What to call a bishop?

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It varies somewhat according to local tradtion/custom. In the USA, bishops and archbishops are either (informally) simply Bishop or Archbishop, and more formally, your excellency. In Canada bishops are your excellency (or informally simply Bishop), but archbishops are your grace. In the UK, the formal address for bishops is my lord, while archbishops are, as in Canada, your grace. In my archdiocese the archbishop is always address as your grace, but in the neighbouring diocese, the bishop is typically addressed as simply Bishop, with your excellency rarely used… different dioceses have different “cultures” when it comes to protocol.

Cardinals are always your eminence.
 
twf said:
Cardinals are always your eminence.
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Oh, my! I asked my dad what to call the bishop and he said to call him “your eminience.” I called Bishop Sample that, and he just smiled. So, I screwed up?😊
 
White_Peony said:
Oh, my! I asked my dad what to call the bishop and he said to call him “your eminience.” I called Bishop Sample that, and he just smiled. So, I screwed up?😊
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I wouldn’t worry, he was probably happy to have a temporary “promotion”! 😉

I work for my diocese and see my Bishop quite often,
I just call him “Sir”. 🙂
 
White_Peony said:
Oh, my! I asked my dad what to call the bishop and he said to call him “your eminience.” I called Bishop Sample that, and he just smiled. So, I screwed up?😊
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Unless your bishop is a cardinal, it isn’t correct to address him as “your eminence”. That being said…don’t sweat it - it was an innocent mistake and clearly he wasn’t offended (if anything he should have been flattered as cardinals outrank other bishops of the Latin Church in the order of precedence). Next time just your “your excellency” or simply “Bishop”. Out of respect for this great office, which shares in the threefold ministry of Christ as king, priest, and prophet, I would recommend the more formal form.
 
Bishops these days seem embarrassed by formality e.g. kissing the bishop’s ring and many describe themselves as “Bishop, I’m just an ordinary bloke, Bob” not realising that the formality indicates respect for the office not adulation for the holder of the office
 
Paul2274 said:
fisheaters.com/addressingclergy.html
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Great link…funny story…a buddy sat on a plane by a Cardinal (I believe it was Maida). His sister was not as deeply immersed in her Catholic faith as my buddy was. He leaned over and told her who he was as he approached. As the Cardinal took his seat he greeted her and she responded with “your honor”. I believe my buddy then curled into the fetal position but he too wasn’t sure what the proper greeting was (other than knowing it wasn’t your honor) and just responded with Cardinal Maida.

Even though you have provided the link I’m sure I would forget at just the precise moment and refer to them by the wrong title. I’m sure it would give them some comic relief at my expense.
 
Once I read somewhere, that some poeple would kiss the hand of the priest (besides during mass). Has anyone seen this before?
 
TradionalWay said:
Once I read somewhere, that some poeple would kiss the hand of the priest (besides during mass). Has anyone seen this before?
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Yes - this was very widespread at one point and I think it is a beautiful practice. In my archdiocese, members of the large Filipino community greet priests by taking their hands and touching them to their foreheads while making a profound bow.
 
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