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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Prelate</title><script src="https://dtyry4ejybx0.cloudfront.net/js/cmp/cleanmediacmp.js?ver=0104" async="true"></script><script defer data-domain="newadvent.org" src="https://plausible.io/js/script.js"></script><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12386b.htm"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="description" content="The holder of a prelature"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="http://feeds.newadvent.org/bestoftheweb?format=xml"><link rel="icon" href="../images/icon1.ico" type="image/x-icon"><link rel="shortcut icon" href="../images/icon1.ico" type="image/x-icon"><meta name="robots" content="noodp"><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="../utility/screen6.css" media="screen"></head> <body class="cathen" id="12386b.htm">  <br/> <div id="capitalcity"><table summary="Logo" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr valign="bottom"><td align="left"><a href="../"><img height=36 width=153 border="0" alt="New Advent" src="../images/logo.gif"></a></td><td align="right"> <form id="searchbox_000299817191393086628:ifmbhlr-8x0" action="../utility/search.htm">  <input type="hidden" name="safe" value="active"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="000299817191393086628:ifmbhlr-8x0"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:9"/>  <label for="searchQuery" id="searchQueryLabel">Search:</label> <input id="searchQuery" name="q" type="text" size="25" aria-labelledby="searchQueryLabel"/>  <label for="submitButton" id="submitButtonLabel" class="visually-hidden">Submit Search</label> <input id="submitButton" type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" aria-labelledby="submitButtonLabel"/> </form> <table summary="Spacer" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td height="2"></td></tr></table> <table summary="Tabs" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../"> Home </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_white_on_color" href="../cathen/index.html"> Encyclopedia </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../summa/index.html"> Summa </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../fathers/index.html"> Fathers </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../bible/gen001.htm"> Bible </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../library/index.html"> Library </a></td> </tr></table> </td> </tr></table><table summary="Alphabetical index" width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td class="bar_white_on_color"> <a href="../cathen/a.htm"> A </a><a href="../cathen/b.htm"> B </a><a href="../cathen/c.htm"> C </a><a href="../cathen/d.htm"> D </a><a href="../cathen/e.htm"> E </a><a href="../cathen/f.htm"> F </a><a href="../cathen/g.htm"> G </a><a href="../cathen/h.htm"> H </a><a href="../cathen/i.htm"> I </a><a href="../cathen/j.htm"> J </a><a href="../cathen/k.htm"> K </a><a href="../cathen/l.htm"> L </a><a href="../cathen/m.htm"> M </a><a href="../cathen/n.htm"> N </a><a href="../cathen/o.htm"> O </a><a href="../cathen/p.htm"> P </a><a href="../cathen/q.htm"> Q </a><a href="../cathen/r.htm"> R </a><a href="../cathen/s.htm"> S </a><a href="../cathen/t.htm"> T </a><a href="../cathen/u.htm"> U </a><a href="../cathen/v.htm"> V </a><a href="../cathen/w.htm"> W </a><a href="../cathen/x.htm"> X </a><a href="../cathen/y.htm"> Y </a><a href="../cathen/z.htm"> Z </a> </td></tr></table></div> <div id="mobilecity" style="text-align: center; "><a href="../"><img height=24 width=102 border="0" alt="New Advent" src="../images/logo.gif"></a></div>  <div id="mi5"><span class="breadcrumbs"><a href="../">Home</a> > <a href="../cathen">Catholic Encyclopedia</a> > <a href="../cathen/p.htm">P</a> > Prelate</span></div> <div id="springfield2"> <div class='catholicadnet-728x90' id='cathen-728x90-top' style='display: flex; height: 100px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; '></div> <h1>Prelate</h1> <p><em><a href="https://gumroad.com/l/na2"><strong>Please help support the mission of New Advent</strong> and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more  all for only $19.99...</a></em></p> <p>Real Prelate, the incumbent of a prelature, i.e., of an <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">ecclesiastical</a> office with special and stable <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> <em>in foro externo</em> and with special precedence over other <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">ecclesiastical</a> offices; or, honorary, with distinctions of this <a href="../cathen/04794a.htm">ecclesiastical dignity</a> without the corresponding office. The original prelates are the <a href="../cathen/02581b.htm">bishops</a> as possessors of <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> over the members of the <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">Church</a> based on Divine institution. Apart from the <a href="../cathen/02581b.htm">bishops</a>, the real prelates include:</p> <div class="bulletlist"><ul><li>(1) those who have quasi-episcopal, independent <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> over a special territory separated from the territory of a <a href="../cathen/05001a.htm">diocese</a> (<em>pr&oelig;latus nullius</em>, sc. <em>di&oelig;ceseos</em>), as is the case with the <a href="../cathen/01010a.htm">abbeys</a> and provostships of <a href="../cathen/04340c.htm">monasteries</a> (<a href="../cathen/10526b.htm">Monte Cassino</a>, <a href="../cathen/05367a.htm">Einsiedeln</a>, <a href="../cathen/10068c.htm">St. Maurice</a> in the Canton of Wallis, etc.);</li><li>(2) those who have offices in the administration of <a href="../cathen/05001a.htm">dioceses</a>, and enjoy an independent and proper <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> (e.g., the earlier <a href="../cathen/01693a.htm">archdeacons</a>, the provosts and deans of <a href="../cathen/03438a.htm">cathedral</a> and collegiate churches, in so far as these still exercise a regular, personal <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a>;</li><li>(3) <a href="../cathen/01015c.htm">abbots</a> and provosts of <a href="../cathen/04340c.htm">monasteries</a>, even when they administer no territory with episcopal powers, but have merely the permanent, supreme distinction of the <a href="../cathen/04340c.htm">monastery</a>;</li><li>(4) <a href="../cathen/08025a.htm">titular</a> <a href="../cathen/02581b.htm">bishops</a>, both those who in the <a href="../cathen/15401b.htm">vicariates Apostolic</a> and other territories have supreme <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">ecclesiastical</a> administration, and those who have simply received episcopal <a href="../cathen/04276a.htm">consecration</a> without <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> over a special district, such as certain officials in <a href="../cathen/13164a.htm">Rome</a>, consecrating <a href="../cathen/02581b.htm">bishops</a>, etc.;</li><li>(5) the highest officials of the Roman offices, who, in addition to the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a>, have a prominent share in the direction of the <a href="../cathen/07424b.htm">Roman Church</a>, and thus have a special relation to the <a href="../cathen/11726a.htm">person</a> of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a>.</li></ul></div> <div class="CMtag_300x250" style="display: flex; height: 300px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; "></div> <p>In consequence of the extent of the government of the <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">Church</a>, prelates are especially numerous in <a href="../cathen/13164a.htm">Rome</a>. The most important real prelates of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papal</a> curia are: the three highest officials of the Camera Apostolica (vice-camerlengo, general auditor, and treasurer) and the Majordomo of the Vatican, who are called <em>prelati di fiocchetti;</em> the secretaries of the congregations of <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a>, the regent of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papal</a> chancery, the regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, and certain other high officials of the congregations of the <a href="../cathen/13147a.htm">Curia</a>; the members of the College of Prothonotaries Apostolic <em>de numero participantium</em>, the auditors of the <a href="../cathen/13205c.htm">Rota</a>, the <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clerics</a> of the <a href="../cathen/01633b.htm">Apostolic Chamber</a>, the referendaries of the <em>Siqnatura justiti&oelig;</em>. In the Constitution "Inter ceteras" of 11 June, 1659, <a href="../cathen/01294a.htm">Alexander VII</a> laid down the conditions under which these real prelatures might be accepted. The dignity granted by the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> with mention of these conditions is called "prælatura justitiæ"; when the conditions are not imposed in the granting of the dignity, the latter is called "prælatura gratiæ". To the real prelates belong, therefore, although no <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> <em>in foro externo</em> is attached to their offices, all the highest palace officials, who perform a constant service in the retinue of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> and in the offices created for that purpose. The appointment to these offices confers of itself the prelature. Such officials are the Papal Almoner, the Secretary of Latin Briefs and Briefs to the Princes, the substitute of the Cardinal Secretary of State, the four real Privy Chamberlains, the real Privy Chaplains of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">Pope</a>. A second class of prelates are those on whom the title and rank of the prelature are conferred with the corresponding dress and privileges, but without the office or court service otherwise attached to it. These are:</p> <div class="bulletlist"><ul><li>(1) the prothonotaries Apostolic other than the real ones (see <a href="../cathen/12503a.htm">PROTHONOTARY APOSTOLIC</a>);</li><li>(2) the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papal</a> domestic prelates (<em>Antistes urbanus, Pr&oelig;latus urbanus, Pr&oelig;latus domesticus</em>), who are appointed to this dignity by <a href="../cathen/03052b.htm">papal Brief</a>. They have the right of wearing the garb of a prelate and of using in Solemn High Mass the special candle (<em>palmatoria</em>), but not the other episcopal insignia (Motu Proprio "Inter multiplices" of <a href="../cathen/12137a.htm">Pius X</a>, 21 February, 1905, in "Acta S. Sedis", XXXVII, 491, sq.);</li><li>(3) the supernumerary privy chamberlains (<em>Camerieri segreti sopra-numerarii</em>), honorary chamberlains and <a href="../cathen/03579b.htm">chaplains</a>, who may on special occasions wear the same garb as the officiating chamberlains of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a>.</li></ul></div> <p>All prelates have the title "Monsignore" and a special costume (purple) corresponding to their rank; the higher prelates enjoy in addition other special <a href="../cathen/12436b.htm">privileges</a>.</p> <div class='catholicadnet-728x90' id='cathen-728x90-bottom' style='display: flex; height: 100px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; '></div> <div class="cenotes"><h2>Sources</h2><p class="cenotes">TAMBURINI, <em>De iure abbatum et aliorum prælatorum tam regularium quam sæcularium episcopis inferiorum</em> (3 vols., Lyons, 1640); BANGEN, <em>Die Römische Kurie, ihre gegenwärtige Zusammensetzung u. ihre Geschäftsgang</em> (Münster, 1854); HILLING, <em>Die Römische Kurie</em> (Paderborn, 1906); BATTANDIER, <em>Annuaire pontifical catholique</em>. (Paris, 1898-); TROMBETTA, <em>De iuribus et privilegiis prælatorum Romanæ Curiæ</em> (Sorrento, 1906); BAART, <em>The Roman Court</em> (Milwaukee, 1895); TAUNTON, <em>The Law of the Church</em> (London, 1906).</p></div> <div class="pub"><h2>About this page</h2><p id="apa"><strong>APA citation.</strong> <span id="apaauthor">Kirsch, J.P.</span> <span id="apayear">(1911).</span> <span id="apaarticle">Prelate.</span> In <span id="apawork">The Catholic Encyclopedia.</span> <span id="apapublisher">New York: Robert Appleton Company.</span> <span id="apaurl">http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12386b.htm</span></p><p id="mla"><strong>MLA citation.</strong> <span id="mlaauthor">Kirsch, Johann Peter.</span> <span id="mlaarticle">"Prelate."</span> <span id="mlawork">The Catholic Encyclopedia.</span> <span id="mlavolume">Vol. 12.</span> <span id="mlapublisher">New York: Robert Appleton Company,</span> <span id="mlayear">1911.</span> <span id="mlaurl"><http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12386b.htm>.</span></p><p id="transcription"><strong>Transcription.</strong> <span id="transcriber">This article was transcribed for New Advent by Douglas J. Potter.</span> <span id="dedication">Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.</span></p><p id="approbation"><strong>Ecclesiastical approbation.</strong> <span id="nihil"><em>Nihil Obstat.</em> June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.</span> <span id="imprimatur"><em>Imprimatur.</em> +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.</span></p><p id="contactus"><strong>Contact information.</strong> The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster <em>at</em> newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.</p></div> </div> <div id="ogdenville"><table summary="Bottom bar" width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td class="bar_white_on_color"><center><strong>Copyright © 2023 by <a href="../utility/contactus.htm">New Advent LLC</a>. 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