monsignor

Distinguished priest's title

Monsignor is an honorary title in the Roman Catholic Church, granted by the pope to certain priests.

It ranks above ordinary priests but below bishops.

The title appears before the name: Monsignor O'Brien will conduct the service.

Abbreviated Msgr.

Plural: monsignors or monsignori.

rank

prelate

Senior church official

canonAccepted authoritative works
vicar-generalBishop's appointed administrative deputy
archpriestSupervising clergyman under bishop

bishop · archbishop · cardinal · pope · diocese · parish · curia · Vatican · Holy See · apostolic

address

title

Formal honorific or name

reverendWorthy of veneration
eminenceElevated rank or renown
excellencySuperior merit or virtue

honorific · salutation · formal · respected · esteemed · venerable · distinguished · dignitary · protocol · courtesy

liturgical

vestments

Ceremonial religious attire

cassockFull-length clerical garment
birettaRidged ecclesiastical cap
purpleHue between crimson and azure

sash · mass · altar · cathedral · basilica · chalice · liturgy · sacrament · ceremony · procession

Categories

Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
church peoplepriest, parson, vicar, curate, rector
American Catholicismarchdiocese, parish council, archdioceses, Catholic school, Catholic schools
Catholic Clergypope, pontiff, cardinal, bishop, archbishop
Catholic rolesabbess, abbot, friar, confessor, seminarian

Opposites

ecclesiastical rank/hierarchy

monsignorlayman

Ordinary untrained person

parishioner · seminarian · altar boy · lay brother · novice

religious vs. secular status

monsignorlayman

Ordinary untrained person

layperson · secular · civilian · atheist · nonbeliever

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G