to do, anything? Somewhere I read that the godparents
> were expected to give their godchildren a Bible when they were
> confirmed, but if there were 3 godparents, that would be 2 more Bibles
> than the child needed. (I'm Presbyterian, and we don't really have
> godparents. The godparents who are best known to me are Fred and Ethel
> Mertz, and I'm not sure they set the best example).
The main job of a Godparent was to stand in for the real parents should
something happen to them. Various customs existed as to presents given at
the baptsim or later in life. This really depends on the region of Germany.
>
>
> 3) Were children expected to be named in honor of their godparents? If
> a child has Johann among his baptism names, and his father is named
> Johann and one of the godfathers is named Johann, was he probably
> named Johann in honor of his father or his godfather?
Yes, the god parents usually had their names given to the child. It may have
been a second or third name but usually they were in there somewhere. The
prominence of the name was often the result of the importance of the
sponsor.
Fred
>
>
> Half of my German ancestors were Lutheran and half were Catholic, but
> nearly all of my German research has involved Lutherans in
> Mecklenburg. Are the answers to these questions different depending on
> whether Lutherans or Catholics are involved?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jerry
>
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--
Fred Rump,
730 5th St. NW Naples, FL 34120
fred...@gmail.com 239-775-7838
http://albums.phanfare.com
'The best sermons are lived, not preached' - old cowboy saying.
Ukes
Thanks, Fred!
Merry Christmas!
Jerry
samedy...@gmail.com
I really need god parent to help on my case.It's really difficult for me now.
I loosed my work while my wife begin to have my 5th child and also have a lot of dept. So have anyone help me? I do need your help, please contact me back if possible.