Monsignor

Monsignor (often rendered Monseigneur in Canadian English practice), is an ecclesiastical honorific used by certain priests and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. It comes from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord." It is abbreviated Mgr., Mons. or Msgr.

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Monsignor is the simple style for bishops and archbishops who are not cardinals, as opposed to their formal style of Excellency. In speaking, a simple "Monsignor" will suffice, while in the greeting portion of a letter, "Most Reverend Monsignor" is used.

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Many priests also use the style monsignor. These priests use the style because they are honorary members of the Pontifical Family, appointed by the Pope himself.

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Though there were more degrees in former times, the motu proprio of Paul VI entitled Pontificalis domus eliminated most of them. There are now just three ranks of honorary members of the Pontifical Family:

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• Apostolic Prothonotaries (the highest and least common form)
• Honorary Prelates of His Holiness (formerly "Domestic Prelate")
• Chaplains of His Holiness (formerly "Papal Chamberlain")

A priest of one of the three ranks is addressed as "Monsignor" and is greeted and styled in writing as "Reverend Monsignor". Traditionally Papal Chamberlains were "Very Reverend" and the higher degrees "Right Reverend."

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There are actually two kinds of Apostolic Prothonotaries: numerary and supernumerary. The difference between the two is that numerary Apostolic Prothonotaries are actual clerks of the Roman Curia, while being a supernumerary Prothonotary is simply an honor. The numerary Prothonotaries have a distinctive dress and have the privilege of using certain vestments belonging to a bishop at Mass under certain conditions.

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A priest appointed to the Pontifical Family can request that his appointment not be publicly revealed, in which case he would dress and be addressed as a simple priest.

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If they do not themselves possess the episcopal character, vicars general and episcopal vicars may also use the style monsignor. While many of them have been made honorary members of the Pontifical Family during their career, their office includes the privileges formerly accorded to a third kind of Apostolic Prothonotary. While this third prothonotary was suppressed, the privileges granted to Vicars General ex officio were not. Vicars General make use of the style while they hold their office in the same manner as the honorary Pontifical Family members above.

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Monsignor: References ►



 

Monseigneur: Monseigneur is an honorific in the French language. It has occasional English use as well, as it may be a title before the name of a French prelate, a member of a royal family or other dignitary....

Canadian English: Canadian English is the form of English used in Canada, spoken as a first or second language by over 25 million Canadians (as recorded in the census of 2001). Canadian English spelling is a mixture of American and British....

Ecclesiastical: REDIRECT Ecclesiology...