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Objection 1: It would seem that spiritual relationship is not
contracted between the person baptized and the person who raises him
from the sacred font. For in carnal generation carnal relationship is
contracted only on the part of the person of whose seed the child is
born; and not on the part of the person who receives the child after
birth. Therefore neither is spiritual relationship contracted between
the receiver and the received at the sacred font.
Objection 2: Further, he who raises a person from the sacred font
is called anadochos by Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. ii): and it is
part of his office to instruct the child. But instruction is not a
sufficient cause of spiritual relationship, as stated above (Article
2). Therefore no relationship is contracted between him and the
person whom he raises from the sacred font.
Objection 3: Further, it may happen that someone raises a person
from the sacred font before he himself is baptized. Now spiritual
relationship is not contracted in such a case, since one who is not
baptized is not capable of spirituality. Therefore raising a person
from the sacred font is not sufficient to contract a spiritual
relationship.
On the contrary, There is the definition of spiritual relationship
quoted above (Article 1), as also the authorities mentioned in the
text (Sent. iv, D, 42).
I answer that, Just as in carnal generation a person is born of a
father and mother, so in spiritual generation a person is born again a
son of God as Father, and of the Church as Mother. Now while he
who confers the sacrament stands in the place of God, whose instrument
and minister he is, he who raises a baptized person from the sacred
font, or holds the candidate for Confirmation, stands in the place of
the Church. Therefore spiritual relationship is contracted with
both.
Reply to Objection 1: Not only the father, of whose seed the child
is born, is related carnally to the child, but also the mother who
provides the matter, and in whose womb the child is begotten. So too
the godparent who in place of the Church offers and raises the
candidate for Baptism and holds the candidate for Confirmation
contracts spiritual relationship.
Reply to Objection 2: He contracts spiritual relationship not by
reason of the instruction it is his duty to give, but on account of the
spiritual birth in which he co-operates.
Reply to Objection 3: A person who is not baptized cannot raise
anyone from the sacred font, since he is not a member of the Church
whom the godparent in Baptism represents: although he can baptize,
because he is a creature of God Whom the baptizer represents. And
yet he cannot contract a spiritual relationship, since he is void of
spiritual life to which man is first born by receiving Baptism.
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