Monsignor

Portrait of Monsignor James F. Loughlin. The ecclesiastical dress of priests styled monsignor is similar to that of bishops.

Monsignor (/mɒnˈsiːnjər/ mon-SEEN-yər; Italian: monsignore [monsiɲˈɲoːre]) is a form of address or honorific for certain members of the clergy in the Catholic Church.

It is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, a loan from French monseigneur meaning "my lord". "Monsignor" can be abbreviated as Mons. or Msgr. In some languages like Italian, the title "monsignore" is used as a form of address for all bishops, but, officially, the title is unrelated to the episcopacy (though many priests with the title of "monsignor" later become bishops).

The title "monsignor" is a form of address, not an appointment such as a bishop or cardinal, meaning that a priest cannot be "made a monsignor" or become "the monsignor of a parish". Instead, the title "Monsignor" is normally used by clergy who have received one of the three classes of papal honors:

• Protonotary apostolic (the highest class)
• Honorary prelate
• Chaplain of His Holiness (the lowest class)

The pope bestows these honors upon clergy who:

• Have rendered a valuable service to the Church
• Provide some special function in Church governance
• Are members of bodies such as certain chapters

Clerics working in the Roman Curia and the Vatican diplomatic service are eligible for all three honors, while priests working in a diocese are only eligible for the honor "Chaplain of His Holiness". Priests must be nominated by their bishop; an additional requirement in the reign of Pope Francis was the minimum age of 65 years. Pope Leo XIV reverted to the traditional practice by bestowing the title on Indian priest Sebastian Febin Puthiyaparambil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thamaraserry.

Current honor rules

Current honor classes

Pope Paul VI, in his 1968 publication motu proprio Pontificalis Domus, reduced the number of papal honors allowing "Monsignor" as a style from 14 to three. The protonotary apostolic class was divided into two subsections. The classes of chamberlains and chaplains were abolished, leaving only a single class of "chaplains of his holiness". The three papal honor classes are:

• Protonotary apostolic (two subclasses):
  • De numero (the higher and less common form)
  • Supernumerary (the highest grade of monsignor found outside the Vatican)
• Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (formerly the "domestic prelate")
• Chaplain of His Holiness (formerly the "supernumerary privy chamberlain")

Current honor eligibility

In March 2013, Pope Francis suspended the granting of papal honors, with the title of monsignor, to all clergy except members of the Vatican diplomatic service. However, by 2022 the title had started to be awarded again.

At the October 2013 meeting of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, Pope Francis stated his desire to scale back the honors as part of a broader effort to project a more modest and pastoral vision of leadership. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis never requested papal honors for his priests, associating the honors with clerical "careerism".

In December 2013, Pope Francis decreed that diocesan priests could become "Chaplain of His Holiness", the lowest of the three papal honors. He also set a minimum age required of 65. Existing honors were not affected. Pope Francis decided to continue papal honors from all three classes for two groups of clergy:

• Officials of the Roman Curia
• Members of the diplomatic service.

Current forms of address

These are the current forms of address for a monsignor:

• The written form is Monsignor (first name) (last name) or The Reverend Monsignor (first name) (last name). For example, "Monsignor Bob Smith" or "The Reverend Monsignor Bob Smith".
• The spoken form is Monsignor (last name). For example, "Monsignor Smith".

In English-speaking countries, bishops and archbishops are not called "monsignor". However, in 1969 the Vatican Secretariat of State indicated that bishops may be addressed as "monsignor". In some countries, the titles "Monsignore", "Monseigneur", "Monsenyor", and "Monseñor" are used for bishops, archbishops and any other prelates below the rank of cardinal or patriarch.

The 1969 instruction also indicated that for bishops "Reverendissimus" (translated as "most reverend") could be added to the word "monsignor". For example, the "Most Reverend Monsignor John Doe". This instruction also applied to:

• Prelates without episcopal rank who head offices of the Roman Curia
• Judges of the Rota
• The promotor general of justice and the defender of the bond of the Apostolic Signatura
• Protonotaries apostolic "de numero"
• The four clerics of the camera.

Current ecclesiastical dress

In 1979, the Vatican simplified the dress of monsignors:

Chaplains of His Holiness

Purple-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes, good for all occasions.

Honorary prelates

Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes, good for all occasions. Purple cassocks as choir dress for liturgical events of special solemnity.

Supernumerary protonotaries apostolics

Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes. Purple cassocks as choir dress. Can also wear the purple ferraiuolo, a silk cape. The ferraiuolo is for non-liturgical events, such as graduation and commencement ceremonies.

Protonotaries apostolics de numero

Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes and the purple ferraiuolo. Purple cassocks as choir dress. They can wear the mantelletta in choir dress with a black biretta with a red tuft.

Previous honor rules

Previous honor classes

The Catholic church originally maintained 14 classes of papal honors. A priest with the title of "privy chamberlain" would lose the title when the pope who granted it died. When the pope abolished the privy chamberlain class in 1968, the rule was abolished also. These 14 previous classes included:

• Domestic prelates
• Four kinds of protonotaries apostolic,
• Four kinds of papal chamberlains, and at least
• Five types of papal chaplains.

The 14 honor categories were reduced to three categories in 1969.

Previous age requirements

Under Pope Paul VI, the Secretariat of State set minimum qualifications of age and priesthood for the three papal honor classes:

• Chaplains of his holiness – minimum age 35 and 10 years as priest
• Honorary prelates – minimum age 45 and 15 years as priest
• Protonotaries apostolic supernumerary – minimum age 55 and 20 years as priest

The Secretariat waived the minimum-age limit for vicars general proposed for appointment as honorary prelates. The reasoning was that as long as a priest holds the office of vicar general, he is also protonotary apostolic supernumerary. A vicar general could not be named chaplain of his holiness. All these criteria were superseded in 2013.

Previous forms of address

• Priests with the title Chaplain of His Holiness were formerly addressed in English as "The Very Reverend Monsignor".
• Priests with the titles Protonotary Apostolic or Honorary Prelate were addressed as "The Right Reverend Monsignor".

These forms were changed in 1969.

Other monsignors

Under the legislation of Pope Pius X, vicars general and vicars capitular (now called diocesan administrators) were titular (not actual) protonotaries durante munere. As long as these priests held the office, they were allowed to bear the title of monsignor. Vicars general and diocesan administrators were allowed to wear:

• A black, silk-fringed sash (fascia)
• Black piping on the biretta with a black tuft
• A black mantelletta.

As a result of this they were in some countries referred to as "black protonotaries". However, the 1968 motu proprio Pontificalis Domus of Pope Paul VI removed the position of titular protonotary from the Papal Household, even though the title of monsignor, which is to be distinguished from a prelatial rank, has not been withdrawn from vicars general – as can be seen, for instance, from the placing of the abbreviated title Mons. before the name of every member of the secular (diocesan) clergy listed as a vicar general in the Annuario Pontificio.

See also

• Archpriest
• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Milord
• Monsieur

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Monsignor — (Dominus meus; monseigneur, My Lord).

As early as the fourteenth century it was the custom to address persons high in rank or power with the title Monseigneur or Monsignore. In the intercourse of seculars, either of equals or of superiors with inferiors, there was no fixed rule. Until the seventeenth century French nobles demanded from their subjects and dependents the title of Monseigneur. In international intercourse two titles gradually won general recognition, "Monsieur" as the title of the eldest brother of the King of France (if not heir presumptive) and "Monseigneur" for the Dauphin, or eldest son of the French king, who was also the crown prince, or for whatever male member of the family was recognized as heir presumptive to the throne. Actually all Bourbon pretenders assume this title as a matter of course, e.g. the late Don Carlos Duke of Madrid, his son Don Jaime, the Count of Caserta, the Duke of Orléans, etc. Moreover, the custom often obtains, especially in Spain, France, and Italy, of extending by courtesy the title Monseigneur to the adult members of the Bourbons and closely allied families usually addressed as "Your Royal Highness". In official usage, however, this would scarcely be permissable. At present the title is no longer borne by other persons of civil rank, and, so far as the author of this article is aware, no one else lays claim to it. Among ecclesiastics the title Monsignore implies simply a distinction bestowed by the highest ecclesiastical authority, either in conjunction with an office or merely titular. In any case it bears with it a certain prescribed dress. To counteract a widely spread misconception we may state here that the pope does not bestow the title Monsignore, but a distinction of some sort to which this title is attached. Accordingly it is quite incorrect to say that any one has been appointed a Monsignor by the pope. If we may be permitted to use a comparison, Monsignor in the spiritual order corresponds to the word officer in the military. The highest general and the youngest lieutenant are equally officers, and the most venerable patriarch bears the title Monsignor as well as the simplest honorary chaplain. Thus among prelates, both higher and lower, it is no badge of distinction except as it denotes in a very general way an elevation above the ranks of the clergy. Those only bear the title of Monsignor, who are familiares summi pontificis, those who, by virtue of some distinction bestowed upon them, belong as it were to the family and the retinue of the Holy Father. These familiares are entitled to be present in the cappella pontificia (when the pope celebrates solemn Mass), and to participate in all public celebrations purely religious or ecclesiastical in character, at which the pope, the cardinals, and the papal retinue assist. it is assumed that they will appear in the robes corresponding to their respective offices.

Up to 1630, when Urban VIII reserved the title Eminence (Eminentissimus) for the exclusive use of cardinals, the latter bore the title of Monsignor in common with the other prelates of high rank, and in France it is still customary to address a cardinal as Monseigneur. In all other languages this usage has completely disappeared, so that, practically speaking, cardinals are no longer counted among the Monsignori. All other prelates, from patriarchs down, who have received a papal distinction or are archbishops, bishops, or mitred abbots (among the secular clergy only), have a right to this title. The fact that it lapsed in usage in many countries, so far as these are concerned, does not affect the question. Instead of addressing patriarchs as "Vostra Beatitudine", archbishops as "Your Grace", bishops as "My Lord", abbots as "Gracious Lord" one may without any breach of etiquette salute all equally as Monsignor. Following is a list of official and honorary prelates exclusive of those already mentioned:

• the college of the seven official prothonotaries Apostolic de numero participantium (of the number of participants);

• the supernumerary prothonotaries (supra numerum), including, (a) the prelate canons of the three patriarchal basilicas of Rome, (b) the prelate canons of certain cathedral churches, while in office;

• prothonotaries Apostolic ad instar participantium (after the manner of participants), including, (a) prelate canons of certain cathedral churches, as above, (b) prothonotaries appointed ad personam (individually);

• the College of Auditors of the prelates;

• the college of official clerics of the Apostolic Camera;

• all other prelates not members of any of the above named colleges, the numerous domestic prelates scattered throughout the world. All the above-mentioned prelates are entitled to wear the mantelletta and rochet;

• the private chamberlains constituting the official college of pontifical masters of ceremonies;

• the official private chamberlains known as participantes;

• the super-numerary private chamberlains (camerieri segreti soprannumerari), of whom there are several hundred in various parts of the Catholic world;

• the honorary chamberlains in violet;

• the honorary chamberlains extra urbem (outside the city), who are not received in their official capacity in the papal court when held at Rome;

• the official college chaplains;

• the honorary private chaplains;

• the honorary chaplains extra urbem (see 11);

• the private clerics; and

• the official college of papal chaplains.

In the case of certain of the above-mentioned classes the honorary office (together with the corresponding title and distinctive dress) lapses at the death of the pope. This is particualarly true with regard to the supernumerary private and honorary Chamberlains. The reason for this is self-evident. It is possible to be prothonotary of the Holy Roman Church or cleric of the Apostolic Camera, etc.; but one cannot be chamberlain to the Holy Roman Church, but simply chamberlain to a particular pontiff, whose death dissolves the relation between the two. Unless the newly elected pontiff renews the appointment the former chamberlain returns permanently to the general ranks of the clergy. Nor is there inconsistency in the fact that certain lay chamberlains continue in the papal service immediately after a papal election. Their services are necessary to the new pontiff and he naturally recognizes such persons, which amounts practically to a tacit appointment. It is regrettable that occasionally persons thus distinguished by the pope either assume a dress arranged according to their own notions or, being dissatisfied with dress conceded, appropriate that of a higher office. The farther a country is from Rome, the more apt are such things to occur. It should be noted that members of religious orders may use the title "Monsignor" only if they are bishops or archbishops. All other ranks of the prelacy are of course closed to them, if we except the Master of the Sacred Palace, who being always a Dominican, is one of the prelates, but may not be addressed as Monsignor. The custom introduced in the sixteenth century of giving the generals of religious orders the title "Monsignor" was of short duration.

Bibliography

• Baumgarten, Paul Maria (1913). "Monsignor". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Boudinhon, A. (1913). "Monseigneur". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Galles, Duane LCM (March 19, 1999), Chaplains of His Holiness, St. Joseph Foundation, retrieved 2006-09-01
• Heim, Bruno Bernard (1978). Heraldry in the Catholic Church. Humanities Press. ISBN 0-391-00873-0.
• Kirsch, J.P. (1913). "Prothonotary Apostolic". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Secretary of State, Cardinal (2000) [28 March 1969], Miranda, Salvador (ed.), "Instruction on the dress, titles and coat-of-arms of cardinals, bishops and lesser prelates", L'Osservatore Romano, vol. II, The Vatican, p. 4, retrieved 2006-09-01 Latin text of the Instruction, with an unofficial English translation.
• Noonan, James-Charles jr (1996), The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church, Viking, pp. 315–16, ISBN 0-670-86745-4
• Montini, Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria (28 March 1968), Pontificalis domus [On the Papal Household, Reform of the Use of Pontifical Insignia, Simplification of Pontifical Rites and Insignia] (in Latin), Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, Italian
• ——— (21 June 1968), Pontificalis insignia [Pontifical insignia] (in Latin), Rome, IT: The Vatican, Italian