Monsignor is an ecclesiastical honorific for clergy of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Anglican (specifically Episcopal) churches. The word derives from the French Mon Seigneur, meaning "my lord". In English, it is abbreviated Mgr., Msgr. or Mons.

In some European languages Monsignor (or its equivalent) is the simple style for bishops (including archbishops) who are not cardinals, as opposed to the formal style of Your Excellency. In English-speaking countries, however, the title of Monsignor is not given to bishops, but only to those priests who have been included in the Pontifical Family. Appointment as a prelate is simply the award of a title with certain privileges, including the style of Monsignor.

History

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Protonotaries apostolic

A member of the highest college of prelates in the Roman Curia, and also of the honorary prelates on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges. In later antiquity there were in Rome seven regional notaries, who, on the further development of the papal administration and the accompanying increase of the notaries, remained the supreme palace notaries of the papal chancery (notarii apostolici or protonotarii). In the Middle Ages the protonotaries were very high papal officials, and were often raised directly from this office to the cardinalate. Originally numbering seven, Pope Sixtus V (1585-90) increased their number to twelve. Their importance gradually diminished, and at the time of the French Revolution the office had almost entirely disappeared. On 8 February, 1838, Pope Gregory XVI re-established the college of real protonotaries with seven members called protonotarii de numero participantium, also known as numerary protonotaries, because they shared in the revenues, as officials of the Roman Chancery.

Since the sixteenth century the popes had also appointed honorary prothonotaries, who enjoyed the same privileges as the seven real members of the college; and titular protonotaries, who held a corresponding position in the administration of the episcopal ordinariate or in the collegiate chapter. By the Motu Proprio "Inter multiplices" of 21 February, 1905, Pope Pius X defined the position of the protonotaries.

These were divided into four classes:

• the "Protonotarii apostolici de numero participantium", members of the college of prelates, who exercised their office in connection with the acts of consistories and canonizations, had a representative in the Congregation of the Propaganda, and, according to the reorganization of the Curia by the Constitution "Sapienti consilio" of 29 June, 1908, signed the papal Bulls instead of the earlier abbreviatores. They enjoyed the use of pontificals and numerous privileges, and also, after examining the candidates, named annually a fixed number of doctors of theology and of canon law;
• the "Protonotarii apostolici supranumerarii", a dignity to which only the canons of the three Roman patriarchal major basilicas (the Lateran, St. Peter's, and St. Mary Major), and of cathedral chapters outside of Rome to which the privilege had been granted, could be raised;
• the "Protonotarii apostolici ad instar (sc. participantium)", who were appointed by the pope and had the same external insignia as the real prothonotaries;
• the "Protonotarii titulares seu honorarii", who were found outside of Rome, and who received this dignity from the nuncios or as a special privilege.

Papal Chamberlains

The title of Papal chamberlain (Cameriere di spada e cappa) was one of the highest honours that could be bestowed on a Catholic layman by the Pope, and was often given to members of noble families. It was mostly an honorary position, but a chamberlain served the Pope for one week per year during official ceremonies. Alfred E. Smith and Franz von Papen were among the more famous modern chamberlains.

Reform

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Before these reforms, the monsignori or lesser prelates were divided into at least 14 different grades, including domestic prelates, four kinds of protonotaries apostolic, four kinds of papal chamberlains, and at least five types of papal chaplains. A number of changes in the office of Monsignor were introduced by Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Pontificalis Domus of 28 March 1968. Apostolic Protonotaries were either de numere or supernumerary. Chamberlains and chaplains were grouped together as chaplains, a specifically priestly-sounding category. Papal Chamberlains used to be appointed only for the lifetime of the Pope, so that the appointment had to be obtained anew from his successor. This distinction too was eliminated by Pope Paul VI. As a result Monsignori were classed into the following three ranks, in descending order of precedence:

• Apostolic Protonotaries retained two types:
  • de numero (the highest and least common form, customarily only seven)
  • supernumerary (the highest grade of monsignor found outside Rome)
• Honorary Prelates of His Holiness (formerly "Domestic Prelate")
• Chaplains of His Holiness (formerly "Papal Chamberlain" or "Privy Chaplain" or "Secret Chaplain", a direct but misleading translation of the Latin that is better rendered "Private Chaplain")

One year later, an Instruction of the Secretariat of State simplified the dress and the forms of address. Papal Chamberlains were formerly called "Very Reverend Monsignor" and the higher ranks "Right Reverend Monsignor". In the reform this was simplified to prescribe for all the form "Reverend Monsignor", often reduced simply to "Monsignor". Only the Apostolic Protonotaries de numero were styled "Most Reverend Monsignor," the same style as when addressing bishops."Instruction on the dress, titles and coat-of-arms of cardinals, bishops and lesser prelates." L'Osservatore Romano, English ed. 17 Apr. 1969: 4. ISSN 0391-668X. Online at http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/instruction69.htm

The dress of Monsignori was also simplified.

• Chaplains of His Holiness use a purple-trimmed black cassock with purple sash for all occasions.
• Honorary prelates use a red-trimmed black cassock with purple sash for all occasions. The red is the same shade as that used by bishops. They may use a purple cassock as their choir dress for liturgical events of special solemnity.
• Supernumerary Apostolic protonotaries dress the same as Honorary Prelates. As an additional privilege, they have the option of also using a purple ferraiuolo or cape, a silk cape worn with the black-trimmed-red cassock for non-liturgical events of special solemnity (for instance, graduations and commencements). In English-speaking countries, they sometimes add the letters, "P.A." (for Protonotarius Apostolicus) after their names.
• Apostolic Protonotaries de numero (and other superior prelates of the offices of the Roman curia who are not bishops) have the same dress as other Apostolic Protonotaries, but wear the mantelletta in choir and a black biretta with a red tuft. The numerary protonotaries continue the work of the College of Protonotaries and still perform certain duties with regard to papal documents. A number of other superior prelates of the Roman Curia are also treated equivalent to apostolic protonoties de numero, if they are not also bishops. These include the auditors of the Sacred Roman Rota, the four clerics of the Apostolic Camera, and a few others. Together, this group of clergy are called the prelates di manteletta or prelates of the mantelletta because of their distinctive attire.

  Exceptions to the current practice

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  Other forms of lesser prelate were considered suppressed by the reforms of Pope Paul VI, but may occasionally be found in communities with a special indult to observe pre-Vatican II practices. For instance, Fr. Gilles Wach of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which operates under a special indult to observe pre-Vatican II practices, mentions that he was a "vicar general" with the title of Monsignor durante munere.http://www.unavoce.org/wachinterview.htm A vicar general, as long as he held that office, was a Titular Protonotary as noted above and was therefore styled Monsignor.Pope Pius X, Inter multiplices curas, 62. Feb 21, 1905. "Pariter, qui vicarii generalis aut etiam capitularis munere fungitur, hoc munere dumtaxat perdurante, erit protonotarius titularis." Under previous prescriptions the dress of such a monsignor for solemn events and audiences was the regular black cassock but with a black silk sash with fringes, and black biretta piped and tufted in black.Inter multiplices curas, 67. "Super habitu quotidiano, occasione solemnis conventus, audientiae et similium... zonam tantum sericam nigram, cum laciniis item nigris, gestare poterunt, cum pileo chordula ac floccis nigris ornato." The could also wear a black mantelletta. Because all the prelatial garments of these titular protonotaries were black, they were known as "black protonotaries."

  Readings

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  • Heim, Bruno Bernard. Heraldry in the Catholic Church: Its Origins, Customs, and Laws. New Jersey: Humanities Pres Inc, 1978. ISBN 0-391-00873-0.
  • Pope Paul VI. Pontificalis domus. March 28, 1968. On the Papal Household, Reform of the Use of Pontifical Insignia, Simplification of Pontifical Rites and Insignia. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1968. Latin Italian
  • Pope Paul VI. Pontificalis insignia. June 21, 1968. Latin Italian
  • Chaplains of His Holiness by Duane L.C.M. Galles
  • Monsignor - 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
  • Protonotary Apostolic - 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

  References

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  Styles | Ecclesiastical titles | Papal chamberlains | Holy See | Catholic Priesthood

  Monsignore | Monsignore | Monsignore | Monsignore | Монсеньор | Monsignor | Monsignore