In theCatholic Church,protonotary apostolic (PA;Latin:protonotarius apostolicus) is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college ofprelates in theRoman Curia or, outside Rome, an honorary prelate on whom thepope has conferred this title and its special privileges. An example isPrince Georg of Bavaria (1880–1943), who became in 1926 protonotary by papal decree.
Inlate antiquity, there were inRome seven regionalnotaries who, on the further development of thepapal administration and the accompanying increase of the notaries, remained the supreme palace notaries of the papal chancery (notarii apostolici orprotonotarii).[1]
In the Middle Ages, the protonotaries were very high papal officials and were often raised directly from this office to thecardinalate.[2] Originally numbering seven,Pope Sixtus V (1585–90) increased their number to twelve. Their importance gradually diminished, and at the time of theFrench Revolution, the office had almost entirely disappeared. On 8 February 1838,Pope Gregory XVI re-established the college of real protonotaries with seven members calledprotonotarii de numero participantium, also known asnumerary protonotaries, because they shared in the revenues,[1] as officials of the RomanChancery.
Since the sixteenth century, the popes had also appointed honorary protonotaries, who enjoyed the same privileges as the seven real members of the college; and titular protonotaries, who held a corresponding position in the administration of the episcopal ordinariate or in the collegiate chapter.[1]
By themotu proprioInter multiplices of 21 February 1905,Pope Pius X defined the position of the protonotaries, ... privileges, dress, and insignia of the members of the four classes:
Apostolic protonotariesde numero (protonotarii apostolici de numero participantium), members 'within the number' of the college of prelates, who exercised their office in connection with the acts of consistories and canonizations, had 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, signed the papal Bulls instead of the earlierabbreviatores.
Apostolic protonotaries supernumerary (protonotarii apostolici supranumerarii), a dignity to which only the canons of the four Roman patriarchalbasilica majors (the Lateran and the Prefects of the Diocese of Rome, St. Peter's, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls), and of cathedral chapters outside Rome to which the privilege had been granted, could be raised;
Apostolic protonotariesad instar (protonotarii apostolici ad instar sc. participantium), who were appointed by the pope and had the same external insignia as the real protonotaries;
Titular or Honorary Protonotaries(protonotarii titulares seu honorarii), who were found outside Rome, and who received this dignity from thenuncios, or as a special privilege or being avicar general orvicar capitular.
Roger Morin, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Episcopal Vicar for the Religious Orders and Chaplain of Rideau Hall, became a Protonotary Apostolic during the Mass of Thanksgiving on April 22, 1987 (Notre Dame Cathedral - Ottawa ON Canada - Archbishop Joseph Aurele Plourde, presider).
Since 1969 (followingPope Paul VI's issuing of two motu proprios,Pontificalis Domus of March 28, 1968 andPontificalia Insignia of June 21, 1968), the four classes are reduced to two:
Apostolic protonotariesde numero—who continue the work of the College of Protonotaries and still have certain duties with regard to papal documents; they may be addressed formally as "Most Reverend Sir or Monsignor (in Italian: Reverendissimo Signore, Monsignore)", and they may wear themantelletta, the purplechoir cassock androchet for liturgical services, the blackcassock with red piping and purplefascia at other times, and may add the purpleferraiuolo and thebiretta with red tuft to the black cassock for formal ceremonies of a non-liturgical nature (e.g., a graduation).[3]
Apostolic protonotaries supernumerary—The title is awarded to priests by thepope; however, the title is purely honorary and is not attached to any duties in the Curia. This is the type ofprotonotary found outside Rome, and it is considered the highest grade ofmonsignor found in most dioceses. Priests so honored are addressed as "reverend monsignor", may put thepost-nominal letters "P.A." after their names, may wear the purple choir cassock (with rochet) for liturgical services, the black cassock with red piping and purple sash at other times, and may add the purple ferraiuolo to this for formal non-liturgical ceremonies, but use none of the other accoutrements mentioned above. This title will no longer be bestowed by the pope as of 2014[update], except in the case of the Ordinaries of the threePersonal Ordinariates who are not to be made bishops (because they are married), but all existing supernumerary protonotaries are allowed to keep their titles.
Piacenza, Petrus (1905)."De privilegiis septem Protonotariorum Participantium de Urbe,"(in Latin) in:Ephemerides liturgicae Vol. 19 (Roma: Edizioni Liturgiche, 1905), pp. 524-531; and cf. pp. 194-206 (protonotarii supernumerarii); 260-273; 325-331; 404-411; 471-479.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Prothonotary Apostolic".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
