In the early modern period, godparenthood (French parrainage, Ger. Patenschaft, Ital. padrinaggio, Span. compadrazgo) was understood to be associated with baptism and in the Catholic Church with confirmation as well (Sacrament). The German term Pate (“godparent”) is derived from Latin pater, “because the one who lifts the child up at baptism enters into a spiritual relationship with the child, becoming his spiritual father (pater spiritualis).” The word’s metaphorical use …