Ecclesiastical address
Ecclesiastical addresses are the formal styles of address used for members of the clergy.
Addresses of Latin-Rite Roman Catholic clergy
United States
- Cardinal: Cardinal John Smith (or John Cardinal Smith); His Eminence; Your Eminence
- Cardinal who is also an archbishop: Cardinal John Smith (or John Cardinal Smith), Archbishop of New York; His Eminence; Your Eminence
- Archbishop: The Most Reverend John Smith, D.D., Archbishop of New York (abbrev.: Most Rev.; bishops in the U.S. commonly employ a terminal degree as postnominals, e.g., J.C.D or S.T.D., or Ph.D., or, in its absence, the honorific D.D.); His Grace; Your Grace; Archbishop Smith. (Titular archbishops almost never have their sees mentioned).
- Bishop: The Most Reverend John Smith, D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn (abbrev.: Most Rev.; bishops in the U.S. commonly employ a terminal degree as postnominals, e.g., J.C.D, S.T.D., or Ph.D., or, in its absence, the honorific D.D.); ); His Excellency; Your Excellency; Bishop Smith.(Titular bishops almost never have their sees mentioned).
- Abbot: The Right Reverend John Smith, O.S.B. (or appropriate order's postnominals); The Right Reverend Abbot (abbrev. Rt. Rev.); Abbot John or Abbot Smith or Dom John or Father John, depending on personal and abbey custom.
- Protonotary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate, Chaplain of His Holiness: The Reverend Monsignor John Smith (abbrev.: Rev. Msgr.); Monsignor Smith. Postnominal P.A. is often added for Protonotaries Apostolic. Postnominals are rarely used for Honorary Prelates or Chaplains of His Holiness.
- Vicar General: The Very Reverend John Smith, or The Reverend John Smith, V.G.; Father Smith.
- Judicial Vicar, Ecclesiastical Judge, Episcopal Vicar, Vicar Forane, Dean, Provincial Superior, Rector: The Very Reverend John Smith; Father Smith.
- Prior whether superior of or in a monastery or a province or house of a religious order : The Very Reverend John Smith, O.P. (appropriate postnominals for the order); Father Smith.
- Pastor of a Catholic parish, Parochial Vicar, Chaplain, Priest: The Reverend John Smith (abbrev.: Rev. John Smith); Father Smith.
- Transitional Deacon (i.e., deacon preparing for priesthood): Rev. Mr. Smith or Deacon Smith.
- Permanent Deacon: Mr. John Smith or Deacon John Smith; Mr. Smith or Deacon Smith.
- Seminarian (diocesan seminary or Jesuit scholastic:): Mr. John Smith; Mr. Smith.
- Brother: Brother John Smith, O.F.M.; Brother John (in some teaching orders, "Brother Smith" is customary).
- Abbess, Prioress, superior of a religious order of women or a province: Mother Jane Smith, O.S.B.; Mother Jane (the title of women religious superiors varies widely, and specific customs of the order should be noted)
- Religious sister or nun: Sister Jane Smith, S.C.; Sister Jane.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and some other English-speaking countries
The major difference between U.S. practice and that in several other English-speaking countries is the form of address for archbishops and bishops. In Britain and countries whose Catholic usage it directly influenced:
- an archbishop is "the Most Reverend" and addressed as "Your Grace" rather than "His/Your Excellency".
- a bishop is "the Right Reverend", and is formally addressed as "My Lord" rather than "Your Excellency". This style is an ancient one, and has been used in the western church for more than a thousand years; it corresponds to, but does not derive from, the Italian Monsignore and the French Monseigneur. However, most bishops prefer to be addressed simply as "Bishop <name>".
In Ireland and in countries whose Catholic usage it influenced (for instance, Australia and New Zealand) all bishops, not archbishops alone, are titled "The Most Reverend".
They are often referred to with the title "Doctor", or have D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) placed after their name, in recognition of their official position as teachers of the faith.
The form of address and style is different, however, for bishops and archbishops of other denominations. See Forms of address in the United Kingdom for further information.
In the Philippines
In the Philippines, Eccelsiastical Addresses are only used in very formal occasions. Most often, they are only used in wrting. When a regular catholic address the bishop (or even the Cardinal) as simply, Bishop _____. In the case of the Philippine Primate, he is usually addressed as, Cardinal _____.
In the media and official correspondences, cardinals are addressed His Eminence while the bishops are addresses the Most Reverend (name).
In the national language (but only in broadcast, newpapers and other extremely formal occasions), the Cardinal is addessed as "Ang Kanyang Kabuniyan" (His Eminence), while the bishop is addressed as "Ang Mahal na Obispo" (roughly equivalent to "His Highness, the Bishop").
However, the Pope is always given the title His Holiness or Ang Kanyang Kabanalan.
Although the titles of Eastern Catholic clergy varies from language to language, in the Greek- and Arabic-speaking world the following would be acceptable, but is by no means a full list of appropriate titles. It is notable that surnames are never used expect in extra-ecclesial matters or to specify a particular person where many share one Christian name or ordination name. Where not noted, Western titles may be supposed. The following are common in Greek Melkite Catholic usage and in Greek Orthodox usage in the United States.
Bishop / Archbishop: In Arabic, a bishop is styled "Sayedna," while in Syriac-tradition churches, he is styled "Mar."
Priest: In Arabic, "Abouna," and in Greek "Pappas".
Deacon: Identical to a priest in all ways except "Father Deacon" is also heard ("Abouna Shammas" or "Pappas Diakonos").
Subdeacon: Reverend Subdeacon in written address, but the Christian name with or without "Brother" is usually used, except some traditions where "Father Subdeacon" is used. In Arabic, this is confused by the word "Shammas" being used for both the subdeaconate and the deaconate, the distinction being a "Deacon of the Letter" and a "Deacon of the Gospel," respectively. Often a Deacon will be addressed as "Father" and the subdeacon as "Brother" to make the distinction clear.
Reader: Readers are addressed as "Reader" or "Brother," depending on the preference of the addresser.
Seminarians: "Brother" or "Brother Seminarian" is the most common title; the appellation "Father Seminarian" or "Father Student" is not seen outside of rural Greek and Arabic-speaking laity.
Tonsured individuals of no title: Brother.
Usage varies somewhat throughout the Orthodox communion, and not every church uses every clerical rank. Surnames are typically not used for archpastors (rank of bishop or above) or monastics.
- Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Ecumenical Patriarch John II, His All-Holiness, Your All-Holiness
- Patriarch: Patriarch John II of Terirem, Patriarch John, His Beatitude, Your Beatitude
- Note: Some Patriarchs use the honorific "His/Your Holiness"
- Archbishop
- of an independent Church: The Most Reverend (Rev.) Archbishop John of Terirem, Archbishop John, His Beatitude, Your Beatitude
- of a sub-national Church: The Most Reverend (Rev.) Archbishop John of Terirem, Archbishop John, His Eminence, Your Eminence
- Metropolitan: The Most Reverend (Rev.) Metropolitan John of Terirem, Metropolitan John, His Eminence, Your Eminence
- Titular Metropolitan: The Most Reverend (Rev.) Metropolitan John of Terirem, His Excellency, Your Excellency
- Note: Some Metropolitans use the style "The Very Most Reverend" (V. Most Rev.)
- Note: A Metropolitan who is the head of an independent Church is addressed as "Beatitude" rather than "Excellency"
- Bishop: The Right Reverend (Rt. Rev.) Bishop John of Terirem, Bishop John, His Grace, Your Grace
- Titular/Auxiliary Bishop: same as for Bishops, above
- Other Languages: Sayedna (Arabic), Despota (Greek), Vladika (Russian)
- Priest (Presbyter): The Reverend Father (Rev. Fr.) John Smith, Father John
- Protopriest: The Very Reverend (V. Rev.) Protopriest John Smith, Father (Fr.) John
- Archpriest: The Very Reverend (V. Rev.) Archpriest John Smith, Father (Fr.) John
- Archimandrite: The Very Reverend (V. Rev.) Archimandrite John, or The Right Reverend (Rt. Rev.) Archimandrite John, Father John
- Hieromonk (Priest-monk): The Reverend (Rev.) Hieromonk John, Father (Fr.) John
- Other Languages: Abouna (Arabic), Pappas (Greek), Batushka (Russian)
- Priest's Wife: Presbytera Mary (Greek), Khouria Mary (Arabic), Matushka Mary (Russian), Papadiya Mary (Serbian), Panimatushka (Ukrainian)
- Deacon: The Reverend Father (Rev. Fr.) John Smith, Deacon (Dn.) John Smith, Father John, Deacon Father (Dn. Fr.) John, Deacon (Dn.) John
- Protodeacon: The Reverend (Rev.) Protodeacon John Smith, Father (Fr.) John, Deacon Father (Dn. Fr.) John, Deacon (Dn.) John
- Archdeacon: The Reverend (Rev.) Archdeacon John Smith, Father (Fr.) John, Deacon Father (Dn. Fr.) John, Deacon (Dn.) John
- Hierodeacon (Deacon-monk): The Reverend (Rev.) Hierodeacon John, Father (Fr.) John
- Deacon's Wife: Diakonissa Mary (Greek), or the same titles as a priest's wife
- Abbot: The Right Reverend (Rt. Rev.) Abbot John, Abbot John, Father (Fr.) John
- Abbess: The Reverend (Rev.) Mother Superior Mary, The Very Reverend (V. Rev.) Abbess Mary, Reverend Mother Mary, Mother Mary
- Monk: Monk John, Father (Fr.) John
- Rassophore Monk: Rassophore Monk John, Father (Fr.) John
- Stavrophore Monk: Stavrophore Monk John, Father (Fr.) John
- Schemamonk: Schemamonk John, Father (Fr.) John
- Novice: Novice John, John; or Brother (Br.) John
- Note: the title "Brother" is a result of Latin influence; the title is only given to some novices with a special blessing.
- Nun: Nun Mary, Mother Mary
- Rassophore Nun: Rassophore Nun Mary, Sister Mary
- Novice: Sister Mary
References