Q. What does the title Very Reverend mean in comparison to Reverend? Also, how are monsignors created?
A. An interesting question. Thank you for asking it. In the Catholic Church, priests can be addressed as “Reverend.” I believe most priests enjoy the honorific title “Father” because this captures their role as the spiritual father of their people.
Priests who are vicars of the diocesan bishop are given the title “very reverend.” Vicars are priests appointed by the diocesan bishop who have authority to make decisions on behalf of the bishop through his ordinary power.
Some vicars appointed by the bishop are specified in canon law. For example, a bishop appoints a priest as vicar general to assist him in the governance of the diocese. He appoints a judicial vicar who is given ordinary judicial power in a diocese. A vicar foraine (often referred to as a “dean”) is a priest that a bishop places over a designated area. A bishop can name other vicars to whom he grants authority to make decisions on his behalf for particular needs.
“Monsignor” is an honorific title given to priests by the pope, often based on the recommendation of the local bishop. It is granted to individuals who have rendered valuable service to the Church or who provide some special function in Church governance. “Monsignor” is a form of address, not an appointment: properly speaking, one cannot be “made a monsignor” or be “the monsignor of a parish.”
Before 1968, there were as many as 14 different types of monsignors. Pope Paul VI in his Motu Proprio (motu proprio is Latin for “on his own directive”) Pontificalis Domus of March 28, 1968, reduced the number of types of monsignors to three: 1.) Chaplain of His Holiness addressed as Very Reverend Monsignor, and 2.) Honorary Prelate, and 3.) Protonotary Apostolic, both addressed as Right Reverend Monsignor.
Soon after his election in March 2013, Pope Francis suspended the granting of the honorific title of Monsignor except to members of the Holy See’s diplomatic service, and asked that any such honors be bestowed after a priest reached the age of 65. Pope Francis indicated a desire to scale back such practices as part of a broader effort to project a more modest and pastoral vision of leadership among priests.
I believe most priests would agree that we are called to a humble life of service in imitation to the ultimate servant—Jesus our Lord—and that we should eschew and shun titles, honors, and recognition.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
