Il Blog di Holyart.com
Incense has always been linked to the idea of the sacred, and the divine. Since the earliest times, its use has been attested in ancient civilizations, almost always for religious purposes. Their intense and aromatic scent was considered to be appreciated by the Gods, as it…
At the time of the ancient Roman civilization in situations of extreme gravity, a commander could decide to sacrifice his life to ensure the victory of his own troops and the salvation of his men. To do so, he pronounced a vow to the gods…
Whenever we think of Easter, apart from the religious significance of this festival for Christians, the first thought that probably comes to mind is chocolate eggs, which we give away as gifts for the occasion. The Easter egg is a form gluttony covered with coloured, shiny paper, decorated with ribbons and often accompanied by gifts and surprises inside or applied externally, to bring a smile to both young and old. A festive tradition, it only appears to be commercialised, because in fact an Easter cake par excellence also egg-shaped and it’s certainly not just a coincidence.
In fact, the symbolism of eggs is one of the oldest there is, and has unified countless cultures and religions since the dawn of time. As often happens, Christianity has done
nothing more but take this symbol, strip it of all the pagan declensions and re-offer it in a Christian way. For Christians, the egg becomes a symbol of Christ rising from the dead, coming out of the sepulchre, rolling away the stone, which was in the shape of an egg, in fact. Furthermore the egg, apparently inert and inanimate, holds a new life inside it. This dual symbolism, of the stone of the tomb of Jesus and of the hidden life ready to hatch, make the egg a symbol of the Resurrection, of the Life and Salvation represented by Christ, and the hope of everyman. It is no coincidence then, that the egg was taken over by many artists as the protagonist of their works; first of all the famous ones, hand painted Russian eggs, small masterpieces depicting different religious subjects. Painted Russian eggs depicting the Madonna or Russian eggs depicting the Holy Family or many other Christian symbols.
We started with the meaning of the egg in Christianity, but it is certainly of interest to go back in history a little, and discover what this particular and unique object represented in antiquity, how it evolved over time and through cultural traditions, and ended up coming to us.
The egg-life association is, of course, immediate, and must also have been so for our predecessors.
The symbolism of the egg has very ancient origins. Many civilizations identified it as the very origin of the world. The cosmic egg, or egg of the world, was considered by the ancients as a vital and energetic nucleus that floated in nothingness, in the primordial chaos. By closing itself it would generate the cosmos as we know it.
This interpretation occurs in many civilizations, from the Sumerian and Assyrian Babylonians, to the Egyptians, to the Greeks, to the Hindus, then assuming particular characteristics and differentiated in different cultures.
For the Egyptians, the two parts of the egg shell born from the beak of the big Knef duck, breaking away, gave rise to heaven and earth. Also according to Egyptian religion, the symbolism of the egg as an emblem of life goes back to the myth of the Phoenix, which cyclically dies, and then rises from its ashes that give rise to an egg fed by the Sun and the Air. Again, the Egyptians placed the egg at the centre of the four elements: earth, air, fire and water.
In Greek mythology the egg represented the creation, played by Castor and Pollux, the children conceived by Leda and Zeus, the latter in the form of a swan, and born from an egg. Also for the Greeks Eros, the god of love was born from a silver egg laid by Night and fertilized by the North wind. An even older myth, dating back to the pre-Hellenic people of Greece, tells a version of a similar story, in which the goddess Eurinome, fertilized by the snake Ofione, deposited the universal egg into the whirling womb of chaos.
According to the Celts, an egg called Glain was the origin of the cosmos. In northern Europe there was a custom of rolling eggs from the top of a hill to Beltane, to imitate the movement of the sun in the sky.
For the Hindus too, the two parts of the shell of the cosmic egg, one of gold, the other of silver, gave rise to the heaven and earth. The same egg was Brahma, the emanation /creation of the material universe, enclosed in the golden heart of the Egg of the World and in this form slept long in the darkness, before exploding in a golden and burning light, which generated life, in a sort of predecessor of the Big Bang.
The Egg of the World also appears in the Chinese Taoist religion, where Pangu, the creator of the world, was born from the cosmic egg, in which Chaos coagulated, and which contained within it the primordial principles Yin and Yang. These two principles, stabilised until they reached a perfect equilibrium, gave rise to Pangu, who later, with his axe split the Cosmic Egg in two, creating the Earth (Yin) and the Sky (Yang) and placed himself between them to keep them separated, with the help of a turtle, Qilin (a kind of Chimera of the Phoenix and a dragon).
The egg as the origin of the world, therefore, is a symbol of eternal life, which is renewed cyclically, and regenerates itself, throughout time and the seasons. The Greeks, the Chinese, the Egyptians and the Persians exchanged eggs, sometimes decorated and coloured, as a gift for spring festivals, like the spring equinox, to greet the beginning of the new season.
The egg is also a symbol associated with the Female, in all the cults of the Mother Goddess, since it is the role of women to generate the egg, and with it, life.
The egg also featured in Orfism, in Mithraism and in the Dionysian mysteries, always as a symbol of life and creation, and in Alchemy too, where the Philosopher’s Egg can be interpreted as the Egg of the world.
We’ve already seen how the custom of giving eggs was widespread in antiquity, especially in conjunction with the arrival of spring, as a symbol of the ‘rebirth’ of nature.
Like the Egyptians before them, Christians also decorated hen’s eggs with crosses or other symbols, and painted them red to recall the blood of Christ. This tradition may have had a considerable boost from the ban, during Lent, of eating eggs. This meant many hen’s eggs were laid that were not eaten. So as not to waste them entirely, Christians may have begun to boil and decorate them. Over time, the tradition of bringing these eggs to church to bless them began. In the Middle Ages, especially in Germany, it was customary to give away simple or decorated eggs for Easter.
Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries they continued to give children coloured and decorated eggs and hen, or egg-shaped toys, while it was only at the beginning of the nineteenth century that chocolate eggs made their appearance. The first empty chocolate egg that contained a surprise was produced by the English company Cadbury in 1875. Previously, full chocolate eggs had already been manufactured in France and Germany. The first ones would have been made in the times of King Louis XIV, the Sun King. It was the Dutch chemist and master chocolate maker Coenraad Johannes van Houten who discovered, in the early nineteenth century, how to treat cocoa beans with alkaline salts to make them sweet and easier to dissolve in water, and how to extract the butter from them. Subsequently, other discoveries led to the extraction of pure chocolate powder that could easily be modelled and used in moulds. In 1819, François Louis Cailler created the first Swiss factory where chocolate was made into a mouldable dough thanks to a particular machine. Other sources however state that there were already prototypes for making empty chocolate eggs containing small surprises in Turin in the eighteenth century.
Also at the end of the nineteenth century the fashion for making eggs of gold, silver and platinum, covered with precious stones began to spread. In reality, this custom was already widespread in the Middle Ages, and was only taken up at the end of the nineteenth century. The first person to commission an egg similar to those of the famous jeweller Carl Faberge was the Tsar Alexander III Romanov, as a gift for his wife Marija. Fabergé created an enamelled platinum egg, which contained a second egg, conceived as a golden yolk, inside which there was a golden chick with ruby eyes, wearing a reproduction of the imperial crown on its head. The Fabergé collection of Russian imperial eggs now consists of 52 eggs. Most of these eggs contain others that are smaller, just as precious, as a matrioske. One egg made by Fabergé in honour of the Trans-Siberian railway was decorated with a metallic band engraved with the railway route, and contained a small train made of pure gold.
Returning to chocolate eggs, nowadays, those hand made by confectioners are flanked by large-scale production on the industrial scale. The manufacture and distribution of eggs begins more than a month before Easter, and eggs of all types and sizes, are offered for sale on the market.
Elsewhere, particularly in the Orthodox countries, they continue to prefer giving a hard-boiled hen’s egg coloured with natural colours. The eggs have to be cooked for a long time, until they are very firm. To dye them you can use onion skins or tea leaves to get a brown colour; ivy and nettle leaves give a green colour; saffron and cumin for yellow; red beets for red. You just cook the eggs in the boiling water to dye them, and then fix the colour with a few drops of vinegar.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a devotional prayer that guarantees those who recite it, especially at the point of death, the grace of conversion and the forgiveness of all sins. It is also a prayer that invokes God’s mercy on all humanity, offering the Passion…
The Novena is a Christian devotional form that is usually practiced on a religious recurrence or a particularly important holiday, like at Christmas, Easter, Immaculata or Pentecost. It involves reciting a particular prayer for nine consecutive days, or different prayers, addressed to God, and usually aimed at requesting the intercession…
The Catholic Church recognises the existence of only three Archangels, or the three mentioned in the Scriptures: Michael (“Who is like God?”), Gabriel (“God’s Power”) and Raphael (“God’s Doctor”).
This clarification is needed, because one could object that in the texts of the past, other archangels have been mentioned, the same as the number of sects in the Book of Enoch: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Phanuel and Gabriel. The system of seven archangels is in fact an ancient tradition of Judaic origin.
The Catholic Church, however, considered it necessary to stop such arbitrary and fanciful interpretations of texts that did not belong to the canonical Holy Scriptures. In fact, we remind you that all individual traditions must be examined and verified in accordance with what is stated in the Holy Canonical Scripture, which is the only true revelation.
Therefore, with regard to the Archangels, it was established in the Middle Ages that the worship and veneration of any of the other archangels mentioned by the Bible apart from Michele, Gabriele and Raphael was forbidden. Even in the past, in the early Church, great efforts were made to prevent the cult of angels, which was influenced by heterodox practices and the pagan traditions of divine messengers, from leading to a form of idolatry.
In 1992, the decree Litteris Diei stated that “it is forbidden to teach and use notions about angels and archangels, their personal names and their particular functions, outside of what is directly reflected in the Holy Scriptures; consequently, every form of consecration to the angels, and any practices other than the official customs of worship are forbidden.”
The existence of angels is a truth of the faith. Their presence in the Bible is incontrovertible testimony to this. These are incorporeal beings, who are spiritual, perfect, created by God at the dawn of time for the purpose of being his servants and messengers. They have always and forever contemplated the face of God, are ready to rush to his every command, as attentive listeners and executors of His Word.
They are therefore spirits that exist for Him and in Him, who are, however, also close to humans, through the faithfulness between the will of the Most High and his creatures.
Angels therefore live in the contemplation of God and act as His messengers.
And the Archangels?
Since ancient times, we have considered the fact that the angelic hosts are organised into a sort of Heavenly Court, in which the angels have different ranks and graces. The three Archangels occupy the highest domains of this angelic hierarchy. They too have tasks similar to those of the common angels, but their duties are even higher and more important. They are the task of contemplating God, day and night, glorifying Him incessantly by preserving and protecting His mystery. Their own names suggest their roles and their nature: all end with “El”, which signifies “God”.
The Sacred Scripture then, attributes a particular mission to each Archangel.
Michael is the warrior who fights against Satan and his emissaries (Jn 9, Ap 12, 7, cf. Zec 13: 1-2), the defender of those who love God (Dn 10, 13.21), the protector of the people of God (Dn. 12, 1).
Gabriel is one of the spirits closest to God, before his heavenly throne (Lk 1, 19), the one who revealed to Daniel the secrets of God’s plan (Dn 8, 16; 9, 21-22), announced to Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1, 11-20) and to Mary that of Jesus (Lk 1, 26-38).
Raphael stands before the throne of God (Tb 12, 15, see Rev 8: 2), accompanied and protects Tobias in his perilous journey and healed his father from blindness and his future bride from the influence of evil.
In general, therefore, the task of the three Archangels, in addition to contemplation of God, is to communicate His Will to man in various ways, to be an inspiration for human beings, and the catalysts of divine grace for them.
Saint Michael appears in the Holy Scriptures, in particular in the Book of Daniel, in the Letters of the Apostle Saint Jude Thaddeus and in the Apocalypse.
His name derives from the Hebrew Mi-ka-El which means “who is like God?”
Popular iconography represents him as a warrior in armour wielding a sword, or intending to slay a dragon that symbolises the Devil, with a spear. In fact, this is the role played by Michael, that of the fighter fighting against rebel angels who are led by Lucifer. It was Michael who led the heavenly hosts in the war leading to the expulsion of rebellious angels from Paradise, and since then, he has continued to stand up as God’s defender against Evil and its deceits. The theatre for this new battle is no longer heaven, forbidden to Satan, but the souls of we humans, constantly targeted by the flattery of Evil, and instigated at every moment to rebel against God. The Devil tries to convince men that God is a tyrant, who limits their freedom and their own full realisation in the creation. The Archangel Michael is sent from heaven to protect men and guide them, to teach them to distinguish good from evil and truth from falsehood.
In the Apocalypse, where he revealed himself to John, he is described as a majestic being, vested with the task of examining the souls destined for the Last Judgment.
The Judger of souls, therefore, and protector, defender of the Church, and of the people of God.
It is no coincidence that Castel S. Angelo, the fortress where the Pope takes refuge when in danger, is watched over by his statue, and travellers and pilgrims invoke his name and his protection against the hazards of the journey.
Some studies have sought to see in Archangel Michael, the influence of ancient myths linked to the legendary figure of a god-hero killer of monsters, like the Babylonian god Marduk, or of pagan gods who were engaged to act as mediators between heaven and earth, like the Greek god Hermes. The same festival dedicated to the Archangel, on 29 September, falls on this day as a legacy of the celebrations of the Autumn Equinox, a consecrated feast in Mithras, of a divinity linked to the Sun by the Persians and then the Romans.
His cult, within the Catholic Church, started in the East, but spread rapidly throughout Europe, especially following his appearance on the Gargano, in Puglia, when the Archangel appeared in San Lorenzo Maiorano in a cave that centuries later became a pilgrimage for popes, sovereigns and future saints. Near the cave rose the Basilica Sanctuary, which still today remains one of the most important and magnificent places of worship among those dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
In 2013, Pope Francis consecrated the Vatican City State to St. Joseph and St. Michael the Archangel, recognising once again his role as defender of the Faith and of the Church.
The Archangel Michael, the ‘celestial warrior’, is the protector of swordsmen and masters of arms. His skills as a judger of souls have also made him the patron of all trades that involve the use of assessments, such as traders, pharmacists, pastry chefs. He is also patron saint of the Police.
The cult of Archangel St. Michael
St. Michael the Archangel is one of the three archangels recognized by Christianity, and not just that…
Even the Archangel Gabriel, like Michael and Raphael, has a festival day- which is celebrated on September 29th.
His name derives from the Hebrew, and means “Power of God” or “God is Mighty”.
In the biblical tradition, he was considered to be one of the angels closest to the throne of God, to the point of being referred to as “the left hand of God”.
In the Bible, he is also presented as an angel of death, while for the Muslims he is one of the chief Messengers of God and the angel who revealed the Koran to Muhammad.
In the Christian tradition, Gabriel is particularly remembered as a messenger.
He revealed the future birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, he appeared in a dream to Joseph to make him desist from repudiating Mary, because her pregnancy was the work of the Holy Spirit, and, naturally, because she was the bearer of a miraculous conception and of the birth of Jesus. In this case, more than in any other, he consecrated himself as being the messenger of God. It was Gabriel who appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen her as the mother for His only Son. No imposition, no obligation. Only a request, addressed by one of the most powerful angels to a simple and humble girl. The role of Gabriel was therefore pivotal. He brings God’s message to us, making it understandable to us, helping us to listen with a pure heart and to accept the will of the Almighty.
Some interpretations have sought to see him as the angel who will blow the horn announcing the Day of Judgment, according to the Apocalypse of John.
Gabriel is considered to be the protector of those who work in communications, postmen, ambassadors, journalists and couriers.
Christian iconography depicts him as a young winged cherub, who often carries a lily in his hands, as a symbol of the Annunciation to Mary.
Raphael is the Archangel whose mission is to bring healing. In fact, his name derives from Hebrew and means “God’s Doctor”.
In the Bible, he is among the angels closest to the throne of God, who was chosen by Tobias to guide him on his journey to collect the payments left by his father. During the journey, Raphael, in human form, found a suitable bride for Tobias and restored the sight to the boy’s father.
Raphael was considered to be the patron of conjugal love, of young people, engaged couples, spouses, pharmacists, educators, travellers and refugees. Although not mentioned in the Qur’an, for Muslims, he is the angel in charge of sounding the horn that will signal the start of the Day of Judgement (according to other traditions, this was the task of Gabriel).
Often depicted with a jar containing medicaments and fishes, he is the patron of pharmacists, travellers and refugees.
His role as a healer, as “God’s Doctor” should always be interpreted as the will to heal the soul, to relieve it from its suffering and make it best disposed to welcome God. By restoring sight to the father of Tobias, Raphael opened his eyes to the Truth of the Almighty, just as, by driving out the demons that persecuted the girl who was promised to him, he made their marriage and their love possible. That is why he is also considered to be a protector of engaged couples and of conjugal love. Both are symbolic and meaningful healings, therefore. The power of the Archangel Raphael heals blindness, like the faith and love that priests show us and communicate to us every day opens our eyes to God. Equally, divine intervention, through its emissary, dissipates the clouds between men and women, makes them pure and suitable for union, in the name of a love blessed by God and by the Church.
Through St. Raphael, the healing and purifying power of God’s love descends on us, making us more worthy, and closer to God.
It isn’t easy to explain what a Confession is to a child. It isn’t easy because it isn’t easy to explain what the concept of Sin is to them. Yet it is fundamental for a child’s growth as a human being, and as a Christian, that they understand what…
According to Christian tradition, every one of us has a guardian angel, who accompanies us from the moment we’re born until the moment of our death, and stays at our side at every moment of our life. The idea of a spirit, of a supernatural entity…
Baptism is the first of the sacraments that enshrine the true birth of a Christian. It is through Baptism that we are purified from original sin and become part of the Church and of the body of Christ.
Thanks to Baptism, we have access to the other sacraments and begin to take the path of the Spirit. Purified by the unconditional forgiveness of God we become, in effect, his children.
The word Baptism derives from the Greek βάπτισμα, or báptisma, meaning “immersion”. It is precisely what this is, an immersion in purifying water. The symbolism of water as an instrument of purification occurs in many religions of antiquity. In particular, in Judaism it was necessary to practice purifying ablutions before being able to access the cult. The water cleansed the body and with it the spirit of all impurities, washing away the sin. Over time, these practices that thought of water as an instrument of purification, spread more and more, taking different forms among the various communities.
Ritual ablutions and purifying baths are in some ways a prelude to Baptism as we know it, but already in the Old Testament men had recognized the saving power of water, his being an instrument of God’s will to save the righteous. Think of the universal Flood, or the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses and the chosen people fleeing from Egypt.
We have to wait for the Baptism of John the Baptist to find something that is closer to our idea of baptism. In fact, in addition to using the purifying function of water, it made those who received it an integral part of the descendants of Abraham, of the people who waited with faith and hope for the coming of the Messiah. To access the Baptism of John it was necessary to repent of one’s own sins and beg for forgiveness. Those who requested it had to be aware of the purpose of this choice in their life and commit themselves to perpetrate it to the end. John himself declared that his baptism was only provisional, and was the prelude to the baptism that the Messiah will bring: a baptism made with water, waiting for the one made of fire.
When Jesus presented himself to John to receive baptism, he fully accepted his own destiny. Coming out of the water, Jesus saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit appear in the form of a dove, while from the sky a voice was heard: “You are my beloved child”. The Holy Spirit descended on him, investing him in his role, transforming him into the Lamb of God. It was the beginning of a new life and the premonitions of death, which would lead to the Resurrection. The destiny of a man and of all humanity was fulfilled on the banks of the Jordan River, in a single gesture of submission and humility that was destined to change everything.
Christian Baptism was created with the Pentecost, that is, with the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus.
Just as the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan represented the beginning of his ministry amongst men, Pentecost, the Baptism of fire of the Holy Spirit, represented the beginning of the Apostle’s mission and, to all effects, the beginning of the Christian Church. As ordered by Jesus, from that moment, Peter and the other disciples began to preach about the need to repent for our sins and receive baptism to obtain forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A Christian baptism involves immersion in water or alternatively, a sprinkling of water onto the head. Immersion in water symbolised the death of Jesus, while the Resurrection emerged from it. Sin dies in water, as a body that is contaminated by it dies symbolically.
This symbolic gesture, followed by the imposition of the hands on the celebrant, sanctions the liberation from all sin and the investiture of the Holy Spirit.
From this moment onwards, the faithful will be united with Christ, in his death, resurrection and glorification. The old man will no longer exist, now there will be a new man, a Christian freed from evil and an effective member of the Church. One who has in all respects become a Son of God, reborn through the water and the Spirit, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the light of Christ and saved from the darkness of sin, made a participant in the new people of God.
Baptism, like all the Sacraments, involves the use of material elements, words and songs, symbolic gestures and non-verbal signs that, when taken together, give life to this precious and indispensable celebration in the life of a Christian.
In particular, it is worth examining a few of the symbolic elements:
The water, as already mentioned, serves the function of purifying the baptised, of washing from his or her body and from his or her soul, every sign of sin. Water is universally recognised as the symbol of life par excellence. It is the element that quenches and nourishes the earth, to allow it to bear fruit. It makes everything clean, and in the same way it cleans our soul from every stain.
The chrism it is used to consecrate and sanction the entry of the baptized into the great family of the Church. It is a fragrant and consecrated oil. Used not only for baptism, but also in Confirmation and in the ordination of priests. In Baptism, it is used to anoint the head of the baptised, giving him or her a kind of seal, that consecrates him or her in their his new role. In Crism, the priest draws a cross on the forehead of the Confirmed as a symbol of the Holy Spirit that descends onto them to enlist them as a ‘soldier’ of Christ. In the Ordination, it is used to anoint the palms of the hands of the presbyters and the foreheads of the bishops.
Together with the oil for the sick and the oil for the catechumens, it is blessed once a year by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass of Holy Thursday and then distributed to each parish.
Also, the oil of the catechumens is of great symbolic importance. In fact it declares the baptised as a solider of the faith, and a champion of Christendom. Not surprisingly, in ancient times the
oil was used by athletes to grease their limbs before training, and by wrestlers to escape the grip of their opponents. With the oil of the catechumens, the priest draws a cross on his chest and another between the shoulder blades of the baptised. This symbolises strength in the fight against temptations, a sort of shield against sin.
The candle which is handed over to the parents or to the godfather of the baptised symbolises Christ, the light of the world, in the hope that He will enlighten the child and allow those who love him and support him or her to accompany him in the faith. It symbolises the help the Church has to provide to its new member, in finding their own light in the world. Light was the first gift of God, his first creation. In the Old Testament it was a symbol of Faith, and with the advent of Jesus this symbolism was enriched with new fundamental meanings in the life of a faithful. “I am the true light” Jesus said to the disciples: “You are the light of the world … your light must shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven!” (Matt. 5:16).
The candle, or baptismal candle represents the Christian’s commitment to finding the light of his own life of faith, to be in turn, a light of the world through his or her works and his actions,
The white gown is given during a Baptism as a symbol of new life, and the new dignity the baptised person has. In ancient times those who were baptised had to wear a new, white garment before joining the other faithful in the Church. The white garment expresses the purity of the soul returned without stain after a baptism, the profound change and the interior renewal that the sacrament has brought into the person who received it.
The Code of Canon Law provides for the use of holy water for Baptisms, and the approved formula.
Baptisms for adults or children over seven years of age, requires a catechumenate period, in which they are prepared for the step they are about to face. Moreover, in order to receive Baptism, an adult must have expressed the desire to receive it; having been taught in faith and in his duties as a Christian; he gave proof of Christian life during the catechumenate; have repented of his sins.
For the baptism of children it is necessary that parents give consent and that they commit themselves to give the child a Catholic, Christian education. The Code also provides that in the event of danger of death, a child can be baptized even against the wishes of his or her parents. Baptism must be imparted by the ordinary minister of the parish they belong to, but the latter can grant permission to any person in cases of necessity.
A Baptism, particularly that of a child, is an important occasion, the first big party to welcome a new Christian into the family. We should celebrate it in the best ways possible.
First of all, you need to contact your parish priest and identify a free date on which you can organise the ceremony. You then have to choose the godfather and godmother, who will accompany the child on this special day as well as on every day of their life as a Christian, and teach them the values of the Church.
At the ceremony, you will need to provide refreshments, a lunch, a buffet, maybe a picnic or an outdoor snack if the season allows, to which friends and relatives can be invited. It should bea joyous party, as joyful as the occasion being celebrated. The ideal thing would be for the party to reflect on the child being celebrated, or their parents, their way of seeing life and their hopes for the child’s future.
The day of a Baptism is an important day. For the Baptised, because they are starting a new life in the womb of the Church. For their family, who, by baptising him or her are declaring an intention to ensure they grow up following certain values, and a pathway for a precise spiritual life.
The gifts for the Baptism should take the importance of the day and these intentions into account. The gifts should have a material value, but above all a symbolic value, and accompany the child throughout the life that has just begun.
There are certainly good gifts for the little ones and the parents, from pushchairs and prams, to matching sets for baby food or bath times. In addition, religious gifts may be suitable, because they symbolise the beginning of a religious and spiritual journey: sacred medals, small religious icons, the effigy of a guardian angel. Precious gifts, religious jewels in gold and silver, can be important objects, to be saved, but equally welcome are simpler and original presents, perhaps made by those who know the parents well, and know that they might appreciate an extravagant gift, but their small one is enough.
The baptismal favours are destined to be a souvenir for everyone who has taken part in the joy of this special day. There is something for all tastes and in all materials, made of fabric or paper, decorated with Swarovski crystals, accompanied by small sculptures depicting little angels, or tiny animals. In this too, as in other aspects of organising a Baptism, its perfectly appropriate to allow the heart to speak and choose something meaningful, that says something about the child and his or her family. Also lovely are do-it-yourself favours, for mothers who can spare the time to make them and have good manual dexterity: hand-embroidered sachets, small objects moulded from bread dough or fimo clay. These make attractive and very personal memories.
The Rosary for unborn children is a particular type of Rosary. It is made of crystal beads, which symbolise the tears of the Madonna. Each ‘tear’ represents the mother’s womb and contains within it the image of an unborn child. The Crucifix is golden, as a…
The term ‘censer‘ comes from the Latin thus, Thuris “incense.” This is also the origin of censer’s synonym is derived: it is sometimes called ‘incense‘. In Latin, it was also referred to as thymiaterium, incensorium, and fumigatorium. The thurible is a metal container, usually a…
Whoever is chosen as Godfather or Godmother for a Baptism or a Confirmation, is called on to undertake a truly valuable and important task. Very often, in the modern world, we lose sight of the true value of this role, but it shouldn’t be this way. When the parents of a new-born child choose a Godfather or Godmother for his or her Baptism, they should bear in mind that, beyond the relationship of friendship that binds them to this person, it is essential that it is someone who has the necessary requisites to support their child over their entire lifetime. Because this is what a Godfather or a Godmother should do: walk alongside the young faithful, as Jesus himself would do, offering him or her spiritual support and a model of Christian life that could inspire him and help him at all times.
So, it isn’t just a person who is attached to the child to be baptised, or confirmed at a Confirmation. It’s essential to understand that the task of the Godfather and Godmother is not just to accompany them to the altar or offer favours to the guests. Baptism is a declaration of the young faithful in the womb being entered into the Church, whilst a Confirmation ‘confirms’ his or her participation in the life of the Christian community. Two such solemn occasions cannot be entrusted to people who are less than suitable for the role.
The timing for choosing the Godfather and Godmother for a Baptism and Confirmation is crucial. He or she will also have to support the family in organising the ceremony and in the choice of dress, of the gifts and favours, and everything else that makes this day as special and unforgettable as it deserves to be.
Who is the Godfather and who is the Godmother?
The Godfather and the Godmother for a Baptism are figures who accompany their godson or goddaughter to the altar and take responsibility for accompanying them in their growth as humans and as Christians. If the baptism is of a child, the Godfather or Godmother also have the task of pronouncing the baptismal promises wherever it takes place.
On the occasion of the Confirmation, usually a Godfather or Godmother accompanies the Confirmed, and supports the young faithful in their ‘confirmation’ as a member of the Church.
The requirements to play the role of Godmother or Godfather are indicated in a very precise way by canon 874, as regards Baptism, and by canon 93 of the Code of Canon Law, for Confirmation.
Mainly, they are as follows:
People who are only civilly married, cohabiting, divorced, separated, but cohabiting with another partner should not be chosen. In such cases it is always better to contact the parish priest to assess the situation.
At a baptism, there can be either a single Godfather or a single Godmother or a Godfather and Godmother together. Two Godfathers or two Godmothers are not permitted. Of course there is a certain amount of elasticity in this regard, on the part of many parish priests. In addition, to be able to act as Godfather or Godmother, it is necessary to ask personally for authorisation (Documento di idonei dei padrini) from the Parish Priest of the Parish in which at the moment they are domiciled.
What are the tasks and duties of a Godfather and Godmother?
The Godfather or the Godmother must be guides, mentors and teachers. They must be people to whom the parents would entrust their child with blind trust in the event of need or necessity. The Godfather or Godmother must be prepared to take care of the child if the parents die, but above all, they must support and encourage them. Together, the parents and Godfather or Godmother form a spiritual family, linked by faith and love, who work together for the physical and material well-being of the little boy or girl. The moral duties of a Godfather and Godmother go hand in hand with those of their religious duties, so they must have the honesty to recognise whether or not they are worthy of such a responsibility, based on their own life choices and Church attendance.
The person must be chosen on the basis of a living and proven faith that makes them suitable to teach the child about their pride and resolution in being Christians, and one day, to understand what a Christian marriage is. The individuals, who will usually be chosen as Godmother and Godfather by the parents, but perhaps also by the parish priest himself, will have to become a model for life and Christianity for their Godchild. For this reason, it is essential that he or she participates actively in the religious life and activities of the parish, receives the Eucharist regularly, so as to set an example for the boy or girl to become a responsible adult and a devout Christian. Pope Francis said: “You will help these children grow well if you give them the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus.” The Godfather and Godmother must go further and set a good example.
The Godfather and Godmother have a duty to give a beautiful gift to their godchild, something that lasts over time and also serves as a symbol of the bond being created with them. We should never lose sight of the fact that the real gift, the most important one expected from these figures, is that of Faith, compared to which no gold, silver or jewel is worth more. However, a golden chain, or a sacred medal can be a precious memory of the baptism or confirmation in the years to come.
Advice for godparents
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