Godfathers and Gravestones.... (was Re: Magical Latin)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 186115

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, No Limberger <no.limberger at ...> wrote:

No.Limberger:
> I have no recollection of Harry Potter ever being baptized.  If you have a
> reference, I would be interested in reading it.  I also have no
> recollection of any quotations from the bible on the Potter or Dumbledore
> monuments, but would appreciate a reference
> so that I could read it.

Geoff:
Two points from this.

First, you need to remember that JKR is English and the 
Harry Potter books are set within the UK environment 
and culture.

If a reference is made to a child's godfather, then this 
will immediately imply to a UK reader that the child was 
baptised, probably within the Church of England (or the 
Roman Catholic Church).

Sirius Black is clearly designated as Harry's godfather in 
more than one place in the books.

Second, the epitaphs on the two gravestones are most 
certainly Christian.

That on the grave of Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore reads:
"Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also". This 
is a quote from Christ's Sermon on the Mount which occurs 
in the New Testament - Matthew 6:21 - and is also quoted 
again at Luke 12:34. 
(DH "Godric's Hollow" p.266 UK edition)

The quote on the Potters' grave is ""The last enemy that 
shall be destroyed is death" which is taken from Paul's first 
letter to the Christians at Corinth - 1 Corinthians 15:26.
(ibid. p.268)

I shall come back to some of your other observations 
hopefully later today when i have more time - it being 
but 07:55 here in the UK at the moment.