Monsignor, Who are they?

MONSIGNOR

Monsignor (plural, monsignori), is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. 

Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord". It is abbreviated Mgr,[1] Msgr,[2] or Mons.[3]

As a form of address, "Monsignor" is not itself an appointment (properly speaking, one cannot be "made a monsignor" nor can one be "the monsignor of a parish"). 

The three honorary awards most often associated with the style "monsignor" are Protonotary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate, and Chaplain of His Holiness. These are granted by the Pope, usually at the request of the local bishop. The style is also associated with the office of vicar general.

Title & Style

The written form of address for a priest-monsignor is Monsignor (first name) (last name) or The Reverend Monsignor (first name) (last name). The spoken form of address is Monsignor (last name).

The 1969 Instruction of the Secretariat of State indicated that the title of "Monsignor" may be used for Bishops. This is normal practice in Italian, French and Spanish. It is unusual in English. The same instruction indicated that, in the case of Bishops, "Reverendissimus" (usually translated in this case as "Most Reverend", rather than "Very Reverend"), may be added to the word "Monsignor", as also in the case of 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, the Apostolic Protonotaries "de numero", and the four Clerics of the Camera.

During a formal introduction, a Monsignor should be introduced as “The Reverend Monsignor (First and Last Name).” 

He should be directly addressed as “Monsignor (Last Name)” or simply “Monsignor,” – or, on paper, as “The Reverend Monsignor (First Name and Last Name).” 

Protocol

As with a Priest, you should stand when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit) and again when he leaves it.

Classes of monsignori

Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Pontificalis Domus of 28 March 1968 simplified the classification of monsignori or lesser prelates. Previously they 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.

Since 1968, Apostolic Protonotaries are classified either de numero or supernumerary. Most of the former classes of Chamberlains and Chaplains have been abolished, leaving only a single class of "Chaplains of His Holiness", a specifically priestly-sounding category. 

As a result monsignori are now classed into the following three ranks, in descending order of precedence:

1. Apostolic Protonotary, of which two types are retained:

◦ de numero (the highest and least common form, customarily only seven)

◦ supernumerary (the highest grade of monsignor found outside Rome)

2. Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (formerly "Domestic Prelate")

3. Chaplain of His Holiness (formerly "Supernumerary Privy Chamberlain") 

Coat of Arms

1

2

3

1. Generic coat of arms of a Protonotary Apostolic: amaranth galero with 12 scarlet tassels.

2. Generic coat of arms of an Honorary Prelate: amaranth galero with 12 violet tassels.

3. Generic coat of arms of a Chaplain of His Holiness: black galero with 12 violet tassels.

Ecclesiastical dress

The 1969 Instruction of the Secretariat of State also simplified the dress of monsignori.

• Chaplains of His Holiness use a purple-trimmed black cassock with purple sash for all occasions.

Daily Cassock

Choir Dress

• 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, a silk cape worn with the red-trimmed black cassock for non-liturgical events of special solemnity (for instance, graduations and commencements).

Daily Cassock

Choir Dress

• Apostolic Protonotaries de numero (and other superior prelates of the offices of the Roman curia who are not bishops and who, as indicated above, may be addressed as Most Reverend Monsignor) have the same dress as other Apostolic Protonotaries, but wear the mantelletta in choir and a black biretta with a red tuft. They are thus called prelati di mantelletta (prelates of the mantelletta) because of this distinctive item of dress.

Daily Cassock

Choir Dress

Under legislation of Pope Pius X, vicars general and vicars capitular (the latter are now called diocesan administrators) are titular (not actual) Protonotaries durante munere, i.e. as long as they hold those offices, and so are entitled to be addressed as Monsignor. 

The only privileges of dress that Pope Pius X granted them were a black silk fringed sash, black piping on the biretta with a black tuft, and a black mantelletta. As a result of this they were in some countries referred to as "black protonotaries."

However, "Pontificalis domus" of Paul VI removed this position from the Pontifical 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. (Honorary titles such as that of "Monsignor" are not considered appropriate for religious.)

The Secretariat of State has set minimum qualifications of age and priesthood for the appointment of Chaplains of His Holiness (35 years of age and 10 of priesthood), Honorary Prelates (45 of age and 15 of priesthood) and Protonotaries Apostolic Supernumerary (55 of age and 20 of priesthood). However, it waives the minimum age limit for vicars general proposed for appointment as Honorary Prelates, in view of the fact that, as long as they hold the office of vicar general, they also hold the still higher rank of Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary. For the same reason, the Secretariat of State does not consider it appropriate that someone who is already a vicar general be appointed only a Chaplain of His Holiness.

Detailed List of Dressing

Dress of Prelate Superiors of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia

The following dress is used by the Auditors of the Roman Rota, the Promoter General of Justice and the Defender of the Bond in the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, Protonotaries Apostolic de numero, and the Clerics of the Apostolic Camera:

Choir Dress

• Purple wool choir cassock trimmed in crimson silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Rochet

• Purple wool mantelletta trimmed in crimson silk

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Black silk biretta with amaranth red tuft (and amaranth red lining)

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in amaranth red silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Purple silk ferraiolone worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Black plush hat (with amaranth red lining) and optionally cords and tassels of amaranth red silk, or less formally black silk biretta with amaranth red tuft (and amaranth red lining) optional

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk

• Purple silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Any suitable hat optional

Dress of Protonotaries Apostolic supra numerum

Choir Dress

• Purple wool choir cassock trimmed in crimson silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Unpleated[33] surplice

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Black silk biretta with black tuft (and amaranth red lining)

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in amaranth red silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Purple silk ferraiolone worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Black plush hat (with amaranth red lining) and optionally cords and tassels of amaranth red silk or less formally black silk biretta with black tuft (and amaranth red lining) optional

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk

• Purple silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of amaranth red silk optional

• Any suitable hat optional

Dress of Honorary Prelates of His Holiness

Choir Dress

• Purple wool choir cassock trimmed in crimson silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Unpleated surplice

• Black skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Black silk biretta with black tuft (and purple lining)

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in amaranth red silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Black silk ferraiolone[34] worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Black plush hat (with purple lining) and optionally cords and tassels of purple silk or less formally black silk biretta with black tuft (and purple lining) optional

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk

• Purple silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Any suitable hat optional

Dress of Chaplains of His Holiness

Choir Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in purple silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Unpleated surplice

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Black silk biretta with black tuft (and purple lining)

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in purple silk

• Purple silk rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Black silk ferraiolone worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Black silk skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Black plush hat (with purple lining) and optionally cords and tassels of purple silk or less formally black silk biretta with black tuft (and purple lining) optional

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk

• Purple silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes optional

• Black skullcap with cords and stitching (and lining) of purple silk optional

• Any suitable hat optional