Correct Titles for Clergy

[Apryl]

(I could look it up, but I would really rather ask here.

Not only will I get answers, but WHY they are correct, and resources for more info. So, blast away, people)

Recently, I have seen priests addressed as ‘Reverand Father’. This makes NO SENSE to me. He’s a Reverand, or a Father, but not both. (All clergy in America can be addressed as a ‘Reverand’, but only a priest is address as ‘Father’… right?)

I know that a deacon is titled as ‘Reverand Mister’. So, I see John Jones, a deacon, I call him ‘Deacon Jones’, but mail to him is addressed to ‘Rev. Mr. Jones’.

But a priest? I mentioned to someone last weekend that I was shocked. ‘Where did this come from?’. She responded thery ALWAYS refer to their parish priest as ‘Reverand Father’.

What happened? I say it’s a misinterpretation (priests may be addressed as Reverand OR Father, and someone saw that as ‘Reverand Father’). … but I could be wrong.

Am I wrong?

 

[Joe_5859]

“Reverend Father” is just a more formal way of addressing a priest, espeically in writing. I think it can sound a bit peculiar to some of us (Americans especially) who have built up this idea in our minds that “Father=Catholic priest” and “Reverend=Protestant pastor”. But that isn’t always the case.

Similarly, in writing, you refer to a Bishop as “Most Reverend” and a monsignor as “Very Reverend”.

It seems odd to me, too, that people would verbally address a priest as “Reverend Father”, but when “that’s the way we do things” in a particular parish, people tend to go with the flow and not really question it. If the priest doesn’t mind (or if he prefers it), there’s nothing wrong with it, though.

 

[Tietjen]

(I could look it up, but I would really rather ask here.

Not only will I get answers, but WHY they are correct, and resources for more info. So, blast away, people)

Recently, I have seen priests addressed as ‘Reverand Father’. This makes NO SENSE to me. He’s a Reverand, or a Father, but not both. (All clergy in America can be addressed as a ‘Reverand’, but only a priest is address as ‘Father’… right?)

I know that a deacon is titled as ‘Reverand Mister’. So, I see John Jones, a deacon, I call him ‘Deacon Jones’, but mail to him is addressed to ‘Rev. Mr. Jones’.

But a priest? I mentioned to someone last weekend that I was shocked. ‘Where did this come from?’. She responded thery ALWAYS refer to their parish priest as ‘Reverand Father’.

What happened? I say it’s a misinterpretation (priests may be addressed as Reverand OR Father, and someone saw that as ‘Reverand Father’). … but I could be wrong.

Am I wrong?

The word “reverend” means “deserving reverence” and identifies a person as clergy. Father specifically identifies the clergyman as a priest.

The forms of address for various clergy and Religious are:

SECULAR PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name); or
Rev. Father (full name); or
Father (name)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father​

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name) (adding letters designating his Order); or
Father (full name) (adding letters designating his Order)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father​

BROTHERS:
Address on envelope:
Brother (name) (adding initials designating his Order.)

Salutation: Dear Brother (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Brother​

BROTHER SUPERIOR (non priest):
Address on envelope:
Brother (full name) (adding initials designating his Order.)

Salutation: Dear Brother (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Brother​

ABBOTS:
Addressing a letter:
Right Reverend (full name)(adding letters designating his Order) Abbott of ______

Salutation: Right Reverend Abbot:

Concluding a letter: Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Father Abbot​

SISTERS:
Address on envelope:
Sister (name)

Salutation: Dear Sister (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Sister​

MOTHER SUPERIOR (or MOTHER GENERAL):
Addressing a letter:
The Reverend Mother Superior (General)
Convent of______; or
The Reverend Mother (name) (adding initials of her Order.)

Salutation: Dear Reverend Mother:

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours,

In personal speech: Mother​

BISHOPS:
Addressing a letter:
Most Reverend (full name)
Bishop of ______

Salutation: Your Excellency:

Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency’s blessing, I am, Yours respectfully,

In personal speech: Bishop​

ARCHBISHOPS:
Addressing a letter:
Most Reverend (full name)
Archbishop of ___________

Salutation: Your Excellency:

Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency’s blessing, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Your Excellency​

CARDINALS:
Addressing a letter:
His Eminence (Christian name) Cardinal (Surname) (If an archbishop or bishop give title and see)

Salutation: Your Eminence:

Concluding a letter: Asking the blessing of Your Eminence, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Your Eminence​

THE POPE:
Addressing a letter:
His Holiness Pope (name)

Salutation: Most Holy Father; or Your Holiness:

Concluding a letter: I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect, your Holiness’ most obedient and humble servant.

In personal speech: Your Holiness

 

[Joe_5859]

Way to show me up, Tietjen! Very thorough and a handy reference.

 

[Apryl]

“Reverend Father” is just a more formal way of addressing a priest, espeically in writing. I think it can sound a bit peculiar to some of us (Americans especially) who have built up this idea in our minds that “Father=Catholic priest” and “Reverend=Protestant pastor”. But that isn’t always the case.

I’m not against the ‘Reverand’. I have been aware that a priest IS a Reverand.

What I do NOT get is the ‘Reverand Father’. In particular, when noting the name.

Not in direct address (“Hi, Reverand Father Michael”)

or in mail (Dear Reverand Father Moses)

I’m talking about in stationery or on programs (Reverand Father James Doolittle is the Pastor of the Church)

I think that it’s wrong… and honestly, well… I’ll reply to this on Tietjen’s post.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Reverend is a title prefix, like Mister (Mr.) or Doctor (Dr.). Father is how we address them and I think its only fitting that a Catholic would call them Father because they are spiritual fathers to us.

Eastern Deacons are called Father Deacon, while Latin Deacons are just Deacon X.

 

[Apryl]

The word “reverend” means “deserving reverence” and identifies a person as clergy. Father specifically identifies the clergyman as a priest.

The forms of address for various clergy and Religious are:

SECULAR PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name); or
Rev. Father (full name); or
Father (name)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father​

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name) (adding letters designating his Order); or
Father (full name) (adding letters designating his Order)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father

Is what you call a ‘Secular’ priest what I refer to as a ‘Diocene’ priest? I’m so confused

I still don’t get how to look at the printing of information regarding a priest… this, IMO, would reflect what a person would say to another. “That man over there is Father Joseph”. I would never say ‘Reverand Father Joseph’… but I still don’t get whether or not it’s a case of preferences or correctness.

And the list you posted is great… .but does it have the Nahil Obstat (or whatever that is… my Latin is lacking and it’s obviously my nap time

 

[Skeptic92]

---

ARCHBISHOPS:
Addressing a letter:
Most Reverend (full name)
Archbishop of ___________

Salutation: Your Excellency:

Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency’s blessing, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Your Excellency​

I am sure that’s incorrect, i’ve always addressed (and been told to address) Archbishops as “Your Grace” and Bishops as “My Lord/Your Lordship”.

However that may be just a different custom.

Reverend Father is one of the weirder modes of address that I’ve heard, however it is correct in a sense, but it’s when addressing a Priest verbally, it’s generally just “Father”.

 

[jilly4ski]

I am sure that’s incorrect, i’ve always addressed (and been told to address) Archbishops as “Your Grace” and Bishops as “My Lord/Your Lordship”.

However that may be just a different custom.

Reverend Father is one of the weirder modes of address that I’ve heard, however it is correct in a sense, but it’s when addressing a Priest verbally, it’s generally just “Father”.

I believe it is just a cultural difference between the US and the UK. So in England (and probably Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc) It is “Your Grace” and "My Lord/lordship, and in the US it is “Your Excellency.”

 

[MarkThompson]

I am sure that’s incorrect, i’ve always addressed (and been told to address) Archbishops as “Your Grace” and Bishops as “My Lord/Your Lordship”.

However that may be just a different custom.

That’s a UK (or maybe Commonwealth) custom, but it is technically only correct for CofE bishops, not Roman Catholic bishops. The correct titles are Excellency for a bishop and Eminence for a cardinal, with nothing special done differently for an archbishop.

 

[Kevin812]

Is what you call a ‘Secular’ priest what I refer to as a ‘Diocene’ priest? I’m so confused

I still don’t get how to look at the printing of information regarding a priest… this, IMO, would reflect what a person would say to another. “That man over there is Father Joseph”. I would never say ‘Reverand Father Joseph’… but I still don’t get whether or not it’s a case of preferences or correctness.

And the list you posted is great… .but does it have the Nahil Obstat (or whatever that is… my Latin is lacking and it’s obviously my nap time

A Secular Priest is a Diocesan Priest. Secular, in the Catholic sense, means ‘in the world.’

“Reverand Father” – to me, would be very, very formal and in the US verging on being ‘old fashion’ and not in a good way

Also with a Franciscan priest (in general), he is always referred to as friar and not farther. Example: “Friar John that was the most amazing homily I’ve ever heard!”

 

[JReducation]

The word “reverend” means “deserving reverence” and identifies a person as clergy. Father specifically identifies the clergyman as a priest.

The forms of address for various clergy and Religious are:

SECULAR PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name); or
Rev. Father (full name); or
Father (name)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father​

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS:
Address on envelope:
Rev. (full name) (adding letters designating his Order); or
Father (full name) (adding letters designating his Order)

Salutation: Dear Father:

Concluding a letter:
Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Father​

BROTHERS:
Address on envelope:
Brother (name) (adding initials designating his Order.)

Salutation: Dear Brother (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Brother​

BROTHER SUPERIOR (non priest):
Address on envelope:
Brother (full name) (adding initials designating his Order.)

Salutation: Dear Brother (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Brother​

ABBOTS:
Addressing a letter:
Right Reverend (full name)(adding letters designating his Order) Abbott of ______

Salutation: Right Reverend Abbot:

Concluding a letter: Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Father Abbot​

SISTERS:
Address on envelope:
Sister (name)

Salutation: Dear Sister (name)

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ,

In personal speech: Sister​

MOTHER SUPERIOR (or MOTHER GENERAL):
Addressing a letter:
The Reverend Mother Superior (General)
Convent of______; or
The Reverend Mother (name) (adding initials of her Order.)

Salutation: Dear Reverend Mother:

Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours,

In personal speech: Mother​

BISHOPS:
Addressing a letter:
Most Reverend (full name)
Bishop of ______

Salutation: Your Excellency:

Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency’s blessing, I am, Yours respectfully,

In personal speech: Bishop​

ARCHBISHOPS:
Addressing a letter:
Most Reverend (full name)
Archbishop of ___________

Salutation: Your Excellency:

Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency’s blessing, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Your Excellency​

CARDINALS:
Addressing a letter:
His Eminence (Christian name) Cardinal (Surname) (If an archbishop or bishop give title and see)

Salutation: Your Eminence:

Concluding a letter: Asking the blessing of Your Eminence, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ,

In personal speech: Your Eminence​

THE POPE:
Addressing a letter:
His Holiness Pope (name)

Salutation: Most Holy Father; or Your Holiness:

Concluding a letter: I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect, your Holiness’ most obedient and humble servant.

In personal speech: Your Holiness

This is an excellent list. I would only add one more thing. In dealing with religious, always pay special attention to the customs of their community.

All ordained male superiors are always Most Rev. John Doe, SJ or whatever his community is. You use Most Rev. to denote that he’s an Ordinary.

For example, many women’s community’s do not call their superior, Mother. The Missionaries of Charity are a good example. To them, there is only one Rev. Mother. That was Mother Teresa. You would refer to their superior as Sister or Sister Superior.

Some of the fraternal communities of men do not call priets Father. They are called Brother. He would be Rev. Brother. The superior would be Rev. Father, even if he’s not a priest.

Non clerical brothers are called Venerable. You would write Ven. Brother N, OFM or whatever the initials of his community may be.

Lay brothers are called Brother. You simply write, Brother N, SJ

If a bishop is a religious, you use the initials of his community after his name: Sean P. Cardinal O’Malley, OFM, Cap.

When writing the name of a Franciscan you’re always safer with Friar N + initials of the obedience. Friar can be abbreviated Fr. or Fra. Fr. is more common. Some superiors do not allow Father and Brother.

The male Missionaries of Charity are always Brother, priest or not. Rev. and Ven. is never used by them. Mother Teresa did not allow it.

Good rule of thumb, if dealing with a religious community, go with their custom if you know it. If you don’t here is a simple key.

Monks: Can be called Dom before their name.

Mendicants: can be called Friar before their name.

Everyone else is usually Father or Brother.

If you get into the Oriental Catholics, that’s a whole other set of titles that’s confusing to us. :yup:

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[amsjj]

From my readings, the terms below were used with Catholic Bishops and Archbishops in England ever since the hierarchy was restored.

One of my patrons was both a Bishop and an Archbishop; as Bishop he was addressed as “My Lord” – as Archbishop, “Your Grace”. I don’t offhand recall any of the bishops being addressed as “Your Excellency”, but the Cardinals were definitely “Your Eminence”.

take care,
amsjj

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.
– San Josemaria Escriva, 1 junio 1974

 

[JReducation]

From my readings, the terms below were used with Catholic Bishops and Archbishops in England ever since the hierarchy was restored.

One of my patrons was both a Bishop and an Archbishop; as Bishop he was addressed as “My Lord” – as Archbishop, “Your Grace”. I don’t offhand recall any of the bishops being addressed as “Your Excellency”, but the Cardinals were definitely “Your Eminence”.

take care,
amsjj

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.
– San Josemaria Escriva, 1 junio 1974

Your Grace is very English. Even Catholic bishops in England and Ireland use Your Grace, not Your Excellency. Excellency is used by the rest of Europe. I’m not sure why the English or when they started to use Your Grace.

Until the Mid 1800s Diocesan priests and secular priests who belonged to priestly fraternities were called Father in direct address, but in writing they were called Mr. A diocesan priest was Rev. Mr. John Smith. If we read writings by the English speaking Christian writers of the 19th century we see them use Mister.

They became Father when religious orders began to take over parishes. We always called our superiors Father or Rev. Father. The pastors wee usually the superior of the house. That’s how people made the transition to calling all priests Father.

Today, we’re trying to correct it by taking friars back to either Friar or Brother, regardless of whether we are ordained or not. The idea is to blur return to the origins. We were not founded as orders of priests or for priests.

Another interesting use of titles is the Franciscan use for the bishop, “Lord Bishop”, if he’s a Franciscan, then he’s called either Friar or Brother, even if he’s a cardinal. For example, Bonaventure was Father Bonaventure when he was superior, but Brother Bonaventure when he became a cardinal. In some writings you’ll see Father and in others you’ll see Brother. The Father tells you that he was the superior at the time of the writing. We also call Francis, Holy Father. To tell them apart, Francis is “our Holy Father Francis” and the pope is “the Holy Father” or “our Holy Father” or “His Holiness”.

There are subtle differences that can be missed if you say them too quickly.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Skeptic92]

Your Grace is very English. Even Catholic bishops in England and Ireland use Your Grace, not Your Excellency. Excellency is used by the rest of Europe. I’m not sure why the English or when they started to use Your Grace.

Until the Mid 1800s Diocesan priests and secular priests who belonged to priestly fraternities were called Father in direct address, but in writing they were called Mr. A diocesan priest was Rev. Mr. John Smith. If we read writings by the English speaking Christian writers of the 19th century we see them use Mister.

They became Father when religious orders began to take over parishes. We always called our superiors Father or Rev. Father. The pastors wee usually the superior of the house. That’s how people made the transition to calling all priests Father.

Today, we’re trying to correct it by taking friars back to either Friar or Brother, regardless of whether we are ordained or not. The idea is to blur return to the origins. We were not founded as orders of priests or for priests.

Another interesting use of titles is the Franciscan use for the bishop, “Lord Bishop”, if he’s a Franciscan, then he’s called either Friar or Brother, even if he’s a cardinal. For example, Bonaventure was Father Bonaventure when he was superior, but Brother Bonaventure when he became a cardinal. In some writings you’ll see Father and in others you’ll see Brother. The Father tells you that he was the superior at the time of the writing. We also call Francis, Holy Father. To tell them apart, Francis is “our Holy Father Francis” and the pope is “the Holy Father” or “our Holy Father” or “His Holiness”.

There are subtle differences that can be missed if you say them too quickly.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I am going to guess the mode of address for Bishops and Archbishops in the Commonwealth (some research turned up Your Grace and My Lord/Your Lordship is a Commonwealth Custom) is probably due to the fact Bishops historically were members of the house of Lords (therefore they would be referred to as a Lord) and it was probably to denote someone of higher rank that brought in “Your Grace” for Archbishops, as that use to be the title of Scottish royalty, however i’m unsure on the exact roots of it.

 

[Phemie]

I am going to guess the mode of address for Bishops and Archbishops in the Commonwealth (some research turned up Your Grace and My Lord/Your Lordship is a Commonwealth Custom) is probably due to the fact Bishops historically were members of the house of Lords (therefore they would be referred to as a Lord) and it was probably to denote someone of higher rank that brought in “Your Grace” for Archbishops, as that use to be the title of Scottish royalty, however i’m unsure on the exact roots of it.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth and I’ve never heard a Bishop addressed as “My Lord”…

 

[twf]

Actually, in English speaking Canada (a Commonwealth country of course) bishops are addressed as Your Excellency, as in the States or Continental Europe. Archbishops, however, are always Your Grace. I have never ever heard ‘Your Lorrdship/Lord’. Canadian customs in general are often a hybrid of English and American. In the secular realm, mayors are addressed as ‘your worship’, in the Brtiish style, but judges are addressed as ‘your honor’ in the American style. My town is x kilometers from Vancouver, but I am 6 feet one in height…we mix and match in every sphere

 

[Joe_5859]

And the list you posted is great… .but does it have the Nahil Obstat (or whatever that is… my Latin is lacking and it’s obviously my nap time

This is really just a matter of custom; it’s not a doctrinal issue. I doubt very much that any such list would have the nihil obstat, unless it’s present in a larger theological work.