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Sh12
Guest
I was wondering what are the duties and permissions of a Vicar General? Also what are the vestments of a Vicar General? I have seen pictures of Vicar Generals wearing cassocks with the bishops cincture (sash).
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Phemie
Guest
Are they old pictures? Pius X allowed Vicar Generals to wear a black fringed sash, but I haven’t seen a VG wear either a cassock or a sash in decades. Then again, I haven’t seen a priest in a cassock in decades either. If they are not religious priests they can also be addressed as ‘Monseignor’.
They are the Bishop’s representative over the entire diocese. Here is what Canon Law says.
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edward_george
Guest
Vicars General have no special vestural privileges at the present, unless I am mistaken. If you saw a VG wearing what appeared to be a bishop’s sash, it was likely because he is a Monsignor–an honorific title bestowed by the Pope on certain priests for their service to the Church. Monsignori wear the cassock and fascia (sash) colored like that of the former Papal court. Oddly enough, it is not Monsignori who dress like Bishops, but Bishops who dress like Monsignori–Bishops used to wear green (a color which lives on in the coat of arms of Bishops), and somewhere along the line a Pope decided that they should all dress like members of the Papal court. So they began to wear the amaranth red fascia and pipings on their cassocks.
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Sh12
Guest
Ah that makes sense now, the Vicar General i saw was a Monsignor.
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YoungTradCath
Guest
I believe all Vicars General are monsignori by virtue of their office. Once they leave that office, they are no longer monsignori, unless the title has been, in the intervening time, conferred personally.
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
Our VG doesn’t seem to go by Msgr.
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Phemie
Guest
They don’t go by that title if they are religious. Our VG was OMI and didn’t have that title.
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JGMendes4049
Guest
Vicars general are ex officio titular, not actual, protonotaries durante munere, that is, for as long as they hold the office. Of course, the Holy Father can make him an actual monsignor.
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YoungTradCath
Guest
But can they not, even if not personally a monsignor, wear the house and Mass (which happens to be the exactly the same as a bishop) cassocks of monsignori for as long as they are VG?
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JGMendes4049
Guest
Yes, as protonotaries, though titular, they are entitled to use the purple cassock for choir dress on events of special solemnity. For house dress, they wear a red-trimmed cassock with purple sash, but not the red trimmed cape or the pectoral cross (obviously). The purple ferraiuolo is also allowed.
For your historical file, the dress of vicars general before 1968 was black silk fringed sash, black-trimmed black cassock, and a black mantelletta; thus they were called “black protonotaries” in some places.
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YoungTradCath
Guest
I see. Nowadays it is common for pastors/administrators of traddie parishes to wear this, with the vicars wearing the same minus cape.
So effectively it seems VGs’ were promoted as far as dress is concerned.
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JReducation
Guest
If the Vicar General is a regular priest, he may never go by Msgr, wear the clothes of a Msgr or by any other title other than that which is permitted by his religious community and must wear the dress that is permitted by his religious community.
As to his duties, Canon Law spells out some broad strokes, but each bishop will use him in many ways. For example, in many dioceses, the VG will confirm if there is only one bishop and many confirmations. In some dioceses, the VG is also the Canonical Chancellor.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, FFV
As to his duties, Canon Law spells out some broad strokes, but each bishop will use him in many ways. For example, in many dioceses, the VG will confirm if there is only one bishop and many confirmations. In some dioceses, the VG is also the Canonical Chancellor.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, FFV
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Frazier_York
Guest
The *Ceremonial of Bishop *replicates the legislation initiated by Pope Paul VI i that simplified the provisions for “choir dress” (i.e. formal but not liturgical dress) in the 1960s. The list is pretty explicit, and 
does not provide special choir dress for a priest who is a vicar general unless 1) he is one of the three grades of monsignori --a Protonotary Apostolic, Prelate of Honor, or Papal Chaplain, or 2) he is a secular canon of a cathedral or other “collegiate” non-parish church. They are allowed to wear a mozetta or shoulder cape that is black or ash colored. (NB Canons do not exist in the U.S.)
Of course, there is always an indult…
As an aside, VGs who are not bishops do have the right of precedence before all other priests, even those (I believe) who have received papal honorifics.
does not provide special choir dress for a priest who is a vicar general unless 1) he is one of the three grades of monsignori --a Protonotary Apostolic, Prelate of Honor, or Papal Chaplain, or 2) he is a secular canon of a cathedral or other “collegiate” non-parish church. They are allowed to wear a mozetta or shoulder cape that is black or ash colored. (NB Canons do not exist in the U.S.)Of course, there is always an indult…
As an aside, VGs who are not bishops do have the right of precedence before all other priests, even those (I believe) who have received papal honorifics.
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