Clergy titles/greetings

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I am wondering if somebody has a list of all the different designations and customary greetings appropriate to the various levels of Catholic clergy?

My biggie is that I always forget whether my greeting to my Archbishop should be “Your Excellency” or not (and when to kiss his ring :))… And also, when I see one of our other two Auxiliary bishops I’m never sure if I’m supposed to address them the same way or not! Is it always right to call every bishop by the title of “Your Excellency”?

Also, I think bishops have the title of “Most Reverend” correct? Is this the same for Cardinals as well, since they are mostly bishops?

I do know that a priest who is the rector of the Cathedral parish has the official title of “Very Reverend” for as long as he is rector (I work at a Cathedral so I know this one!) I think this is the same honor that priests who are deemed monsignors are entitled to, right?

+veritas+
 
Veritas:

Your question is not easily answered, in part because the answer varies depending on the country you are in. In general, however, these are acceptable greetings:

Pope: Your Holiness
Patriarch: Your Beatitude
Cardinal: Your Eminence
Bishop (all ranks): Your Excellency or Your Grace (more common in the UK)
Priest/Monsignor: Father
Latin Deacon: Deacon
Eastern Deacon: Father, Father Deacon or Deacon
Sister/Nun: Sister
Brother: Brother

Note that in the Eastern Catholic Churches Bishops are generally addressed using the language of the Church and the word for “Bishop” thus, for example, in the Melkite Church which uses Arabic a bishop is called “Sayedna.”

Written titles are more complicated, but it doesn’t appear that you were asking about those. If I’m mistaken, let me know and I’ll supply them.

Deacon Ed
 
I hadn’t thought about written titles, but now that I think about it… I’m not sure about those either.

I would assume for a Bishop it would be addressed to “Your Excellency, Most Reverend (Arch)bishop (name)” … I do seem to recall that there are a customary salutation/closing remark for the different levels of clergy too… but I’m not sure what those should be.

If you feel like posting that info too or if you have a link to another website that has all this info.

I think Catholic Answers needs to write a “Clergy Communications Guide” covering all the in-person and in-writing Catholic etiquette!! 😃

+veritas+
 
Deacon Ed:
Veritas:

Bishop (all ranks): Your Excellency or Your Grace (more common in the UK)

Deacon Ed
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Deacon Ed,

I believe the salutatory of “Your Excellency” is proper for a Bishop and “Your Grace” is proper for an Archbishop.
 
+veritas+:
I do seem to recall that there are a customary salutation/closing remark for the different levels of clergy too… but I’m not sure what those should be.
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traditioninaction.org/religious/d003rpHowToAddressClergy.html

Brother

Direct address: Brother Elias.
Written address: Brother Elias, O.F.M.
Formal introduction: Brother Elias of the Order of Friars Minor.

Religious Priest

Direct address: Father McKenzie, or Father.
Written address: The Reverend Father Leo F. McKenzie, S.J.
Formal introduction: The Reverend. Father Leo McKenzie of The Society of Jesus.

Diocesan Priest

Direct address: Father Butler, or Father.
Written address: The Reverend Father John W. Butler.
Formal introduction: The Reverend. Father John Butler.

Monsignor

Direct address: Monsignor Smith, or Monsignor.
Written address: The Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas R. Smith, or The Very Reverend Monsignor Thomas R. Smith.
Formal introduction: The Very Reverend Monsignor Thomas Smith.

Bishop (2)

Direct address: Your Excellency, or Bishop McNeil.
Written address: His Excellency, The Right Reverend William A. Scully, D.D. Bishop of Baltimore. or His Excellency, The Right Reverend Bishop William Scully of Baltimore.
Formal closing: Kissing the Sacred Ring,
Formal introduction: His Excellency, the Bishop of Baltimore.
(2) It is common usage in Europe to address a Bishop, Archbishop or Cardinal as Monsignor (Msgr. or Msg.). This can be confusing to Americans, who commonly reserve the title strictly for the Monsignor, who is ranked below the Bishop.
Archbishop

Direct address: Your Grace, or Archbishop Kovak.
Written address: His Grace, The Most Reverend Michael T. Kovak, S.T.D. Archbishop of New York, or His Grace, The Most Reverend Archbishop Michael T. Kovak, of New York.
Formal closing: Kissing the Sacred Ring,
Formal introduction: His Grace, the Archbishop of Baltimore.

Patriarch

Direct address: Your Beatitude.
Written address: His Beatitude, the Most Reverend Michael Cardinal Sabbah, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Formal introduction: His Beatitude, The Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Cardinal

Direct address: Your Eminence, or Cardinal Hand.
Written address: His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Hand, Archbishop of Los Angeles, or, His Eminence, The Most Reverend Cardinal Thomas J. Hand, of Los Angeles.
Formal closing: Kissing the Sacred Purple,
Formal introduction: His Eminence, Cardinal of Los Angeles.

Pope

Direct address: Your Holiness, or Holy Father.
Written address: His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, or better, The Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness Pius XII.
Formal closing: Kissing the Sacred Foot,
Formal introduction: His Holiness, the Pope.
 
How common is the kissing of the ring or addressing prelates by any title beginning with “Your…”? I haven’t seen this in ages, and I have even heard that new episcopal rings no longer contain relics and therefore should not be reverenced by kissing. I have always liked these customs even though people certainly get touchy about them.
 
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Fortiterinre:
How common is the kissing of the ring or addressing prelates by any title beginning with “Your…”? I haven’t seen this in ages, and I have even heard that new episcopal rings no longer contain relics and therefore should not be reverenced by kissing. I have always liked these customs even though people certainly get touchy about them.
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I’m a very recent convert from Orthodoxy, and there, one kisses the priest’s hand immediately following receiving a sacrament (after Communion, Confession) or even a sacramental (antidoron, etc.) I’ve continued it, now that I’ve jumped the Tiber.

Most of the Eastern priests and bishops I’ve encountered accept the courtesy with grace – it’s common courtesy. However, there are some priests that make a game out of avoiding it.

I’ve done it on the western side as, I’ve had to explain to several rather puzzled priests, a reverence of one who has stood in persona Christi for me… A small thank you for the great gift of Christ Himself in the Blessed Sacrament and for the gift of absolution. . . So, as I leave the confession room or the chapel, I shake hands, turn his hand slightly so I can bow and make a light “peck” on the back of the priest’s hand, then just say “thank you”. Hey, it’s the least I can do. . . and all seem to take it with grace . . .
 
I have even heard that new episcopal rings no longer contain relics and therefore should not be reverenced by kissing.
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The reverence is due the office and the ring (signet) is the physical representation of that office.

It is still very much appropriate to kiss the ring, though you are quite correct, it is seldom done lately.

The salutations are also in effect as well, but generally for more formal correspondance.

Also, kissing the hand of a newly ordained (within one year) priest is a Plenary Indulgence, so smooch away!
 
When Francis Cardinal George visited Notre Dame a few years ago, a lot of the guys in the receiving line were addressing him as “Your Eminence.” Had I used a direct form of address I also would have, but since I got the impression that most people were using it just to be able to say it (not too often that you’re talking to a Cardinal) I avoided it. I didn’t want to exploit the opportunity to make myself feel important.
 
Brendan,

The guidelines I have from my diocese indicate that for bishops of all ranks, the address on the envelope is “Most Reverend (full name)” and in speaking “Your Excellency.” The reservation of the term “Your Grace” to Archbishops is an English tradition that is no longer in place. The term “Your Grace” may be applied to any bishop, although this is still primarily in the UK.

There was, however, an error in my post. Monsignors are, of course, called “Monsignor” – but “Father” will do if it is unknown what they are.

BTW, the term “Rev. Mr.” for as a written address for deacons is being eliminated by most dioceses. It seems that “Deacon” is now used by most (but not all) dioceses in the United States and that this term is used both in speaking and in written correspondance. This applies to both transitional and permanent deacons since there is, in fact, only one order of deacons.

Deacon Ed
 
Deacon Ed:
Veritas:

Your question is not easily answered, in part because the answer varies depending on the country you are in. In general, however, these are acceptable greetings:

Pope: Your Holiness
Patriarch: Your Beatitude
Cardinal: Your Eminence
Bishop (all ranks): Your Excellency or Your Grace (more common in the UK)
Priest/Monsignor: Father
Latin Deacon: Deacon
Eastern Deacon: Father, Father Deacon or Deacon
Sister/Nun: Sister
Brother: Brother

Note that in the Eastern Catholic Churches Bishops are generally addressed using the language of the Church and the word for “Bishop” thus, for example, in the Melkite Church which uses Arabic a bishop is called “Sayedna.”

Written titles are more complicated, but it doesn’t appear that you were asking about those. If I’m mistaken, let me know and I’ll supply them.

Deacon Ed
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Deacon Ed,
Great reply but you missed one this.

For monastics, Latin monastics are Brother as you state but Eastern monastics are different.

For a novice monk it would be Brother or novice Brother.
For a monk it is Father.
 
David,

Yes, a professed monk in the Eastern Church is called “Father” – you are correct, I did miss that (my apologies to the monks of Holy Resurrection Monastery with whom I am quite familiar).

And, of course, in the Eastern Churches kissing the right hand of the clergy is common. As a deacon my hand is usually kissed when I hold the Book of the Gospels for people to reverence and, sometimes, when I give communion. Sometimes when I meet my parishioners on other occasions they will also kiss my hand – and I’m just a deacon! Of course, I bring Christ to them in the Eucharist, in the Gospel and I serve as a spiritual father to them.

What an awesome responsibilty! In the Latin Church this last Sunday the Gospel (at least the long form) ended with this admonition: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” That’s also a terrible reminder of our duty to serve God!

Deacon Ed
 
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