When it comes to clergy members, it can be difficult to understand how to address and how to distinguish between titles. Titles and how to address can be more or less formal, depending on where you live and where the clergy member lives. This article will help you understand how to identify and correctly address members of the Catholic clergy.
Steps
Step 1. Identify the status or hierarchical position of the clergy member
Below you will find indications to identify the various members within the Catholic hierarchy. Note, these are more guidelines than rules. A priest can be Byzantine and wear the cassock of the Roman rite, for example.
- Dad it is easy to distinguish, since his cassock (the robe that the clergy wear when not celebrating the liturgy) is white. He is usually the only one wearing a white cassock (there is a small chance that an Eastern church member might wear a white cassock, as in almost no Eastern church the colors are strictly regulated, and some Western priests are permitted to wear white cassocks in tropical areas).
- A Cardinal he has a red cassock (however, it should be emphasized that even a Byzantine bishop may have it red)
- A Byzantine or Metropolitan Bishop may wear a wide cassock called "riasa" (a cape worn over the cassock, with long and wide sleeves), a high black headdress with a veil (in some Slavic traditions, the Metropolitan's headdress is white) and a "Panagia", a medal depicting an icon of the Theotokos.
- A Latin Bishop it can be recognized by the black cassock with red decorations, buttons and borders, a red sash at the waist and a red skullcap. He also wears a pectoral cross.
- A Monsignor he wears a black cassock, with red borders, lining and buttons. He does not wear the pectoral cross, nor the skullcap. This honorable title is no longer granted in the Byzantine rite.
- The Archpriest it is the Byzantine equivalent of the rank of Monsignor. If you decide to wear a headdress, it can be purple or red. During the liturgies he can wear the insignia, like a bishop. Aside from that, he dresses like a Byzantine rite priest.
- A priest of the Byzantine rite dresses like a bishop, with some exceptions. Instead of a panagia he wears a pectoral cross. Instead of a klobuk he can wear a black kamilavka. In some churches the kamilavka is a reward, in others it is an option for any priest.
- A priest of the Latin rite wears a fitted cassock. He also wears a white collar.
- A Deacon of the Byzantine rite dresses like a priest of the Byzantine rite, but without the pectoral cross.
Step 2. Contact a Converse Friar:
During a formal induction ceremony, a Converse Friar should be introduced as "Fra (Name) from (community name)." You can contact him directly by calling him "Fra (Name)" or in a letter, like "Reverend Fra (Name), (community initials)".
Step 3. Contact a Sister:
During a formal induction ceremony, a Sister should be introduced as “Sister (Name and Surname) by (community name). You can contact her directly by calling her "Sister (Name and Surname)" or "Sister". On paper you can address her with "Reverend Sister (Name and Surname), (community initials)."
Step 4. Contact a Religious Priest:
During a formal induction ceremony, a Religious Priest should be introduced as "The Reverend Father (Name and Surname) by (community name)". You can contact him directly by calling him "Father (Surname)" or simply "Father". In writing, you can contact him as "The Reverend Father (Name, Initial, Middle Name and Surname), from (initial of the community)"
Step 5. Contact a Mother Superior:
During a formal induction ceremony, a Mother Superior should be introduced as "The Reverend Mother (Name and Surname) from (community name)." You can address her directly by calling her "Reverend Mother (Name and Surname)" or " Reverend Mother”. On paper you can address her with "The Reverend Mother (Name and Surname), (initials of the community)."
Step 6. Contact a Deacon:
During a formal induction ceremony, a Permanent Deacon should be introduced as a "Deacon (Name and Surname)." You can contact him directly by calling him "Deacon (Surname)" or in writing, as "Reverend Mr. (Name and Surname)." If he is a Transitional Deacon, then he should be introduced as "Deacon (Name and Surname)." You can contact him directly by calling him "Deacon (Surname)" or in writing, as "Reverend Mr. (Name and Surname)."
Step 7. Contact a Diocesan (or Secular) Priest:
During a formal introduction ceremony, a Diocesan Priest should be introduced as "The Reverend Father (Name and Surname)". You can contact him directly by calling him "Father (Name and / or Surname)" or simply "Father". On paper you can address him as "The Reverend Father (Name and Surname)". Remember that you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves.
Step 8. Contact a Vicar, Provincial Father, Canon, Dean or Rector:
During a formal induction ceremony, each of these members should be introduced as "The Very Reverend Father / Vicar (Name and Surname)". You can contact them directly by calling them "Reverend (Surname)" or "Father (Surname)". On paper you can address them as "The Most Reverend Father (Vicar / Provincial / Canon / etc.) (Name and Surname)". Remember that you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves.
Step 9. Contact a Monsignor
During a formal induction ceremony, a Monsignor should be introduced as "The Reverend Monsignor (Name and Surname)." You can contact him directly by calling him "Monsignor (Surname)" or simply "Monsignor". In a letter, he can be addressed as "The Reverend Monsignor (Name and Surname)." Remember that you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves.
Step 10. Contact a Bishop
During a formal introduction ceremony, a Bishop should be introduced as "His Most Reverend Excellency, (Name and Surname), Bishop of (Location)". You can contact him directly by calling him "His Excellency". On paper you can address him as "His Most Reverend Excellency, (Name and Surname), Bishop of (Location)", or H. E. R. Remember that you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves. You must take off your hat in his presence, and kiss his ring when you greet him on arrival and when he is accepted. If it's your Bishop, you should kneel down to kiss the ring (although a waist-high bow is fine). In both cases, it is not necessary to kiss the ring if the Pope is present.
Step 11. Contact an Archbishop
During a formal introduction ceremony, an Archbishop should be introduced in the same way as a Bishop. However, in some parts of Canada, especially in the West, it is customary to turn to an Archbishop with the title of "His Grace". In this case, during a formal introduction ceremony, an Archbishop should be introduced as "His Grace, Most Reverend Excellency, (Name and Surname), Archbishop of (Location)". Remember that you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves. You must take off the hat in his presence, and kiss his ring when you greet him on arrival and when he is accepted. If he is your Archbishop, you should kneel down to kiss the ring (although a waist-high bow is fine). In both cases, it is not necessary to kiss the ring if the Pope is present.
Step 12. Contact a Patriarch
During a formal induction ceremony, a Patriarch should be introduced as "His Beatitude, (Name and Surname), Patriarch of (Location)". You can contact him directly by calling him "His Beatitude" (Except in Lisbon, where he is called "His Eminence"). On paper, one can address him as "His Beatitude, Most Reverend Excellency (Name and Surname), Patriarch of (Locality)". Remember that, as for the Archbishop, you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves. You must take off the hat in his presence, and kiss his ring when you greet him on arrival and when he is accepted. If he is your Patriarch, you should kneel down to kiss the ring (although a waist-high bow is fine). In both cases, it is not necessary to kiss the ring if the Pope is present.
Step 13. Contact a Cardinal
During a formal induction ceremony, a Cardinal should be introduced as "His Eminence, (Name) Cardinal (Surname), Archbishop of (Location)". You can contact him directly by calling him "His Eminence" or "Cardinal (Surname)". On paper you can address him as "His Eminence, (Name) Cardinal (Surname), Archbishop of (Location)". Remember that, as with the Patriarch, you have to get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves. You must take off your hat in his presence, and kiss his ring when you greet him on arrival and when he is accepted. If it's your Cardinal, you should kneel down to kiss the ring (although a waist-high bow is fine). In both cases, it is not necessary to kiss the ring if the Pope is present.
Step 14. Contact the Pope
During a formal induction ceremony, the Pope should be introduced as "His Holiness, Pope (Name)". One can address him directly by calling him "His Holiness" or "Holy Father". On paper one can address him as "His Holiness, Pope (Name)" or "The Supreme Pontiff, His Holiness (Name)". Remember that men must wear black and remove their hats in his presence, while women must wear black and have their heads and arms covered. (White for women is a privilege reserved only for Catholic queens and a few other royal members.) Get up when he enters a room (until he invites you to sit down) and when he leaves. When you introduce yourself, kneel on your left knee and kiss her ring. It does the same thing when you take your leave.
"The so-called" privilege of white "is a tradition whereby some designated Catholic queens and princesses may wear a white dress or white cape during an audience with the Pope. The Prefecture of the Pontifical Family sometimes gives special instructions regarding when the privilege can be used, such as during the papal audience or masses at the beginning of the pontificate. It is reserved for the Catholic queens of Belgium and Spain, the princess consort of Monaco, the grand duchess of Luxembourg and the princesses of the former house royal of the Savoy
Advice
- In some countries, the practice of hand kissing remains commonplace. Try to observe the etiquette in any situation.
- The general rule is to always be formal. It is not okay to be too informal with a member of the clergy, unless it is a relative, and in any case in private. It is not okay to be informal in public or with other people, unless you are close friends or relatives, and you are in private circumstances. If you are with a close friend, who is a Bishop and you are in public, you must address him with the title of "Bishop". The same is true for people with professional titles, such as "Doctor" or honorary titles, such as "Monsignor". Calling a close friend who is Bishop "John" or "Martin" in public circumstances is inappropriate and may embarrass you.
- Remember that often the colors of Catholic cassocks are confused with those of the Orthodox Church. Although there are similarities in rites, liturgies, names and titles, the Orthodox Church is NOT Catholic.
- It is still tradition to kiss the hand of the priest who has just celebrated his first mass or who has celebrated a particular mass for the anniversary of his ordination.
- One must not kneel to a Bishop other than that of one's own diocese. The biggest problem arises if there is more than one Bishop present. A series of bows and genuflections is truly embarrassing.
- When you kiss the diocesan bishop's ring, it is traditional to kneel on your left knee, although this custom may no longer be in force in your part of the world. Today the genuflection to the Bishop is no longer part of the common protocol. Better to observe the habits that the Bishop himself requires and with which he feels most at ease. Observe how other people greet him.
- In many places the custom of kissing the ring of a Bishop or a Cardinal, a very ancient tradition, is still in force. While in other places it is no longer in use. If you're not sure how this works in your area, observe how others approach the bishop in question. If no one kisses his ring, you may have reason to believe that he prefers not to practice this custom. In this case, shake his hand when he offers it to you.
- Clergy members should never be addressed informally, except in private conversations and only if the people involved are intimate. A member of the clergy must always address people with their own title: Mr., Lady, Doctor, Reverend, Father, Monsignor, Bishop, etc. Instead, they could address younger people with their first names. In formal settings, such as a baptism, wedding, or funeral, the clergy member must address people in a formal way.
- If a priest has the honorary title of Monsignor, contact him by calling him "Monsignor (Surname)", instead of "Father", follow the same rules for contacting a priest if you have to contact him by letter.
- If relevant for communication purposes, list the clergy member's academic credentials at the end of the greetings.
- Catholic priests and bishops in audience with the Holy Father should follow the protocol described to them before the audience. Bishops and priests should behave in a uniform manner during the Papal audience. This means that if the Bishop or the Priest kneels to kiss the Pope's ring, the other must do so too. Don't violate the protocol. Follow the instructions that were given to you before the audience with the Pope.
- Do not post academic results that are not doctoral degrees. There are exceptions. It may be that the author of a book or study wishes to indicate a master's or degree course affixed to their name. In some Catholic orders there are Honoris Causa degrees that go beyond the doctorate. For example, in the Dominican Order, the "Master in Sacred Theology" is awarded only to those who have published several internationally recognized books and have taught at a university for at least ten years. Obviously it is much more than a doctorate. The rule in these cases is to check whether the clergy who holds the doctorate uses another degree in his own way.
- The use of "Father" as a title in the verbal field originated in Europe and was used only for priests who are members of a monastic order. It serves to distinguish the priest-monk ("Father") from a lay monk ("Brother") who is not a priest. In Italy, for example, in parishes the priest is called "Don (Name)". "Don" means "Lord" and is not a religious title. "Don" is slightly informal, but respectful. It can be used with any individual that you know personally enough.
- In North America and Europe, Catholic Priests are also referred to as "Reverend (Surname)" or "Reverend Doctor (Surname)" (if he has a doctorate). In the United States, the term "Reverend" is accepted to refer to any member of the clergy. Academic and honorary titles must be specified. For example, Reverend Dr. John Smith, Ph. D., or Reverend Msgr. John Smith. Do not abbreviate "Reverend" unless you are writing an informal note, and remember to always insert the article "The" before "Reverend".
Warnings
- Never reach out to someone you do not know, or to a superior (remember that we are all Children of God and that there are no real "hierarchies" in the Church). In American parishes, many priests greet parishioners after mass, with or without physical contact. If you don't know how to act, don't physically approach yourself.
- Some members of the clergy are not comfortable with the uses reserved for their title, either for theological or personal reasons. Others prefer the title to be used. When you don't know how to act, simply address yourself as formally as possible and let him ask for the formality to be reduced.
