Hagen said coldly, “I don’t think you understand the situation. Mr. Corleone is Johnny Fontane’s godfather. That is a very close, a very sacred religious relationship.… Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and that’s why they have godfathers.”
The Godfather, Chapter 1, Page 59, Paragraph 3, Sentences 12 – 14 & 17
Do you have a second father? If you do, I have to ask. Please understand, this is a painful question: How does your godfather, your second father, compare to Johnny Fontane’s godfather? What power does your second father have in this world? No matter how great or small his power, will he use it on your behalf? How close are you? Do you care to win his blessing over you and your life plans and dreams?
Please know that I intend no disrespect. No, most godfathers could never equal Johnny’s in any way. The comparison is necessary though, although perhaps you’ll let me attempt to prove that elsewhere if I may.
Most of you do not have a second father, and you too must suffer pain as well, here. Why not? That is, why don’t you have a second father? Don’t you agree with the Italian joke? Don’t you find this world hard? But, you say, it was your parents’ decision, not yours. Yes, that’s true as far as it goes. But, I request the right to counsel you now, myself. May I?
Thank you. Get one. Find yourself a second father. The Italian joke is true. And yes, I have followed this counsel myself. My parents granted me no godparents, so I had to cover this need on my own, and I did.
Tom says that this is “a very sacred religious relationship.” Hear him. Whatever your faith, if you believe in any god, ask and win God’s blessing for your godparents and your relationship to them. Present your plans and dreams to both. Present your plans and dreams to God, and to your second father, your godparents if you have them.
Pull your godparents to you, as closely as you can, yes, to your very soul.
[originally posted March 26, 2012 at my Facebook]
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