The sponsor for a Confirmation candidate is meant to provide spiritual help to the candidate (Catechism 1311).  He or she should be willing to serve as a strong and lasting Christian influence on the candidate.  The sponsor enters into a spiritual relationship to the candidate and acts as a spiritual parent and mentor.  Therefore, it is a great blessing and a great responsibility to commit to the role of a sponsor.

Each candidate may choose only one sponsor; it may be either a man or a woman.  A sponsor takes on a life-long commitment to help their candidate persevere in the Faith.  According to the Code of Canon Law (892), "The sponsor is to take care that the confirmed person behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations inherent in this sacrament."  The Church states that it is desirable that the sponsor would be one of the person's godparents, however this is not a requirement (893, 2).  The sponsor needs to be a registered member of a Catholic parish in order to get the Sponsor Certificate of Eligibility signed by the pastor.

According to Canon 874, a sponsor must meet the following criteria:

• Must be 16 years or older
• Must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion
• Must not be a parent of the one to be confirmed

• Persons married outside the Catholic Church
• Persons who do not attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation
• Persons cohabiting without the benefit and grace of a Catholic marriage
• Persons who neglect the religious education of their children
• Persons who neglect to fulfill their "Easter Duty" - that is, Communion at least once a year during the Easter Season and Confession once a year if in the state of mortal sin
• People who give public scandal in any way