Use of Titles Rev. v. Fr

[gospelofjohn]

I am working on my diocesan seminary application today, and part of the application involves 6 written essays. One of the essays wants me to discuss some of the people that have influenced my desire to become a priest. Two of those people happen to be priests. Should I refer to them as Rev. Fr. So and So, or Rev. So and So, or simply Fr. So and S0? Thanks.

 

[tawny]

I am working on my diocesan seminary application today, and part of the application involves 6 written essays. One of the essays wants me to discuss some of the people that have influenced my desire to become a priest. Two of those people happen to be priests. Should I refer to them as Rev. Fr. So and So, or Rev. So and So, or simply Fr. So and S0? Thanks.

The correct salutation is Rev. Fr. when in writing.

 

[Elizium23]

The correct salutation is Rev. Fr. when in writing.

I’m only familiar with Rev. alone for priests, and Rev. Mr. for deacons. I am not aware of Rev. Fr., and it seems foreign to me.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Rev. is standard for Western clergymen, if Latin priest or Deacon. If deacon, common US practice is Rev. Mr.; if there is an honorific like Monsignor, then Very Rev. Msgr.

Rev. Fr. is standard for Eastern clergymen. If Eastern priest. If Deacon, then Fr. Dn. or Rev Dn.; If there is an honorific like Corbishop, then Very Rev. Corbishop.

If an Eastern monk, then Fr. is approriate, even for non-priests, although Br. is also modernly used.

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m only familiar with Rev. alone for priests, and Rev. Mr. for deacons. I am not aware of Rev. Fr., and it seems foreign to me.

That’s what I was going to say,

I did a search and found this article that might be helpful:

How to Address Church Officials

My practice is to use “Rev. So-and-so” in addressing something written to a priest but to use “Fr. So-and-so” for the salutation. I would also use Fr. if I was writing about a priest rather than to the priest. But that might just be me.

EDIT: You can also take a look at what Emily Post (Etiquette Expert Extraordinaire) has to say:

emilypost.com/forms-of-address/titles/777-official-forms-of-address

 

[Sonny89]

I am working on my diocesan seminary application today, and part of the application involves 6 written essays. One of the essays wants me to discuss some of the people that have influenced my desire to become a priest. Two of those people happen to be priests. Should I refer to them as Rev. Fr. So and So, or Rev. So and So, or simply Fr. So and S0? Thanks.

Peace and all Good!

Growing up, I was always taught that it was Rev Fr in writing but not in spoken address but then again my high school was very formal & old fashioned.

 

[malphono]

I am working on my diocesan seminary application today, and part of the application involves 6 written essays. One of the essays wants me to discuss some of the people that have influenced my desire to become a priest. Two of those people happen to be priests. Should I refer to them as Rev. Fr. So and So, or Rev. So and So, or simply Fr. So and S0? Thanks.

If I understand the context, this is for an application where you’ll be referring to the priests in the third person. Whereas “Rev Fr” or simply “Rev” is correct in salutation when addressing the person directly in writing (such as on an envelope) it seems to me that it would be a little stuffy to use it in the third person. Personally, I’d say something like “Father so-and-so of St-x parish has had a great influence on me…”

 

[twf]

If I understand the context, this is for an application where you’ll be referring to the priests in the third person. Whereas “Rev Fr” or simply “Rev” is correct in salutation when addressing the person directly in writing (such as on an envelope) it seems to me that it would be a little stuffy to use it in the third person. Personally, I’d say something like “Father so-and-so of St-x parish has had a great influence on me…”

I would agree with this.

 

[L_Marshall]

I would like to point out that (in Catholic use) a title like “Reverend” should always be preceded by a definite article. The most common would be “The Rev.” This is because “Reverend” is not a title in and of itself, but a modifier of either: 1) The title “Father;” 2) The individual’s name (in protestant usage). This is why judges are always referred to on the bench as “The Honorable John Smith,” instead of just “Honorable John Smith.”

That having been said, “The Rev. Fr.,” or simply “Father” would seem most appropriate for your purposes.