megavideolinks
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 Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: Verbal Roles |
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The godmother(s) and godfather(s) had three special verbal roles.
1. They told the priest what the child’s name was; in doing so they spoke this name out
loud themselves. This was done ca 12 times in the course of the entire liturgy. Rubrics having to
do with this responsibility are worded in several ways, for example:
Here first let the priest ask the name of the infant; and let the godparents reply, N.
Here let the godfathers and godmothers name the child.
Afterward let the priest ask the name of the child.
... and his name being asked, let those who hold him reply N.
“Sarum Rite,” pp 285, 286, 299
During confirmation, the single godparent gives the child’s name to the bishop once. (“Sarum
Rite,” p 207). 5
Though the term “christen” is sometimes used to refer to baptism as a whole, it more
narrowly and properly has to do with the giving of the child’s name. Some records to be
considered below tell us that more than one person asked Princess Mary “to christen” his or her
child. That meant that the she was being asked to give the baptismal name to the infant, hence
was being asked to be godmother.
The importance of godparents naming children in the liturgy of baptism is also made
clear in a catechism for children included in the 1553 Primer of King Edward VI. (Though an
Anglican document rather than Catholic, that would not have affected the following dialogue.)
Question: What is your name?
Answer: N or M
Question: Who gave you this name?
Answer: My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism, wherein I was made a member
of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
“A Catechism, that is to say, An Instruction to be Learned of Every Child, Before
He be Brought to be Confirmed of the Bishop“, p 369 in: “The Primer: or Book of
Private Prayer helpful to be used of All Christians. Authorised and Set Forth by
Order of King Edward VI 1553.” In: Joseph Ketley, ed., The Two Liturgies A.D.
1549, and A.D. 1552.... The Parker Society. Cambridge: University Press 1844;
reprint 1968
The repeated use of the child’s name is not really to correct and inform forgetful priests,
and not really to keep reminding the godparents who their godchild is – it is not for the sake of
“getting it right.” Instead, putting the child’s name repeatedly on the lips of the godparents is
part of the process of their entering into close relationship with the child. It is also public
affirmation of the child and of this new relationship between them; it is taking pride in the child
and in being godparent.
Repeatedly giving the child’s name also gives these lay women and men a greater role in
the liturgical action than if this only happened once. It is liturgical speech and ministry; it is
liturgical empowerment. It multiplied the godparents’ participation and visibility in the liturgy.
2. A second special verbal role of godparents was to “demonstrated their competence” to
be godparents by saying aloud the Our Father, Hail Mary, and I Believe (Apostles’ Creed).
Toward the end of the first section of the liturgy of baptism, the following rubric directs:
Afterwards let the priest say to the godfathers and godmothers together with all that stand
about, that they themselves must say in order, Our Father, and Hail Mary, and I believe in
God. [They then do so.]
Which also let the priest himself say with all listening reverently and distinctly thus:
Our Father.. 6
Hail Mary...
I believe...
“Sarum Rite,” pp 291-292
In the liturgical book, this rubric, and the prayers themselves, are given in Latin. Interestingly, in
several 16
th
century editions of the Manuale, the following versions in English are also printed:
Goodfaders and goodmoders and all that be here about, say in the worshyppe of god and
our ladye and of the xii apostellys a Pater noster. and Ave Maria. and Credo in Deum.
That we maye so mynyster thys blessed sacrament, that yt may be to the pleasure of
almyghty god, and confusyon of our gostly enmy, and saluacyon of te sowle of thys
chylde.
This is also followed by an admonition to the godparents, in English:
God faders and godmodyrs of thys chylde whe charge you that you charge the foder and
te moder to kepe it from fyer and water and other perels to the age of vii yere, and that ye
lerne or se yt be lerned the Pater noster. Aue maria. and Credo. after the lawe of all holy
churche and in all goodly haste to be confermed of my lorde of the dyocise or of hys
depute and that the moder brynge ayen the crysom at hyr puryfcation and washe your
hande or ye departe the chyrche.
Manuale ad usum Percelebris Ecclesie Sarisburiensis, pp 31-32
“Sarum Rite,” pp 293 (using English titles to the prayers named)
3. The third special verbal role of the godparents was to speak on behalf of the child.
when the priest addressed certain questions to the child. These were of three types:
a. Renunciations of the devil: “I renounce” (three times)
b. Professions of Christian faith: “I believe” (three times)
c. Intentions regarding baptism: What do you seek? “Baptism”
Is it your wish to be baptized? “I wish.”
The same 1533 catechism quoted above shows us that here the godparents were not simply
speaking for someone not capable of speech. Its dialogue is:
Question: What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you? [That is, what did
they do for you?]
Answer: They did promise and vow three things in my name. [These are summarized.]
Question: Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have
promised for thee?
Answer: Yes, verily. And by God’s help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly
Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
And I pray God to give me grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life’s end. 7
4. Finally, in common with other persons present, the godparents might also participate
in the regular prayers of the liturgy. For example they might say or sing ora pro nobis / pray for
us during the litany of the saints. They might also participate in the regular responses of the
liturgy such as Amen, And with your spirit, etc. (In fact I am not certain if lay people did this at
that time.)
____________________
gifts from godparents
breast enhancement herbs |
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