Prothonotary Apostolic

Prothonotary Apostolic
Prothonotary Apostolic
A member of the highest college of prelates in the Roman Curia

Catholic Encyclopedia. . 2006.

Prothonotary Apostolic
    Prothonotary Apostolic
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Prothonotary Apostolic
    A member of the highest college of prelates in the Roman Curia, and also of the honorary prelates on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges. In later antiquity there were in Rome seven regional notaries, who, on the further development of the papal administration and the accompanying increase of the notaries, remained the supreme palace notaries of the papal chancery (notarii apostolici or protonotarii). In the Middle Ages the prothonotaries were very high papal officials, and were often raised directly from this office to the Cardinalate. Sixtus V (1585-90) increased their number to twelve. Their importance gradually diminished, and at the time of the French Revolution the office had almost entirely disappeared. On 8 February, 1838, Gregory XVI (see Pope Gregory XVI) re-established the college of real prothonotaries with seven members called "protonotarii de numero participantium", because they shared in the revenues.
    Since the sixteenth century the popes had also appointed honorary prothonotaries, who enjoyed the same privileges as the seven real members of the college; and titular prothonotaries, who held a corresponding position in the administration of the episcopal ordinariate or in the collegiate chapter. By the Motu Proprio "Inter multiplices" of 21 February, 1905, Pius X exactly defined the position of the prothonotaries.
    These are divided into four classes:
    ♦ the "Protonotarii apostolici de numero participantium", (members of the college of prelates), who exercise their office in connection with the acts of consistories and canonizations, have a representative in the Congregation of the Propaganda, and, according to the reorganization of the Curia by the Constitution "Sapienti consilio" of 29 June, 1908, sign the papal Bulls instead of the earlier abbreviators (q.v.). They enjoy the use of pontificals and numerous privileges, and may also, after examining the candidates, name annually a fixed number of doctors of theology and of canon law;
    ♦ the "Protonotarii apostolici supranumerarii", a dignity to which only the canons of the three Roman patriarchal churches (the Lateran, St. Peter's, and St. Mary Major), and of cathedral chapters outside of Rome to which the privilege has been granted, can be raised;
    ♦ the "Protonotarii apostolici ad instar (sc. participantium)", who are appointed by the pope and have the same external insignia as the real prothonotaries;
    ♦ the "Protonotarii titulares seu honorarii", who are found outside of Rome, and who may receive this dignity from the nuncios or as a special privilege. The privileges, dress, and insignia of the members of these four classes are exactly defined by the above mentioned Motu Proprio.
    See the bibliography of PRELATE.
    J.P. KIRSCH
    Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


Catholic encyclopedia.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • prothonotary apostolic — noun see protonotary apostolic …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • prothonotary apostolic — pl. prothonotaries apostolic. a member of the first college of prelates of the Roman Curia. [1545 55] * * * …   Universalium

  • prothonotary apostolic — pl. prothonotaries apostolic. a member of the first college of prelates of the Roman Curia. [1545 55] …   Useful english dictionary

  • prothonotary — /proʊθəˈnoʊtəri/ (say prohthuh nohtuhree), /proʊˈθɒnətri/ (say proh thonuhtree) noun (plural prothonotaries) 1. one of the principal officials of a Supreme Court, who has a responsibility to issue writs, and also has some judicial powers. 2. Also …  

  • prothonotary — [prō thän′ə ter΄ē, prō΄thə nōt′ər ē] n. pl. prothonotaries [ME < ML prothonotarius < LL(Ec) protonotarius: see PROTO & NOTARY] 1. Now Rare a chief clerk in some law courts 2. R.C.Ch. any of the seven members of the College of Prothonotaries …   English World dictionary

  • Prothonotary — The word prothonotary is recorded in English since 1447, as principal clerk of a court, from L.L. prothonotarius (c.400), from Greek protonotarios first scribe, originally the chief of the college of recorders of the court of the Byzantine empire …   Wikipedia

  • prothonotary — prothonotarial /proh thon euh tair ee euhl, proh theuh noh tair /, adj. /proh thon euh ter ee, proh theuh noh teuh ree/, n., pl. prothonotaries. 1. a chief clerk or official in certain courts of law. 2. Rom. Cath. Ch. a. any of the seven members… …   Universalium

  • Protonotary apostolic — In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic (Latin protonotarii apostolicii ) is the title for a member of the highest non episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside of Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pope has… …   Wikipedia

  • protonotary apostolic — or prothonotary apostolic noun (plural protonotaries apostolic or prothonotaries apostolic) Date: 1682 a priest of the chief college of the papal curia who keeps records of consistories and canonizations and signs papal bulls; also an honorary… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Monsignor — For the 1982 film, see Monsignor (film). Mgr. redirects here. For the academic degree, see Magister (degree). Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”