when a priest, a simple clerk, should not administer this Sacrament. Midwives, however, when accustomed to its administration, are not to be found fault with, if sometimes, when a man is present, who is unacquainted with the manner of its administration, they perform what may otherwise appear to belong more properly to men.
To those who, as we have hitherto explained, administer baptism, another class of persons is to be added, who, according to the most ancient practice of the Church, assist at the baptismal font; and, who, although formerly called by sacred writers by the common name of sponsors or sureties, are now called God-fathers and God-mothers. [1] As this is an office common almost to all the laity, the pastor will teach its principal duties, with care and accuracy. He will, in the first instance, explain why at baptism, besides those who administer the Sacrament, God fathers and God-mothers are also required. The propriety of the practice will at once appear, if we keep in view the nature of baptism, that it is a spiritual regeneration, by which we are born children of God; of which St. Peter says: " As newborn infants desire the rational milk without guile." [2] As, therefore, every one, after his birth, requires a nurse and instructor, by whose assistance and assiduity he is brought up, and formed to learning and morality; so those, who, by the efficacy of the regenerating waters of baptism, are born to spiritual life, should be intrusted to the fidelity and prudence of some one, from whom they may imbibe the precepts of the Christian religion, and the spirit of Christian piety; and thus grow up gradually in Christ, until, with the divine assistance, they at length arrive at the full growth of perfect manhood. This necessity must appear still more imperious, if we recollect, that the pastor, who is charged with the public care of his parish, has not sufficient time to undertake the private instruction of children in the rudiments of faith. For this very ancient practice, we have this illustrious testimony of St. Denis: " It occurred," says he, " to our divine leaders," (so he calls the Apostles,) " and they in their wisdom ordained, that infants should be introduced into the Church, in this holy manner that their natural parents should deliver them to the care of some one well skilled in divine things, as to a master under whom, as a spiritual father and guardian of his salvation in holiness, the child may lead the remainder of his life." [3] The same doctrine is confirmed by the authority of Higinus. [4]
The Church, therefore, in her wisdom, has ordained that not only the person who baptizes, contracts a spiritual affinity with the person baptized, but also the sponsor with the God-child and its parents: so that marriage cannot be lawfully contracted by them, and if contracted, it is null and void.
