Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Chapter IV: Of Sponsors
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
From the most ancient custom of the Church, as in baptism, so also in confirmation, a sponsor is to be used, if one can be had.
Ex vetustissimo Ecclesiae more, ut in baptismo, ita etiam in confirmatione adhibendus est patrinus, si haberi possit.
1983 Code correlation: can. 892
§ 1. Let a sponsor present only one person to be confirmed, or two, unless something else seems good to the minister for a just cause.
§ 2. Let there also be one sponsor for each person to be confirmed.
§ 1. Patrinus unum tantum confirmandum aut duos praesentet, nisi aliud iusta de causa ministro videatur.
§ 2. Unus quoque pro singulis confirmandis sit patrinus.
In order that someone be a sponsor, it is necessary:
1° That he himself also be confirmed, have attained the use of reason, and have the intention of carrying out this function.
2° That he be enrolled in no heretical or schismatic sect, nor marked by any of the penalties of which in can. 765, n. 2, through a declaratory or condemnatory sentence.
3° That he not be the father, mother, or spouse of the person to be confirmed.
4° That he be designated by the person to be confirmed or by his parents or guardians, or, if these are lacking or refuse, by the minister or by the pastor.
5° That in the very act of confirmation he physically touch the person to be confirmed by himself or through a proxy.
Ut quis sit patrinus, oportet:
1° Sit ipse quoque confirmatus, rationis usum assecutus et intentionem habeat id munus gerendi;
2° Nulli haereticae aut schismaticae sectae sit adscriptus, nec ulla ex poenis de quibus in can. 765, n. 2 per sententiam declaratoriam aut condemnatoriam notatus;
3° Non sit pater, mater, coniux confirmandi;
4° A confirmando eiusve parentibus vel tutoribus vel, hi si desint aut renuant, a ministro vel a parocho sit designatus;
5° Confirmandum in ipso confirmationis actu per se vel per procuratorem physice tangat.
1983 Code correlation: can. 893
In order that someone be licitly admitted to the function of sponsor, it is necessary:
1° That he be other than the baptismal sponsor, unless a reasonable cause, in the judgment of the minister, advises otherwise, or confirmation is legitimately conferred immediately after baptism.
2° That he be of the same sex as the person to be confirmed, unless something else seems good to the minister in particular cases for a reasonable cause.
3° That, in addition, the prescriptions of can. 766 be observed.
Ut quis licite ad patrini munus admittatur, oportet:
1° Sit alius a patrino baptismi, nisi rationabilis causa, iudicio ministri, aliud suadeat, aut statim post baptismum legitime confirmatio conferatur;
2° Sit eiusdem sexus ac confirmandus, nisi aliud ministro in casibus particularibus ex rationabili causa videatur;
3° Serventur praeterea praescripta can. 766.
1983 Code correlation: can. 893
Also from valid confirmation there arises between the confirmed person and the sponsor a spiritual relationship, from which the sponsor is held by the obligation of having the confirmed person perpetually commended to himself and of caring for his Christian education.
Etiam ex valida confirmatione oritur inter confirmatum et patrinum cognatio spiritualis, ex qua patrinus obligatione tenetur confirmatum perpetuo sibi commendatum habendi eiusque christianam educationem curandi.
1983 Code correlation: can. 892