MONSIGNOR
510
MONSIGNOR
IaS' of Cardinal Wiseman (London, 1898); Pdrcell, Life of Car-
dinal Manning (London. 1895); Idem. Life of Ambrose Phillipps
de Lisle (London. 1900); CornTNEY in Diet. Nat. Biog., Supp.
Vol. Ill (London. 1901).
Edwin Burton.
Monsignor (ilominus mens; monscigneur, My Tjord). — As laily tus the fourteenth century it was the custom to ;ul(lress i)ersons liigh in rank or power with the title Monseigneur or Monsignore. In the intercourse of .sccuhirs, either of equals or of superiors with in- feriors, there w:is no fixed rule. Until thes<'venteenth century Fri'iieli noliles denianded from their .subjects
- ind dependenlsthetitle of Monseisneur. In interna-
tional intercourse two titles gnuluully wongener.al rec- ognition, "Monsieur" as the title of the eldest brother of the King of France (if not heir presumptive) and "Monscigneur" for the Dauphin, or eldest son of the French king, who was also crown prince, or for what- ever male member of the family was recognized as heir presumptive to the throne. Actually all Bourbon pre- tenders assume this title as a matter of course, e.g. the lateDonCarlosDukeof Madrid, his son Don Jaime, the Count of Caserta, the Duke of Orleans, etc. Moreover, the custom often obtains, especially in Spain, France, and Italy, of extending by courtesy the title Monscig- neur to the adult members of the Bourbons and closely allied families usually addressed as "Your Royal High- ness". In official usage, however, this would scarcely be permissible. 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 ecclesias- tical 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 mis- conception 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, Klonsignor 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 hon- orary 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 ponlificia (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 (Emincidissimus) for the exclusive use of cardinals, the latter bore the title Monsignor in com- mon with the other prelates of high rank, and in France it is still customary to address a cardinal as Monscigneur. In all other languages this usage has completely disappeared, so that, practically speaking, cardinals are no longer to be 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 has lapsed in usage in many countries, so far as these are concerned, does not affect the question. Instead of addressing patriarchs as "Vostra Beatitu- dine", archbishops as "Your Grace", bishops aa
"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 honor-
ary prelates exclusive of those already mentioned:
(1) the college of the seven official prothonotaries
Apostolic lie iiumero pfirliriimnliuni (of the number of
participants); (2) the supernumerary prothonotaries
(supra numerum), including, (a) the prelat(^ canons of
the three patriarchal basilicas of Rome, (b) the prel-
ate canons of certain cathedral churches, while in
office; (3) prothonotaries Apostolic ad iiislar paHi-
dpantium (after the manner of participants), includ-
ing, (a) prelate canons of certain cathedral churches,
as above, (b) prothonotaries appointed ad personam
(individually) ; (4) the College of the Auditors of the
Sacra Rota Romana, these are official or delegated
prelates; (.5) the college of official clerics of the
Apostolic Camera; (6) 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; (7) the private cham-
berlains constituting the official college of pontifical
masters of ceremonies; (8) the official private cham-
berlains known as participanies; (9) the super-
numerary private chamberlains {camerieri segreti
soprannumerari) , of whom there are several hundred
in various parts of the Catholic world; (10) the
honorary chamberlains in violet; (11) the honorary
chamberlains extra urbein (outside the city), who are
not received in their official capacity in the papal
court when held at Rome; (12) the official college
of private chaplains; (13) the honorary private
chaplains; (14) the honorary chaplains extra urbem
(see 11); (15) the private clerics; and (16) the official
college of papal chaplains.
In the case of certain of the above-mentioned classes the honorary office (together with the cor- responding title and distinctive dress) lapses at the death of the pope. This is particularly 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 imme- diately after a papal election. Their services are necessary to the new pontiff and he naturally recog- nizes 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 the dress conceded, appropri- ate that of a higher office. The farther a country is from Rome, the more apt are such unfortunate 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 ex- cept 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 in- troduced in the sixteenth century of giving the gen- erals of religious orders the title "Monsignor" was of short duration.
Bonix. De Curia Romana (Paria, 1880); Banqen. Die rSmische Curie (Mflnster. 1854); Hcmphbey. Urbs et Orbis (London, 1899), 359-60; SiCKEL, Bin Ruolo di Famiglia dea Papstes Piu* IV ia Mitteillungen des Insliluls fUr aislerreichische Geschichtsfor- schung, suppl. vol. IV (Innsbruck. 189.-!). See also London Tablet, March 12, 26, April 9, 16, May 14. 21. 1910.
Paol Maria Baumgarten.
