When were priests first called "father"?

[Pellman]

When did priests first begin being addressed as “father”, where, and how did it happen? I’m betting it is related to the desert **fathers **who were addressed as “abba” (whence we get “abbot”). So … 3rd century Egypt maybe?

Hoping someone has whole story. google’s not helping.

 

[canne]

I am hopeful this will help you in understanding when and why this practice exists.

Since the earliest times of our Church, we have used the title “Father” for religious leaders.
Bishops, who are the shepherds of the local Church community and the authentic teachers of the faith, were given the title “Father.” Actually, until about the year 400, a bishop was called “papa” for Father; this title was then restricted solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English was rendered “pope.”
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/WHYFATHR.htm

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, “I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

Peter followed the same custom, referring to Mark as his son: “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark” (1 Pet. 5:13). The apostles sometimes referred to entire churches under their care as their children. Paul writes, “Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Cor. 12:14); and, “My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19).

John said, “My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1); “No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth” (3 John 4). In fact, John also addresses men in his congregations as “fathers” (1 John 2:13–14).

By referring to these people as their spiritual sons and spiritual children, Peter, Paul, and John imply their own roles as spiritual fathers. Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, we Catholics acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling priests “father.” Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood.

Catholics know that as members of a parish, they have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care, thus they have great filial affection for priests and call them “father.” Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as “my son” or “my child” (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).
catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp

 

[bpbasilphx]

this title was then restricted solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English was rendered "pope."

**Hardly. Both the Coptic and Greek patriarchs of Alexandria are still called “Pope and Patriarch of the God-protected City of Alexandria.”

Original English useage seemed to restrict “Father” to monastic priests. Secular/Diocesan priests were still being called “Mr” in the 18th century, as letters by Bp. John Carroll illustrate.**

 

[canne]

this title was then restricted solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English was rendered "pope."

Hardly. Both the Coptic and Greek patriarchs of Alexandria are still called "Pope and Patriarch of the God-protected City of Alexandria."

Original English useage seemed to restrict “Father” to monastic priests. Secular/Diocesan priests were still being called “Mr” in the 18th century, as letters by Bp. John Carroll illustrate.

Clearly in reading the article linked you must have missed that Father Saunders is refering to it’s(Papa-Pope) use within the context of the Roman Church. The Op’s question was regarding the term “father” being used for Priests which I believe both these links, one from EWTN and the other from the CA library address quite well.

 

[porthos11]

If memory serves me correctly, calling priests “Father” outside of liturgy is not even the norm in Latin.

The title is Dom, short for Dominus. That, of course, means “Lord”.

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, though.

 

[Genesis315]

Here is a good article on the history of this title–in English it is actually relatively new. It spread from the Irish.

religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1916

(this article is from an Episcopalian perspective–so it takes into account female clergy–but it does a good job of explaining the history and why the fundamentalist canard of “call no man father” is hypocritical and based in xenophobia).

 

[Pellman]

So far the only statement specifically to the topic question is in the ewtn link which states “from the earliest times”. So we do think it was a constant practice from apostolic times? Or is it just the case that we do not know when it began?

But really what I should have opened the topic with is: what is the first recorded instance of a priest being addressed as “father” (or papa, daddy, …) ?

I wouldn’t expect the average Catholic to know this, just taking a chance.

A first instance does not imply it did not exist before that. I’m still curious though.

 

[Eucharisted]

Priests were addressed as Father as far back as the Apostolic times.

The title “Father” comes from the New Testament. In Judaism, “father” means a teacher of spiritual things (rabbi), while “son” means a disciple of a teacher (student). Hence, Jesus was known as Teacher or Father (Matt 8:19, Mark 9:38), and His followers were known as disciples or sons (Matt 5:1, John 20:26). This is why we call priests Father.