MONSIGNOR

Title of French origin introduced into the papal household during the years of the pontifical court's stay in Avignon. It is now given to all clerics who belong to the papal household (except cardinals, although also addressed as monseigneur in French), i.e., palatine prelates (his excellency, the most reverend monsignor), papal chamberlains (if participating, right reverend monsignor, if supernumerary, very reverend monsignor), domestic prelates (right reverend monsignor), masters of the papal ceremonies (right reverend monsignor), secret chaplains, common chaplains, secret clerics, as well as to bishops— not commonly used in English. All vicars-general of dioceses, being automatically honorary prothonotaries apostolic, enjoy the title, even if not members of the papal household. According to ancient tradition, the title is often given by courtesy to consistorial advocates, who are ceremonially dressed in crimson-lined and crimson-buttoned cassock, although they are generally laymen.

Use of the title of monsignor has been altered somewhat by the Instruction of the Papal Secretariat of State, Ut sive sollicite, March 31, 1969 [Acta Apostolicae Sedis 61 (1969) 334–340]. The title may continue to be used of bishops, who, along with the superior prelates of the offices of the Roman Curia without episcopal rank, the Auditors of the Roman Rota, the Promotor General of Justice and the Defender of the Bond of the Apostolic Signatura, the Apostolic Prothonotaries de numero and the four Clerics of the Camera, may be addressed as "Most Reverend." For lesser prelates (supernumerary apostolic prothonotaries, prelates of honor, and chaplains of His Holiness), the distinction between "Right Reverend" and "Very Reverend" has been abolished. For them, the title may be preceded where appropriate by "Reverend."

[p. c. van lierde/

b. c. gerhardt]

Monsignor WOOf! 1982 (R)

Callow, ambitious priest befriends mobsters and even seduces a nun while managing Vatican's business affairs. No sparks generated by Reeve and Bujold (who appears nude in one scene), and no real conviction related by most other performers. Absurd, ludicrous melodrama best enjoyed as unintentional comedy. Based on Jack Alain Leger's book. 121m/C VHS . Christopher Reeve, Fernando Rey, Genevieve Bujold, Jason Miller; D: Frank Perry; W: Abraham Polonsky, Wendell Mayes; C: Billy Williams; M: John Williams.

Monsignor (abbr. Mgr., from Ital., monsignore, ‘my lord’). In the Roman Catholic Church, a title given to members of the ‘papal household’. In most cases, however, the holder is a ‘supernumerary’ and the title is only honorary. All archbishops and bishops are entitled to it.

Mon·si·gnor / mänˈsēnyər; mən-/ • n. (pl. Mon·si·gno·ri / ˌmänsēnˈyôrē/ ) the title of various senior Roman Catholic positions, such as a prelate or an officer of the papal court.