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Baptism and Community
by Marina Herrera, PhD
Since before the Second Vatican Council Hispanics have marked the baptism of their children as a community celebration that extends not only the relationship of the family to the Church and the community, but also that of the children. In most towns and cities throughout Latin America, the ecclesial and the human communities are formed by the same people, but the relations that arise on the account of Baptism reinforce the social and spiritual links already present.
The newborn, before being baptized, is always considered to be outside the community. For example, to this day in many places, people refer to a non-baptized child as a “Moor,” for in Spanish culture the Moors were the “other,” or the community which is not ours. In fact, during the baptism rite in some parts of Latin America the godparents return the child to the parents after the ceremony with the words “You gave me a Moor, and I giving you back a Christian.” Through Baptism the child born into a Christian family, becomes a member of the Church, and a member of the Christian community in which he or she will live and grow. Moreover, now the child is part of the community—of the local human community and of the local Christian community.
Connected to this communal aspect of Baptism is the significant role of the Godparents. In the Early Church, when most of the baptized were adult converts, it was necessary to find a Christian who could vouch for the sincerity of the candidate. When most of the baptized came to be babies, this “sponsor” became a “God-father” or “God-mother.” And in Hispanic culture, they have a most important role: The godparents make sure their godchild receives a Christian upbringing. And even more crucial still, if the godchild is orphaned, there is the cultural expectation that the godparents will serve as parents until the child no longer requires parental care. To show this special relationship, godchildren ask their godparents for their blessing whenever they see each other, and the parents refer to the godparents as “compadre” y “comadre.”
This beautiful relationship can easily be lost if those responsible for catechetical instruction of parents are not aware of the tradition or do not appreciate its value. During sacrament preparation it is important to stress with parents the need to choose godparents who are proven Christians, and not to select for only their social or economic status.
These relationships are a way to extend the family –mere friends become “spiritual kin.” Baptism creates relationships between the baptized and the community, and among the other members of the community, thus strengthening the ties that bind us at both the religious and human levels.
Note to Parents and Catechists:
Choose one of the following activities to help children develop a greater appreciation for their godparents and the parish community into which they were baptized.
• Invite everyone to share about their godparents. Be sure to tell who they are, why they were chosen and how they are models of faith.
• Talk about how the parish community helps each person live a life of faith.
About the author: Marina A. Herrera, born in Baní, Dominican Republic, holds a doctorate in Theology with emphasis on Latin American Ecclesiology from Fordham University in New York. Her catechetical and theological work in multicultural settings have taken her to teach for the Archdiocese of Chicago, preparing new catechists, and lay and religious ministers at New York Theological Seminary, St. Mary's, Baltimore, Maryknoll Seminary, Mundelein College, Washington Theological Union, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She writes, lectures, translates, and consults with parishes and institutions that prepare catechists, seminarians and ministers for the multicultural Church. She has helped in the design and content for materials produced by World Library Publications of Chicago, Liturgical Training Publications, Disciples in Mission for Paulist National Evangelization Association’s, Echoes of Faith for Resources for Christian Living, Allen, Texas, La Fe Viva for Creative Communications for the Parish, and Why Catholic? for Renew International among her more recent projects.
