The Church prescribes under pain of grievous sin that a sponsor, or godparent, shall stand for the person confirmed. The sponsor should be at least fourteen years of age, of the same sex as the candidate, should have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and be well instructed in the Catholic Faith. Those who may not be the Sponsor include the father and mother of the candidate, members of a religious order, public sinners, and those who are under public ban of interdict or excommunication. Except in case of necessity the confirmational godparent cannot serve as sponsor for the same person in confirmation.
In 1866, the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore declared that each candidate should have a sponsor, or that at least two godfathers should stand for the boys and two godmothers for the girls. Formerly it was customary for the sponsor to place his or her right foot upon the foot of the candidate during the administration of the sacrament. However, the present usage is that the sponsor's right hand should be placed upon the right shoulder of the candidate. No sponsor should stand for more than two candidates except in case of necessity.
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